HELLENIC REPUBLIC
MINISTRY of EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF DIGITAL SYSTEMS,
INFRASTRUCTURES AND EXAMINATIONS
DIRECTORATE of EXAMINATIONS
and CERTIFICATIONS
Department B΄
37 Andrea Papandreou Str.
151 22 – Marousi
PHONE NUMBERS: 210-3442133, 210-3442100.
WEBSITE: www.minedu.gov.gr
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE ADMISSION TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREECE
OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
A) GRADUATES OF FOREIGN ORIGIN OF NON-E.U. LYCEUMS
B) GRADUATES OF LYCEUMS OR EQUIVALENT SCHOOLS OF E.U. MEMBER STATES
According to the laws 4415/2016 (FEK 159 A), 4452/2017 (FEK 17 A) and the Ministerial Decision
F.151/20049/B6 (FEK 272/B’/2007) as modified and validated, various categories of candidates can be
admitted to Higher Education in Greece under special provisions. Two such categories are:
A. Graduates of foreign origin (candidates of Non-E.U. Lyceums)
This category includes:
A.1 Graduates of foreign origin of Non-E.U. Lyceums (schools abroad). Candidates belong to this
category on condition that: a) one of his/her parents is of non greek origin b) the candidate has fully
attended the two last classes of the lyceum or equivalent school in the country of his/her graduation.
For the school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, graduate certificates are being exceptionally
accepted even though attendance was partly registered by distance learning, due to the pandemic
covid 19. The candidate’s graduation certificate must entitle him/her to enter Universities in his/her
own country.
A.2 Graduates of foreign origin of Non-E.U. Lyceums, graduates from foreign schools that do not
follow the Greek curriculum in Greece .Candidates belong to this category on condition that neither
they themselves nor their parents are of Greek origin and have fully attended the two last classes
of the lyceum or equivalent school in the country of his/her graduation. For the school years 2019-
2020 and 2020-2021, graduate certificates are being exceptionally accepted even though attendance
was partly registered by distance learning, due to the pandemic covid 19. The candidate’s graduation
certificate must entitle him/her to enter Universities in his/her own country.
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B. Graduates of Lyceums or Equivalent Schools of E.U. Member States.
This category includes:
B.1. Graduates of Lyceums or Equivalent Schools of E.U. Member States (schools abroad). Candidates
belong to this category on condition that: a) one of his/her parents is of non greek origin and b)the
candidate has fully attended the two last classes of the lyceum or equivalent school in the country of
his/her graduation. For the school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, graduate certificates are being
exceptionally accepted even though attendance was partly registered by distance learning, due to
the pandemic covid 19. The candidate’s graduation certificate must entitle him/her to enter
Universities in his/her own country. This category includes candidates who graduated from schools in
Cyprus and have attended the Exams for entering Universities in Cyprus and in Greece (PANKYPRIES)
and have the certificate of attendance to these exams for the current year.
B.2 Graduates of Lyceums or Equivalent Schools of E.U. Member States, for foreign origin graduates
from foreign schools that do not follow the Greek curriculum in Greece. Candidates belong to this
category on condition that: a) neither they themselves nor their parents are of Greek origin and b)
have fully attended the two last classes of the lyceum or equivalent school in the country of his/her
graduation. For the school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, graduate certificates are being
exceptionally accepted even though attendance was partly registered by distance learning, due to
the pandemic covid 19. The candidate’s graduation certificate must entitle him/her to enter
Universities in his/her own country.
ATTENTION: Graduates of Greek secondary schools, which operate in Greece, are not
entitled to apply for admission to Higher Education in Greece.
NOTE: Candidates of the above-mentioned categories are not entitled to reapply if they
have already been admitted and have acquired a Higher Education Degree in Greece according to
the specific provisions.
The successful candidates for the academic year 2021-2022 can change Faculty or
Department by submitting a new application entry form within the next two consecutive years
following their first admission to a Faculty or Department.
