The country of Greece is synonymous with education, and Athens is no exception. The capital city of Greece, Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities. It is home to more than 3,000,000, making it the largest city in the country.
The city still boasts many signs of the Classical Era, such as the numerous ancient monuments and works of art. The most famous monument in Athens is the Parthenon, which is considered a landmark of early Western civilisation. Athens is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the Daphni Monastery.
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) was founded in 1837, making it one of the oldest universities in Greece. It is also the most prestigious engineering school in the country. Entry into NTUA is highly selective and competitive.
NTUA is broken down into nine schools. Eight of these are for different engineering disciplines, which includes architecture, and one school of applied sciences, such as mathematics and physics. Undergraduate courses normally take 5 years to complete.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), which is usually referred to as University of Athens, was established in 1837. NKUA was founded by King Otto of Greece, and was the first university in the modern Greek state, as well as the surrounding Southeastern Europe area.
The University of Athens is divided into nine schools, which are then broken down further into departments and faculties. There are currently only a handful of 4 year undergraduate programmes offered in English, but these offerings will likely expand.
Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) was founded in 1920, and is the oldest economics focussed university in Greece. The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, with many of these offered in English as well as Greek.
AUEB is broken down into three schools, which are then divided into 8 departments. As well as offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, you can also study for a PhD, and other non-degree programmes, such as short courses and executive training courses.
Alba Graduate Business School was founded in 1992, and operates within The American College of Greece (ACG). Alba is Greece’s most prestigious graduate business school, and is accredited by NECHE, AMBA and EFMD/EPAS.
Alba offers a range of MBA, business related MSc programmes, and Executive Education courses. Most of these courses are offered in English, and follow an American style syllabus format.
Below are the top-ranked Athens universities for international students, with their ranks in two of the world’s most well-respected international university rankings, the QS 2023 University World rankings and the Times Higher Education 2023 Rankings.
For more information about rankings systems and methodologies see our University rankings explained guide.
| University | QS World University Ranking | QS Ranking in Greece | THE World University Ranking | THE Ranking in Greece |
| National Technical University of Athens | =422 | 1 | 801-1,000 | 8 |
| National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | 601-650 | 2 | 401-500 | 2 |
| Athens University of Economics and Business | 1,001-1,200 | 3 | 800-1,000 | 6 |
Whilst Greek universities can set their own tuition fees, they are normally fair and affordable for international students. You can expect to pay between 5,000 and 13,000 EUR per year for Bachelor degrees, and between 1,000 and 8,000 per year for Masters degrees.
In terms of living expenses, Greece is considered one of the most affordable countries in Europe, meaning that you won’t have to spend lots of money on your accommodation and entertainment. Many universities offer free student halls accommodation to international students who require financial support. If you wish to rent privately, you should expect to pay between 250 and 600 EUR per month. Your monthly utilities could be around 80-120 EUR per month on top of this.
There are many scholarships and grants available to international students who are interested in studying in Athens. For more information about these, contact the international office at the universities you are interested in studying at.
There are many interesting attractions located in the city of Athens. These include ancient monument like the National Library of Greece, famous works of art like Portrait of Mrs Serpieri (1869) by Nikephoros Lytras, and intricate sculptures like the Artemision Bronze (also known as God from the Sea), which was recovered from the sea in 1926 from the site of a shipwreck estimated to date back to the Romans. As well as these attractions, Athens has a wide range of green spaces that you can take advantage of during the warmer months of spring and summer.
Athens is Greece’s major transportation hub, meaning that you will find it easy to travel around the city, as well as further afield. You can also make use of Athens International Airport and the multiple railway and ferry connections to travel throughout Europe.
See all universities in Greece.
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