Studying at University in Athens: What Is Student Life Like in Greece?

This is an important consideration for families moving from Turkey to Greece. Children can start school in Athens at an early age and continue their education here, or choose to attend university in Greece after high school.

University life in Athens is also closely woven into the city’s everyday rhythm.

Which Universities Are in Athens?

Some of Greece’s best-known higher-education institutions are located in and around Athens.

• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA): One of the country’s oldest universities, with a history dating back to 1837.
• National Technical University of Athens (NTUA): One of the leading universities for engineering and technical fields.

There are also higher-education institutions offering programmes in economics, business, social sciences, health sciences and a range of specialised fields.

Students hoping to study in Athens therefore have more than one academic path to consider.

What Is the Language of Instruction?

This must be considered on a programme-by-programme basis.

For a significant number of Greek universities, Greek is the primary language of undergraduate instruction. However, there are more programmes taught in English, particularly at postgraduate level.

For this reason, students from Turkey planning to attend university in Athens should research the language of instruction for their intended programmes from their high-school years onward.

The assumption that “I speak English, so I can study any subject I want in Athens” does not apply to every programme.

The university should be checked first, followed by the programme, language of instruction and admission requirements.

Living in Athens as a University Student

One of Athens’ greatest attractions for students is that city life and university life are not separate from one another.

Going to a café after class, walking through the streets of Plaka, browsing bookshops in Exarchia, spending time in Monastiraki or heading to the coast at the weekend can all become part of everyday life.

The city also has an extensive public-transport network that makes it easy for young people to get around.

With metro, tram, bus and trolleybus services, students can reach not only their university campus but also different parts of the city.

Why Is Athens Interesting for Families Planning University Education in Europe?

A student hoping to study in Athens is not limited to options in Greece alone.

For students coming from an international high-school programme such as the IB, universities in other European countries can also be an alternative.

The important thing is to identify the university goal from the high-school years onward.

• The United Kingdom?
• The Netherlands?
• Germany?
• Italy?
• Greece?

Each country has a different application system and different academic requirements. It can therefore be beneficial to consider university goals as early as possible when choosing a high school.

University Planning for Golden Visa Families

A Golden Visa does not automatically grant a child admission to a Greek university.

However, for students whose families plan to live in Greece long term, completing high school in the country and then considering university options may form part of a broader life plan.

For investor families with young children, it makes sense to take future educational needs into account when choosing a property.

After all, a property’s value to a family is not measured only by its investment return. A child’s school, university, transport and social life are all part of the decision.

Editor’s Note

For families considering Athens as a university city, it is far healthier to start researching early rather than waiting until a student’s final year of high school.

In particular, the language of instruction and university admission requirements can even influence a student’s choice of subjects during high school.