ATTENTION: CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE DATES FOR APPLYING BY A LATER
ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE WEBSITE OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND
SPORTS: www.minedu.gov.gr
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
a) Graduation certificate, validated by the competent educational authority of the candidate’s
country along with the official translation in the Greek language if it is a graduation certificate issued
by schools abroad. The graduation certificate must bear on the original either the Apostille stamp or
must be validated for the signature authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic
authority abroad. (consular Validations and translations).
NOTE: Graduation certificates that are acquired by long distance/correspondence are not accepted
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b) A certificate of correspondence of the candidate’s graduation certificate (foreign titles of General
Secondary Education for foreign schools abroad or in Greece) issued by the Directorate of Greek
studies abroad, intercultural education of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or
by the Directorates of Secondary Education or by the Education Coordinators at the Education
Offices of the Greek Embassies/ Consulates. A certificate of his/her total marks average, issued by
the Directorate of Greek studies abroad, intercultural education of the Ministry of Education and
Religious Affairs, or by the Directorates of Secondary Education or by the Counselors at the Education
Offices of the Greek Embassies. The total marks average should be issued on a 0-20 mark scale, 20
being the top mark and 0 the lowest mark. If the marks average does not follow the 0-20 mark scale,
then the mark should be modified to suit the above scale.
If the candidate’s graduation certificate is issued by vocational education ( professional or
technical school) a certificate of equivalence is required, issued by E.O.Π.Π.Ε.Π., and then a
certificate with the total marks average should be issued on a 0-20 mark scale, 20 being the top mark
and 0 the lowest mark, issued by the Directorate of Greek studies abroad, intercultural education of
the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the Directorates of Secondary
Education or by the Consellors at the Education Offices of the Greek Embassies. This certificate is not
necessary for the holders of a graduation certificate from a Cypriot Lyceum.
Holders of a graduation certificate from a Lyceum of the Republic of Cyprus, must also
present an entry certificate with the total mark, after participating in the Pancyprian exams
(PANKYPRIES) for the current year.
For candidates that graduate from foreign schools in Greece a certificate of equivalence is
also required.
c) A certificate issued by the competent educational or diplomatic authority of the candidate’s
country, confirming that his/her graduation certificate entitles him/her to enter Universities in
his/her own country (form II).
- This certificate is not necessary for the holders of a graduation certificate from a Cypriot Lyceum or
for the holders of a graduation certificate from Greek schools abroad.
- The certificate must bear on the original either the apostille stamp or must be validated for the
signature authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic authority/ Consular abroad.
(see chapter validations and translations).
- If the certificate is issued by the diplomatic authority of the foreign country in Greece (Embassy or
Consulate) this document must be validated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece.
d) A certificate issued by the competent educational or diplomatic authority of the candidate’s
country, confirming the country and the curriculum of the candidate’s graduation school (form III).
- This certificate is not necessary for the holders of a graduation certificate from a Cypriot Lyceum or
for the holders of a graduation certificate from Greek schools abroad.
- The certificate must bear on the original either the apostille stamp or must be validated for the
signature authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic authority/ Consular abroad.
(see chapter validations and translations).
- If the certificate is issued by the diplomatic authority of the foreign country in Greece (Embassy or
Consulate) this document must be validated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece.
[3]
e) A certificate issued by the competent educational or diplomatic authority of the candidate’s
country, confirming that he/she has fully attended the two last classes of a Lyceum or equivalent
school in the country of his/her graduation, the student should have attended the school courses
from beginning to end of the school year. The school years and classes should be explicitly
mentioned. (form IV)
- The certificate must bear on the original either the apostille stamp or must be validated for the
signature authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic authority abroad. (see
chapter validations and translations).
