Greece Launches One-Stop Hub for Global Uni Applicants
Jan 28, 2026
Category: Greece International Students News
Greece has launched a centralised online platform to simplify applications for international students aiming to study at its universities.
The move follows legal reforms allowing foreign branch campuses, as the country pushes to grow its international education sector.
Single platform streamlines access
A centralised online system is now available for international students applying to Greek universities.
The platform, called @SiG (Apply to Study in Greece), is managed by Study in Greece and allows applicants to browse programmes, submit documents, and track their application status in one place.
The portal promotes degree programmes primarily taught in English and targets applicants from outside the country. Greek universities can choose which programmes to list and may work with agents abroad to recruit students through the platform.
Study in Greece receives a percentage of tuition fees for each international student enrolled via the system. The service is designed to simplify the admissions process and provide universities with access to a broader international applicant pool.
Green light for branch campuses
The digital system follows a legal reform passed in March 2024 that allows private foreign universities to open branch campuses in Greece. This change supports the country’s aim to expand its international academic ties.
A joint report by MSM Unify and Study in Greece states that four foreign campuses have already been approved, with five more applications under review as of mid-2025.
The move is part of a strategy to internationalise higher education and create more transnational academic partnerships.
Cheaper tuition draws applicants
Tuition and living costs in Greece remain relatively low compared to many Western European countries. This has contributed to increased interest from students in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans.
Greece’s location also offers regional access to EU opportunities. These factors help boost the country’s profile among international applicants.
More English-taught programmes
To support international recruitment, universities in Greece have increased their English-language offerings. According to the report, the number of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees taught entirely in English grew by approximately 80% between 2019 and 2025.
These programmes include fields like business, health sciences, engineering, data analytics, renewable energy, and tourism management. This expansion is noted as important for attracting students who do not speak Greek but want to study in the European Union (EU).
Recruitment shifts overseas
Study in Greece collaborates with embassies, consulates, schools abroad, and education agents to promote Greek programmes. Only agents who undergo quality control and evaluation are involved in the recruitment process.
Participating universities do not pay to list their programmes. Instead, Study in Greece collects 10% of first-year undergraduate tuition or total postgraduate tuition from enrolled students processed through the platform.
Beyond domestic demand
International enrolment is gaining priority as domestic student numbers plateau. The report notes that future growth in Greek higher education is likely to depend on attracting students from outside the country rather than increasing the local student base.
Fields with high international demand — such as business, engineering, and health sciences — are expected to remain central to these efforts.
New travel systems
Students and other travellers heading to Greece will soon need to navigate new digital entry systems across the EU.
The Entry/Exit System (EES), operational since October 2025, records biometric and travel data of non-EU nationals entering and exiting the Schengen Area for short stays of up to 90 days. It will fully apply at all external borders by April 2026.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will follow later in 2026. Nationals from 59 visa-exempt countries will need to apply online for ETIAS before visiting 30 European countries.
While these systems do not apply to long-term student visas, they will affect short-term visitors, researchers, and applicants attending preparatory programmes.
Policy goals shape student strategy
The expansion of international education in Greece also fits into wider EU efforts to modernise borders and regulate mobility.
As the EU separates short-term access from long-term residence, clear routes to study may become more important for countries seeking to attract global talent.
Greece’s reforms could support that shift by offering legally recognised, structured study options with fewer administrative hurdles.
Greece plays long game
Greece is building its presence in global higher education through legislative changes, a centralised admissions platform, and expanded English-language courses.
With foreign branch campuses under way and travel systems evolving across Europe, the country is setting out a framework to attract more students from abroad in the years ahead.