Greek Education
Greek Education system – An overview
a) Primary School (6 to 12 years)
b) Lower Secondary School (12 to 15 years)
c) Upper Secondary School (15 to 18 years)
d) Post-secondary centers (18 to 20 years)
e) Higher Education
Universities (18 to 22 years)
Colleges collaborating with Foreign Universities offering foreign degrees (18 to 22 years)
• Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 5 to 15.
• There are three levels –primary, secondary and tertiary
• Secondary level consists of: 3 years compulsory (lower secondary school/ gymnasio) and 3 years upper secondary school/lykeio
• At the end of upper secondary school (lykeio) students take both school and national examinations and receive the leaving certificate (apolytirion)
• Students access Higher Education in Greece via national (Pan-hellenic) examinations
• According to the new import system in Higher Education 2015-2016 there are 5 Scientific fields:
1st Scientific field (Humanities, Law and Social Studies)
2nd Scientific field (Technological and Positive Studies)
3rd field Science (Health Studies and Life)
4th Scientific field (Pedagogical Studies)
5th Scientific field (Economic Studies and Information)
• Students are given the following options:
To take exams in four (4) courses and candidates in a single Scientific field
To pass the test in fifth lesson gaining accessibility and a second Science field
• In the 4th scientific field access is possible from all orientation teams
• There are 3 orientation teams:
Orientation team (1) Humanities (2) Positive studies (3) Studies of Economy and Informatics
• State Higher Education in Greece consists of:
University sector (Universities, Polytechnics, School of Fine Arts, Hellenic Open Universities)
Technological sector (TEIs, schools of pedagogical education)
Military Academies, Ecclesiastical schools, School of Tourism
• State undergraduate level is provided free of charge
• Most postgraduate courses charge fees from 5.000 euros. Hellenic Open University has tuition fees for both under and postgraduate courses
• 97,9 % of funding comes from the state (source OECD, report 2012)
• Undergraduate courses last for 4 years: Engineering, agriculture, veterinary studies and dentistry take 5 years; courses at polytechnics and some technical or art schools take 5 years and medical school takes 6 years
• Programs are offered in the Greek language, however specialized programs are offered in foreign language