- If the certificate is issued by the diplomatic authority of the foreign country in Greece (Embassy or
Consulate) this document must be validated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece.
f) A certificate showing not only the candidate's origin, but also his/her parents’ origin
For cases A.1 and B.1 it should be clearly confirmed that at least one of his/her parents is of
non Greek origin
For cases A.2 and B.2 it should be clearly confirmed that none of the parents is of Greek
origin (form I)
- In the event that the above certificate cannot be presented by the candidate because it is no longer
issued by the competent authority of the country of residence/origin, the following documents may
alternatively be submitted: a) certificate of family status of the candidate which will include birth
details of his/her parents; or b) birth certificates of the candidate and his/her parents, or c) copies of
the passports of the candidate and his/her parents, or d) a combination of the documents of the
above cases b and c.
- The certificate either must bear on the original the apostille stamp or must be validated for the
signature authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic authority abroad. (see
chapter validations and translations).
- If the certificate is issued by the diplomatic authority of the foreign country in Greece (Embassy or
Consulate) this document must be validated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece.
g) Two small-size photographs of the candidate.
h) A clearly printed photocopy of the candidate’s passport or another official document with a
photograph that can verify the candidate’s identity.
i) An official statement that the candidate:
i. does not hold a graduation certificate of a Greek secondary school which operates in Greece
ii. does not hold any degree of Greek Higher Education Faculty or Department being admitted
according to the above specific provisions and
iii. has not been admitted to any Greek Higher Education Faculty or Department in the year 2019 or
earlier. Candidates, holders of a graduation certificate from a Cypriot Lyceum formally state that they
hold an entry certificate with the total mark of the current year.
[4]
VALIDATIONS AND TRANSLATIONS
All the documents issued by a foreign authority (school, educational authority, etc.) must be:
-Validated for the signature authenticity of the undersigned person either by a Greek diplomatic
authority abroad or by the diplomatic authority of the foreign country in Greece (in the latter case,
these documents must be validated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece)
Documents which have been issued by the following countries: Andorra, Antigua and
Barbuda, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Barbados,
Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei-
Darussalam, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark (apart from Greenland and the Faroe islands), Dominica, Dominican Republic, El
Salvador, Ecuador, Estonia, Eswatini, France, Finland, Fiji, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Kazakhstan, South Korea, Lesotho, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein Luxembourg, Macao,
Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco,
Namibia, Netherlands (Saint Eustatius, Saint Martin, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Samba), New Zealand,
Niue, Nikaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, South Africa, Santa Lucia, San Marino, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia,
Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Saint Helena, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar,
Guernsey, Montserrat, Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
Turks and Caicos Islands, Falkland Islands, Jersey), United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Senegal, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia do not need any ratification by a Greek diplomatic
authority abroad, provided that they bear the APOSTILLE stamp mentioned in the articles 3 and 4
of the Hague Convention (5th October 1961) by the local competent authorities assigned for this
purpose in every contracting country according to article 6 of the Hague Convention.
For this reason, the candidates who obtain their documents from the above mentioned
countries should apply to the competent authority of their own country and make sure they have the
requested stamp on their documents.
Degrees, certifications and certificates that are issued in countries that have been
contracted to the Hague Convention but Greece has objected to their contraction such as
Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Peru, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines must be validated for the
signature authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic authority abroad. Kosovo is
recognized as part of Serbia and not as independent country since Greece has objected to any other
determination. The validation should be on the original document.
According to Law 4231/2014, the birth, marriage or death certificates issued in Austria,
France, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Turkey require no further
validation. These deeds and documents will be accepted without further validation or certification of
equivalence on condition that they bear the date and signature or stamp of the competent issuing
authority of the state/country that provided them.
[5]
The statutory data contained in the art.1 Law 4250/2014 (FEK 74/b/26.03.2014) are valid in
respect of submission and certification of degrees, certifications and certificates.
Degrees, certifications and certificates are submitted and are obligatorily accepted in a
clearly printed photocopy of a document’s copy which has already been certified by a lawyer. All
documents must be accompanied by official translation in the Greek language which will be
submitted in original photocopy of the certified one.
