Athens, the capital of Greece, is famous worldwide for its heritage and ancient civilization. It is also home to several public universities and international study options, making it a strong choice for students interested in fields such as classics, engineering, business, agriculture, and social sciences. Students who choose to study in Greece often consider Athens, as it is one of the best cities for overseas learners to live in.
Aside from the location, another main reason why students consider Athens is affordability. Greek-taught undergraduate programs at public universities are generally offered free of tuition, while English-taught bachelor’s programs and master’s programs usually charge program-specific fees. Since many schools are located in the city, we have compiled a list of institutions that offer comparatively low-cost education.
Affordable Universities in Athens for International Students
1. National Technical University of Athens
- Tuition Fees: Greek-taught undergraduate programs are generally tuition-free; postgraduate and international program fees vary by program.
Located in Athens, the National Technical University of Athens is a public technical university with a long history. It was founded in 1837 and is regarded as the oldest technical university in Greece. Today, the university has nine schools in engineering, architecture, and applied sciences. NTUA was also the only Greek institution authorized to educate engineers until 1950. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in engineering, architecture, and applied sciences.
Athens is a valuable setting for students interested in architecture and structural engineering because of the city’s historic built environment. NTUA attracts students who are interested in technical, architectural, and engineering fields, while many tuition costs depend on the level and language of the program.
2. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Tuition Fees: Greek-taught undergraduate programs are generally tuition-free; the English-taught BA in Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece costs €6,000 per academic year; postgraduate fees vary by program.
As the name indicates, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is another public university in Athens. The university was founded in 1837 and was the first university in Greece, the Balkan Peninsula, and the Eastern Mediterranean region. It has more than 68,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across 43 departments and nine schools. Its academic areas include health sciences, law, philosophy, theology, science, economics, political science, education, and agricultural development, nutrition, and sustainability. Rankings vary by publisher, but NKUA is consistently among Greece’s highest-ranked universities.
The university attracts students from Europe and other regions of the world. Students often consider this university because of its long academic history, broad range of study areas, and relatively affordable public university structure.
3. Athens University of Economics and Business
- Tuition Fees: Greek-taught undergraduate programs are generally tuition-free; the English-taught BSc in International Business and Technology costs €6,000 per year; graduate program fees vary by program.
Athens University of Economics and Business is a leading public university for economics and business in Greece. It was established in 1920 and is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the country. The university is divided into three schools: the School of Business, the School of Economic Sciences, and the School of Information Sciences and Technology. These schools include eight departments and offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in economics, business, management, accounting, marketing, informatics, and statistics.
Most undergraduate programs are taught in Greek, but AUEB now offers an English-taught undergraduate program for international students: the BSc in International Business and Technology. It also offers many master’s programs, including several taught in English. Compared with many private business schools, AUEB can be an affordable option, especially for students eligible for Greek-taught public university programs.
4. Agricultural University of Athens
- Tuition Fees: Greek-taught undergraduate programs are generally tuition-free; postgraduate and international program fees vary by program.
The Agricultural University of Athens is a public university with strong activity in agricultural, food, environmental, and life sciences. It was established by law in 1920 and is one of the oldest universities in Greece. Today, the university has six schools and 14 departments, with study areas including crop science, animal science and aquaculture, food science, biotechnology, natural resources, agricultural engineering, and applied economics.
The Agricultural University of Athens is a good option for students interested in agriculture, food systems, biotechnology, aquaculture, and environmental studies. It also offers postgraduate programs and awards scholarships based on criteria such as academic progress, financial need, and social circumstances.
5. Panteion University
- Tuition Fees: Greek-taught undergraduate programs are generally tuition-free; some postgraduate programs are tuition-free, while others charge program-specific fees, such as €3,500 for Greek/EU/EEA students and €5,500 for non-EU students in the MA in Digital Transformation.
Panteion University is a public university in Athens. It was founded in 1927 and is one of Greece’s oldest institutions specializing in social and political sciences. The university has four schools and nine departments, covering areas such as political science, public administration, sociology, psychology, social anthropology, international and European studies, communication, media, and culture.
International students can find postgraduate options at Panteion, including programs in social sciences, public policy, communication, and digital transformation. Tuition depends on the specific program, and some master’s programs are offered without tuition fees.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in Athens was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
