Studying at a higher education institution in Greece can be a strong option for international applicants because Greek higher education qualifications are part of European qualification-transparency frameworks. However, admission and recognition rules vary by program, country of previous study, and future profession, so applicants should always check the official university and government instructions before applying.
Greek public higher education institutions generally do not charge tuition for first-cycle programs taught in Greek, but foreign-language undergraduate programs and many postgraduate programs may charge tuition. Foreign applicants need a secondary school qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where it was issued, and Greek-taught programs normally require proof of Greek language ability. English-taught programs set their own English-language requirements, often by CEFR level or test scores such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Minimum IELTS Band Requirements for Universities in Greece
| INSTITUTION NAME | CURRENT OFFICIAL IELTS / ENGLISH-LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT |
|---|
| National Technical University of Athens | No single university-wide IELTS score was found. Some English-taught postgraduate programs require at least B2 English, while one NTUA joint master lists IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in each section. |
| National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | Requirements vary by program. Official examples range from IELTS 6.5 in some programs to IELTS 7.5 overall for the Medical Degree in English. |
| Athens University of Economics and Business | Requirements vary by program. The English-taught Bachelor in International Business & Technology asks for certified B2 English, while some graduate programs ask for C1/C2 English or IELTS above 7. |
| Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | No single university-wide IELTS score was found. For Erasmus and incoming students, the university generally requires B2 English, equivalent to IELTS 6.0, unless the agreement or program states otherwise. |
| University of Thessaly | No fixed IELTS 6.5 requirement was found. For Erasmus and incoming students, the stated language level is Greek or English at least B1, and it may vary by bilateral agreement. |
| University of Ioannina | No single university-wide IELTS score was found. Requirements vary by program; for example, the English-taught MSc in Digital Health requires at least B2 English. |
| University of Patras | No single university-wide IELTS score was found. Requirements vary by program; one official MSc accepts IELTS 6.5 or above as evidence of B2 English. |
1. National Technical University of Athens
- English requirement: varies by program; some programs ask for B2 English, while one NTUA joint master lists IELTS Academic 6.5 overall.
The National Technical University of Athens was founded in 1837 and operates as a state university with nine Schools. Its core engineering studies follow the continental European model: programs leading to a Master’s-level Diploma normally last five years and require 300 credit units. This makes NTUA especially relevant for students interested in engineering, architecture, applied mathematics, and the physical sciences. Applicants should not rely on a single IELTS score for the whole university; each English-taught program publishes its own language rules.
2. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- English requirement: varies by program; examples range from IELTS 6.5 in some programs to IELTS 7.5 overall for the Medical Degree in English.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was founded in 1837 and is the first university of Greece, the Balkan Peninsula, and the Eastern Mediterranean region. It initially operated as the Othonian University with four academic units and 52 students.
Today, the university lists 42 departments and more than 200 postgraduate programs, with study options across law, health sciences, political science, foreign languages, philosophy, and natural sciences. Applicants should check the specific program page because NKUA does not publish one universal IELTS minimum for all undergraduate and graduate admission.
3. Athens University of Economics and Business
- English requirement: varies by program; the English-taught Bachelor in International Business & Technology asks for certified B2 English, while some graduate programs ask for C1/C2 English or IELTS above 7.
The Athens University of Economics and Business was founded in 1920 and is composed of eight academic departments. It specializes in economics, business, statistics, informatics, accounting and finance, management science and technology, marketing and communication, and international and European economic studies.
AUEB’s English-taught Bachelor in International Business & Technology is a four-year, full-time, 240 ECTS program taught entirely in English. Applicants should check program-specific requirements rather than assuming a university-wide IELTS 6.5 requirement.
4. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- English requirement: varies by route; the Erasmus and incoming-student page generally requires B2 English, equivalent to IELTS 6.0, unless an agreement or program states otherwise.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki was founded in 1925 and is named after Aristotle. It is the largest university in Greece, with a main campus in central Thessaloniki and 11 faculties, 40 schools, and one single-School Faculty. It offers broad study and research opportunities across engineering, sciences, health sciences, philosophy, law, agriculture and forestry, education, physical education, political sciences, fine arts, and theology. Applicants should check the exact department, exchange agreement, or English-taught program for the current language requirement.
5. University of Thessaly
- English requirement: not a fixed IELTS 6.5; for Erasmus and incoming study, the stated language level is Greek or English at least B1 and may vary by bilateral agreement.
The University of Thessaly is based in Volos and also operates in Larissa, Trikala, Karditsa, and Lamia. Its current overview lists 8 schools, 35 undergraduate programs, and more than 90 postgraduate programs. Because the official teaching language is Greek and only selected courses are offered in English, international applicants should check whether their chosen program is Greek-taught or English-taught and what language certificate it requires.
6. University of Ioannina
- English requirement: varies by program; the English-taught MSc in Digital Health requires at least B2 English.
The University of Ioannina began in 1964 as a branch of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and became an independent higher education institution in 1970. It now lists 15 departments and offers study and research in fields such as medicine, physics, mathematics, computer science, earth sciences, materials science, and chemistry. For English-taught study, applicants should use the official program page rather than assuming a university-wide IELTS 6.5 requirement.
7. University of Patras
- English requirement: varies by program; one official MSc accepts IELTS 6.5 or above as evidence of B2 English.
The University of Patras was founded in 1964 and began operating in 1966–1967. Its current profile says it is situated in Patras, Agrinio, and Messolonghi, with the main campus in Rion, and includes 31 departments. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate options across natural sciences, engineering, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, economics and business, agricultural sciences, and health rehabilitation sciences. Applicants should confirm the current language requirement on the program page.
Although Greece has a wide public higher education system, IELTS requirements are not usually set as one score for an entire university. Greek-taught programs generally require Greek language proof, while English-taught programs set their own English requirements. In practice, applicants should shortlist the program first, then confirm the language certificate, tuition status, and application documents on the official page before preparing for IELTS.
We hope that this article on IELTS Band Requirements for universities in Greece was helpful! To know more about studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe!