According to the Opinion n.233/2000 of the Legal Council of The Hellenic State (LCHS), all
documents coming from abroad should bear on the original the Apostille stamp or the validation for
the signature’s authenticity of the undersigned person by a Greek diplomatic authority abroad, must
be submitted to public authorities in simple, legible photocopy from the certified copy from the
original by a lawyer.
Any supporting documents issued by a foreign authority but not validated for the signature’s
authenticity shall not be accepted by the Higher Education faculties or departments secretariats,
which have the responsibility to examine the validity of all documents during the enrollment of the
admitted students.
Submission of simple legible photocopies serves as candidate’s solemn declaration for the
accuracy and validity of the submitted photocopies and, thereby, it is legally equivalent to the official
Declaration based on the law 1599/1986.
The submission of all the above mentioned documents will be revoked if any alterations to
them are found during any obligatory or other control.
Besides this, the consequences mentioned in par.6 art.22 Law 1599/1986 will be imposed on the
person concerned if this action is not penalized more severely by another legal, administrative action
or other action.
The official translation can be carried out by the official authorities: the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (Translators register), the Embassy or the Consulate of the foreign country in Greece.
According to the new lawyer’s Code (art.36, Law 4194/2013-FEK 208/A/27.09.2013). Translations of
foreign documents carried out by lawyers are accepted if the lawyer certifies his sufficient knowledge
of the foreign language from which and to which the translation takes place.
The official translation can also be carried out by Translators, graduated from the
Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpretation of the Ionian University, certified
by the Panhellenic Union of Professional Translators of the Ionian University.
Attention should be paid to the documents issued by foreign schools in Greece. The Greek
Educational Authorities responsible for the specific school (i.e. Directorate of Secondary Education
that the school belongs to) should validate the authenticity of the documents issued by the school
and state the legal operation status of the school. All documents that have been published by
services and institutions of the public and wider public service sector (degrees, certifications and
certificates) are submitted and obligatorily accepted in a clearly printed photocopy of the original
documents certified copies.
ATTENTION: Candidates, holders of a graduation certificate from Cypriot Lyceums, regardless of
the place of residence, in order to participate in the specific category must submit their
application-entry forms ONLY at the Special centers of Collecting Applications which will
specifically operate in Cyprus and must follow the instructions related to the dates, the place and
the procedure of applying and submitting the required documents determined by the competent
authority of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus (For further
[6]
information, please contact the Ministry of Education and Culture NICOSIA: 00357 22 582900).
NOTE 1: ONLY male Christian Orthodox candidates are eligible for the clerical studies program of
the Higher Ecclesiastical Academies.
Attention: It should be noted that candidates who fulfill the conditions for submitting to the
category of foreign candidates 4.Α, 4.Β, as well as the categories 1, 2, 3 of Greeks living abroad
should choose between the two basic categories only one of them, for submitting in the same
year, in order to enter the Higher Education in Greece.
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THE SELECTED CANDIDATES
1. The selection of the candidates, who enter a Faculty or a Department of Higher Education, is made
by decision of the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. The Faculties and the
Departments, to which the candidates can be admitted, are listed on the candidate’s application
entry form.
2. Candidates take no entrance examinations. The selection criterion is the total mark of the “entry
certificate” only for holders of a graduation certificate from a General Lyceum of the Republic of
Cyprus, while for candidates from other countries the criterion is the overall mark of their graduation
certificate
3. With regard to their registration, the candidates admitted into a Faculty or a Department, are also
required to hold a certificate denoting their command of the Greek language. Such a certificate is
issued after relevant examinations either by the University of Athens or by the University of
Thessaloniki; alternatively, the candidates should hold a B2 level certificate issued by the Greek
Language Centre. If the candidates do not hold any of these language certificates, they can only
enroll in the next academic year of their admission to a Greek University, on condition that they
will by then have obtained the prerequisite language certificate. Otherwise, the candidates are
disqualified from enrolling.
The successful candidates for the academic year 2021-2022 can enroll in the next two
academic years of their admission to a Greek University, on condition that they will by then have
obtained the prerequisite language certificate.
