Greece
At a glance
- Living index rating
- Affordable
- Monthly rent
- €250 – €500 for a shared room (Athens); studios €550 – €900
- Monthly food
- €200 – €300
- Other monthly expenses
- €80 – €150 (transport pass, phone, utilities, personal)
- Visa processing time
- About 4 – 8 weeks (up to 12 at busy times); residence permit 4 – 6 weeks
- Family allowed for students
- Limited
Visa requirements
- National (D) student visa from a Greek embassy or consulate; apply 8 – 12 weeks before you travel
- Admission letter from a Greek institution
- Proof of funds: at least about €400 a month for your studies
- Criminal record certificate, medical certificate and health insurance
- Apply for a residence permit for studies at the immigration office within 40 days of arriving
- Work up to 20 hours a week in term and full-time in holidays
Work permit after studies
- The 2023 Migration Code (Law 5038/2023) created a residence permit for graduates of Greek universities to stay and look for work
- With a job, switch to a work residence permit or EU Blue Card
Citizenship route
- Long-term residence (EU) after 5 years of legal residence; time as a student counts only partly
- Citizenship by naturalisation after 7 years of legal residence, with Greek language, history and culture tests
Family details
- Family reunification is mainly for workers, researchers and long-term residents; most students can't bring family on a student permit
- Family members can visit on Schengen visas
Universities in Greece
Top-ranked
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens · Athens
THE 451–500ARWU 301–400
Famous for: Medicine, Law, Classics and archaeology
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) · Athens
QS #378THE 801–1000ARWU 701–800
Famous for: Civil engineering, Electrical and computer engineering, Mechanical engineering
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki · Thessaloniki
THE 801–1000ARWU 601–700
Famous for: Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture
Harokopio University of Athens · Athens
THE 651–700
University of Crete · Heraklion / Rethymno
THE 701–800ARWU 901–1000
Famous for: Medicine, Biology, Physics
THE 801–1000
Famous for: Engineering, Medicine, Chemistry
University of Piraeus · Piraeus
THE 1001–1200
University of the Aegean · Mytilene (Lesvos)
THE 1001–1200
University of Thessaly · Volos
THE 1001–1200
Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) · Athens
THE 1201–1400
Democritus University of Thrace · Komotini
THE 1201–1400
University of Ioannina · Ioannina
THE 1201–1400
All other universities and colleges (21), A–Z
American Farm School University (Iowa State University) · Thessaloniki
French University of Greece – International Campus Université Sorbonne Paris Nord · Athens
Georgetown University in Greece · Athens
Hellenic Open University · Patras
THE 1401–1600
International Hellenic University · Thessaloniki
THE 1601–1800
THE 1801–2000
Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences · Athens
School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) · Athens (Marousi)
Technical University of Crete · Chania
THE 1401–1600
University of Derby – Greece branch (Mediterranean College) · Athens
University of Essex – Greece branch (Aegean College) · Athens
University of Macedonia · Thessaloniki
THE 1201–1400
University of the Peloponnese · Tripoli
THE 1801–2000
University of West Attica · Athens (Egaleo)
THE 1601–1800
University of Western Macedonia · Kozani
THE 1601–1800
No universities match your search.
This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.