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Master's in Greece for International Students: English-Taught Programmes, Fees and Admission for 2026–2027

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StudyU editorial team

Most international students looking at a master's in Greece start with English-taught programmes, and there are plenty: the Study in Greece catalogue of international programmes for 2026–2027 lists around two hundred master's degrees at public universities. Fees are programme-specific: some Greek-taught courses charge nothing, while AUEB's full-time shipping and finance master's costs $8,630 (€7,600) for the full degree, and the portal's own yearly average is $3,410–7,950 (€3,000–7,000). You apply directly to the department, and since 2022 you do not need to have your foreign degree recognised by DOATAP before applying.

This guide shows which universities offer the most English-taught programmes, what specific master's degrees cost, how universities assess your bachelor's degree, which documents to prepare, when to apply and what the 2026 residence permit reforms mean for master's students. For a general overview, see our Greece page.

Red building with white columns, palms, a fountain and clipped conifers
The courtyard of Panteion University in Athens. Photo: Texniths / source, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How a Greek master's works

A Greek master's (metaptychiako, formally a postgraduate diploma of specialisation) usually lasts a year and a half — three semesters including the thesis. One-year and two-year programmes also exist, and every student writes and defends a master's thesis.

What to know before you pick a programme:

  • There is no central application system. Each programme announces its own intake, requirements, selection criteria and fees under its internal regulations.
  • The price depends on the individual programme. One university can run both free and fee-paying master's degrees.
  • Selection is document-based, sometimes with an exam or interview. Study in Greece says candidates are usually chosen through a selection process and/or oral or written exam results.
  • Language decides your options. English-taught programmes need an English certificate; Greek-taught ones need proven Greek.

Where the English-taught master's degrees are

We counted the programmes in the official Study in Greece catalogue of international programmes for 2026–2027. It contains about two hundred master's degrees, mostly in English, with a few in French and German.

University City Programmes in the catalogue Example fields
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) Athens 27 data and IT, neuroscience, nanomedicine, logic, international and European law
International Hellenic University (IHU) Thessaloniki and other northern cities 24 fintech, cybersecurity, energy systems, energy and art law, hospitality management
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) Thessaloniki 23 logistics, biomedical engineering, applied bioinformatics, European business and economic law
University of Crete Heraklion, Rethymno 20 data analysis, photonics, molecular biology, neuroscience, economic theory
University of West Attica Athens 15 AI and deep learning, cybersecurity, sustainable energy
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) Athens 11 automation systems, geoinformatics, naval engineering, microsystems
Hellenic Open University distance learning 11 foreign-language teaching and other programmes
Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) Athens 9 business analytics, finance, shipping, marketing, AI
University of the Aegean Aegean islands 9 including an MBA in shipping
University of Patras Patras 8 human–computer interaction, cell and gene therapy, personalised medicine
University of Piraeus Piraeus 7 cybersecurity, fintech, shipping management

The catalogue is updated every year and does not always match a university's own list: NKUA's separate 2025/26 list of foreign-language master's programmes has about 30 entries against 27 in the catalogue. Confirm any programme on the department's website, where the call for applications, deadlines and exact fee are published. Public universities in general are covered in our guide to universities in Greece.

What a master's costs: real published fees

Programme University Format and length Fee
Data Science and Information Technologies NKUA 3 semesters, 90 ECTS, up to 20 students per specialisation, taught in English $3,070 (€2,700) for the whole course
Medical Research Methodology Aristotle University 12 months, 75 ECTS, blended with three on-site weeks, in English $5,680 (€5,000), payable in three instalments
Business Analytics AUEB one year full-time or two years part-time, plus a project semester $8,180 (€7,200) in total
International Shipping, Finance and Management AUEB 2 semesters full-time $8,630 (€7,600) full-time, $8,860 (€7,800) part-time
Drug discovery and development (taught in Greek) University of Patras 3 semesters, up to 40 students free

Check the fee line for your own category, too: some programmes charge non-EU citizens more. On NKUA's Media and Refugee/Migration Flows MSc, an EU citizen pays $3,630 (€3,200) while a non-EU applicant pays $7,950 (€7,000).

What you will not get. Article 86 of Law 4957/2022 allows up to 30% of a cohort to study free on a fee-paying master's if they combine strong grades with low family income, but the article's last paragraph excludes third-country nationals. Non-EU applicants should budget for the full fee. Living costs, permits and other expenses are covered in the cost of studying in Greece.

Do you need DOATAP recognition first?

Not to apply. Law 4957/2022 removed the requirement to have a foreign degree recognised by DOATAP, the Greek academic recognition centre, before starting a master's or PhD.