The examinations for the Greek language certificate are held twice a year around May and
September in ATHENS, at the Modern Greek Language Centre of the University of Athens in
Zografou (tel: 0030 210 7277672 / 7277971 / E-mail: [email protected] / Web site:
www.greekcourses.uoa.gr); also, in June and October in THESSALONIKI, at the School of Modern
Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (tel: 0030 2310 997571 / 997572 / Email:
[email protected] , [email protected] / Web site: http://www.smg.auth.gr). The examinations
for the B2 level certificate issued by the Greek Language Center are held in May
(www.greeklanguage.gr/certification)
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For further information concerning the language examinations and the exam periods, the
candidates need to contact either the University of Athens or the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
at least a month prior to the exam date, to make sure that they will not miss the deadline or any
potential changes of the language exam.
If a candidate holds a graduation certificate either from a Cypriot Lyceum, or from a foreign
school attesting that the candidate has been taught and successfully examined in the Greek
language, no Greek language certificate is required.
4. Candidates should undergo a medical examination before enrolling, according to each Faculty or
Department’s regulations.
5. Students of non-E.U. citizenship must bear in mind that the Ministry of Education, Religious
Affairs and Sports has no authority to grant a visa or a stay-permit. The stay-permit is issued by the
regional competent services of our country (Offices of Foreigners and Immigration Issues) only to
those candidates who are admitted to Higher Education in Greece, provided that there are no
reasons against the granting of this stay-permit.
It is also noted that according to the Greek legislation ar. 31 N.3386/2005 (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 212) a
stay-permit (granted for study purposes) is not granted if a student changes Faculty or Department
twice.
The successful candidates for the academic year 2021-2022 can change Faculty or
Department by submitting a new application entry form within the next two consecutive years
following their first admission to a Faculty or Department (three attempts in total). For all other
candidates, still remain the possibility to apply for only two consecutive years (two attempts in
total).
[8]
For cases where one of the parents is of non-greek origin
FORM Ι: Certificate of origin
............................................................................................................................
(Authority of the country issuing the certificate)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
It is certified that.............................................................................. (Candidate’s full name) is
of.................................................origin. His /her (Father’s name) OR …………………….. (Mother’s name)
is of....................................origin.
................................ 20.... (date)
The Competent Official
(signature - stamp – First Name & Surname)
For cases where both parents are of non-greek origin
FORM Ι: Certificate of origin
............................................................................................................................
(Authority of the country issuing the certificate)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
It is certified that.............................................................................. (Candidate’s full name) is
of.................................................origin. His/her parents ………………………………….. (Father’s name) and
…………………….. (Mother’s name) are of....................................origin.
................................ 20.... (date)
The Competent Official
(signature - stamp – First Name & Surname)
FORM IΙ: Document certifying the candidate’s admission right to University
…………………………………………………………………………………………
(issued by the competent educational or diplomatic authority)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
It is certified that, according to the legislation of our country, the graduation certificate from
……………………………………………………… (school) that
………................................................................................. (candidate’s full name) has obtained, entitles
him / her to be admitted to University Faculties.
. .......................... 20... (date)
The Competent Official
(signature - stamp – First Name & Surname)
[9]
FORM III: Document certifying the curriculum of the candidate’s graduation school
.........................................................................................
(issued by the competent educational or diplomatic authority)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
It is certified that the........................................................ (name of the school) where
................................................................... (candidate’s full name) has graduated from, follows the
curriculum of ....................................... (name of the country).
................................................. 20.... (date)
The Competent Official
(signature - stamp – First Name & Surname
FORM IV: Document certifying the full attendance of the last two classes(two school years) of a
Lyceum or an equivalent school
.........................................................................................
(issued by the competent educational or diplomatic authority)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
It is certified that....................................................... (candidate’s full name) has fully attended the last
two classes of Lyceum in............. (school years). ……………………………………(candidate’s full name) has
attended the school courses from beginning to end of the school year.
.................................................. 20..... (date)
The Competent Official
(signature - stamp - First Name & Surname)
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