Greece has a long history of scholarship and is widely associated with the development of philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy in Europe. Today, it offers a growing range of English-taught undergraduate and postgraduate programs for international students. Greek universities combine academic study with opportunities to experience the country’s history, culture, and student life. In this article, we will be looking at the top English-taught universities in Greece.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Greece
1. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), commonly known as the University of Athens, is a major public higher education institution in Athens, Greece. It was officially founded in 1837 and is the first university in Greece, the Balkan Peninsula, and the Eastern Mediterranean region. It is also one of the largest universities in Greece, with a broad range of schools, departments, laboratories, university hospitals, and teaching and research facilities.
As a member of international associations and university networks, NKUA attracts students and researchers from different parts of the world. It also participates in exchange programs, joint academic initiatives, and curriculum development projects with partner universities.
Because NKUA is a public university, Greek-taught undergraduate programs are generally tuition-free. However, English-taught bachelor’s programs and many postgraduate programs may charge tuition fees, especially for international students, so applicants should check the fee information for each specific program.
NKUA is among the notable English-taught universities in Greece. Its English-taught undergraduate options include the BA Program in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece and the Medical Degree English Program. It also offers many postgraduate programs, including master’s programs taught in English and other languages.
2. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Study Program
- Degrees taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral (Ph.D.)
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.), also referred to as the Aristotelian University or the University of Thessaloniki, is one of Greece’s largest public universities. It was founded by law in 1925 and began academic operations in 1926 in Thessaloniki. Over the years, the institution has developed into a broad, multidisciplinary university with faculties and schools covering fields such as arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, law, economics, and theology.
A.U.Th. has a strong international profile through Erasmus+ mobility, international partnerships, and foreign-language study options. While courses at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki are normally taught in Greek, the university also offers courses in other languages and has developed English-taught undergraduate programs, including programs such as the Bachelor of Laws and Clean Energy Science and Engineering. Some postgraduate and doctoral study options may also be available in English, depending on the school and program.
3. Technical University of Crete
- Study Program
- Degrees taught in English: Master’s and Doctoral (Ph.D.)
The Technical University of Crete (TUC) is a public technical university in Chania, Crete. It was founded in 1977 and admitted its first students in 1984. The university provides undergraduate and postgraduate studies in modern engineering fields and conducts research in areas connected with technology, engineering, and industry.
TUC offers an academic environment that can appeal to international students interested in engineering and applied research. The university cooperates with international universities and research institutions through research partnerships, student exchanges, staff exchanges, and study abroad opportunities.
The primary language of instruction at TUC is Greek, but the university offers several study programs taught in English and open to international students. At the postgraduate level, courses are usually taught in Greek, although they may be taught in English at the discretion of the professor, and several joint programs are taught in English.
4. Athens University of Economics and Business
Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) is a leading university in Greece for economics and business studies. It was founded in 1920 as the Athens School of Commercial Studies, renamed the Athens School of Economics and Business in 1926, and took its current name in 1989. Today, AUEB’s schools and departments cover fields such as economics, international relations, management, accounting, marketing, informatics, and statistics.
AUEB has played an important role in Greece’s higher education landscape and continues to contribute to research, professional education, and cooperation with international organizations and partner universities. Its programs emphasize theoretical foundations, analytical tools, critical thinking, and practical skills for careers in business, economics, technology, and related fields.
AUEB is one of the most attractive Greek universities for international students at the graduate level. It offers 30 master’s programs overall, including English-taught master’s programs in areas such as business analytics, AI and data science, economics, financial management, international business, and innovation-related fields.
5. International Hellenic University of Greece
- Study Program
- Degrees taught in English: Master’s and Doctoral (Ph.D.)
The International Hellenic University (IHU) was initially established in 2005 in Thessaloniki and was Greece’s first public university where programs were taught exclusively in English. It was re-established by law in 2019 and is now a public university with eight schools and 25 departments, with branches in Thessaloniki, Serres, Katerini, and Kilkis.
The University Center of International Programmes of Studies (UCIPS) at IHU includes the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics and the School of Science and Technology. Its programs are taught exclusively in English and include postgraduate programs in fields such as humanities, social sciences, economics, management, law, data science, ICT, cybersecurity, energy, and technology.
At the doctoral level, the School of Science and Technology awards doctoral degrees in research fields such as Data Science, ICT, e-Business, Mobile and Web Computing, Cybersecurity, Energy Systems, Environmental Management, Biology, and Bioinformatics. Applicants should check the relevant school or department page for current doctoral admission rules and language requirements.
We hope this article on the best English-taught universities in Greece was informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