How it works in practice:

  1. You apply directly to the programme.
  2. The university assesses the degree itself by looking up your institution and your type of degree in the recognition registers that DOATAP maintains.
  3. If either is missing, the university refers the case to DOATAP.
  4. A degree awarded by a foreign university but studied fully or partly at a private college in Greece cannot be granted academic equivalence.

One caveat. Some programme regulations still require DOATAP recognition before registration — the University of Patras Greek-taught drug discovery programme is one example. If you see that clause, allow time for the recognition procedure.

Application documents

The programme's regulations decide the file. Most ask for:

  • a bachelor's degree, or proof of current study if you graduate this year;
  • your transcript;
  • an English certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge), with the threshold set by the programme;
  • a CV;
  • a statement of purpose;
  • one or two reference letters, often sent by referees directly to the department;
  • for some programmes, a written exam or an interview.

Greek-taught programmes need proven Greek. NKUA's language centre states that its B2 certificate is required for anyone who wishes to continue their studies in Greece, and it holds the exams in May and September.

When to apply

There is no national deadline, but most programmes starting in the autumn recruit in spring and early summer. Examples from current and past cycles:

Programme Application window
AUEB Business Analytics, 2026/27 intake two rounds, closing 17 April and 12 June 2026
NKUA Data Science and Information Technologies in past cycles, from mid-May to early June
AUTh Medical Research Methodology starts in February; applications for 2026/27 were open when checked on 29.09.2026

A practical rule: shortlist three to five programmes by late winter, have your English certificate and references ready by March, and watch departmental websites for calls.

Visa and residence permit for master's students

After admission you need a national D visa for studies and, once in Greece, a student residence permit. The 2026 changes:

  • the permit covers the full programme, not a single year, with progress checks every two years;
  • graduates of a Greek bachelor's can renew the same permit for a master's without leaving the country or getting a new visa;
  • you may work up to 20 hours a week, outside study hours;
  • after graduation you can apply for a one-year permit to look for work or start a business.

For the permit you must show at least $740 (€650) a month — $13,290 (€11,700) for an 18-month programme. The whole procedure is in our Greece student visa guide.

Who a Greek master's suits

It suits you if:

  • your subject is offered by a department with an international programme: shipping finance at AUEB and the University of Piraeus, Eastern Mediterranean archaeology at NKUA, data and AI, biomedicine;
  • you want an EU degree with ECTS credits at a moderate price;
  • you are prepared to build a separate file for each programme and follow departmental announcements.

Compare other countries if you need a scholarship that covers tuition (the Greek fee waiver excludes non-EU nationals) or if you plan to work in Greece straight after graduating without speaking Greek. For comparison: master's in Italy, master's in Spain, master's in Serbia.

Common mistakes

  • Starting with DOATAP. Recognition is not needed to apply; spend the time on your English test and references instead.
  • Comparing universities instead of programmes. Language, fees and deadlines are set by each programme's regulations, so compare programmes.
  • Confusing colleges with universities. DOATAP does not grant academic equivalence to degrees earned at partner colleges in Greece, which matters for further study and for employment.
  • Counting on an income-based fee waiver. Article 86 shuts out applicants who are not EU citizens.
  • Missing the window. Application windows are short — AUEB's Business Analytics ran two spring and early-summer rounds for 2026/27 — and the next chance is a year later.

FAQ

The portal's yearly benchmark is $3,410–7,950 (€3,000–7,000). Published examples (checked 29.09.2026): $3,070 (€2,700) for the whole NKUA data science course, $5,680 (€5,000) at Aristotle University, $8,180–8,860 (€7,200–7,800) at AUEB. Some Greek-taught programmes are free.

Yes. The Study in Greece catalogue for 2026–2027 lists around two hundred international master's programmes, mostly in English. NKUA, the International Hellenic University, Aristotle University and the University of Crete offer the most.

Not before applying: since 2022 universities assess foreign degrees themselves using DOATAP's registers. Some programmes still require DOATAP recognition at registration, so read the regulations of the programme you choose.

There are Greek-taught programmes with no fee, such as the drug discovery master's at the University of Patras. The income-based fee waiver for paid programmes is not available to non-EU nationals under Greek law.

Usually three semesters including the thesis. There are one-year programmes, such as Medical Research Methodology in Thessaloniki, and two-year options, most often in part-time mode.

Yes, up to 20 hours a week in part-time work outside study hours. Graduates can then stay for another year on a job-search permit.

Sources

Shortlisting programmes, checking requirements, preparing documents, submitting applications and support through to the visa are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission decisions are made by the programme committee, visa decisions by the Greek consulate and residence permits by the migration service.

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