Education in Greece
Greece runs a centralized, Greek-language education system with high literacy and a strong classical heritage. Public education is free at every level, university admission is decided by the fiercely competitive Panhellenic Examinations, and a defining feature of Greek life is the frontistiria — private after-school "cram schools" that most university-bound students attend to prepare for those exams. Greece is also undergoing a historic change: the opening of its higher education to private and foreign universities.
Structure & stages
The system is organized as:
- Nipiagogeio (kindergarten)Compulsory pre-primary years (from age 4)
- Dimotiko (primary, 6 years)Ages ~6–12
- Gymnasio (lower secondary, 3 years)Completing compulsory education
- Lykeio (upper secondary, 3 years)General (Geniko Lykeio) or vocational (EPAL), leading to the Panhellenic exams
Compulsory education & enrolment
Education is compulsory from age 4 to 15 (kindergarten through the gymnasio). Public education is free, and the school year runs September to June.
Public schools
Most students attend free public schools, following a national curriculum. Because university places are allocated purely by exam performance, families widely supplement schooling with frontistiria tutoring, especially in the final years of the lykeio.
Private & international schools
Greece has a private-school sector at the primary and secondary levels, concentrated in Athens and Thessaloniki, including international schools. Historically, private universities were constitutionally prohibited — but a 2024 reform now permits branches of foreign universities to operate in Greece, a major and debated change.
Curriculum & language of instruction
The curriculum covers Modern Greek language and literature, mathematics, the sciences, ancient Greek and history, and foreign languages (English is widely taught). The classical tradition — ancient Greek and history — features prominently.
Exams & qualifications
University admission is governed by the Panhellenic Examinations (Panelladikes), sat at the end of the lykeio. Scores feed a national ranking that places students into universities and specific departments according to their preferences — an intensely high-stakes process.
Higher education
Higher education is free at public universities, led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (founded 1837, the oldest in modern Greece), the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (the largest), and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA/Polytechnic). Greece is Bologna-aligned and EU-based, and the 2024 reform is beginning to introduce foreign-university branches alongside the public system.
Studying in Greece from abroad
Greece is a growing destination for international students, valued for its heritage and (increasingly) English-taught options:
- English programsA growing number of English-taught programs — including in classics, archaeology, business, and medicine — welcome international students
- EU recognition & costDegrees are EU-recognized, and living costs are moderate
- VisaEU students enjoy free movement; non-EU students need a student visa/residence permit
Special education & support
Greece supports inclusive education, integrating students with additional needs into mainstream schools with support, alongside special schools.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is uncommon and restricted in Greece; education is overwhelmingly school-based.
Costs & funding
Public education is free, including at public universities. Private primary/secondary schools charge tuition, and families commonly pay for frontistiria tutoring. Greece uses the Euro (EUR).
Key facts for families
- LanguageGreek (English widely taught)
- StructureDimotiko (6) + Gymnasio (3) + Lykeio (3)
- CompulsoryAges 4–15
- University entryVia the Panhellenic Examinations (with frontistiria tutoring)
- Higher edFree public universities (Athens, Thessaloniki); foreign-university branches now being introduced
- School yearSeptember to June
Where to verify the details
This guide is a starting point, not the final authority. For current, official details: