Greece’s Ministry of Education said on Friday it has granted licenses to four foreign universities to operate in the country from the 2025-26 academic year, a move it called a “historic step” for students.
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said the decision would expand opportunities for Greek and international students, while boosting quality and diversity in the higher education system.
The licenses were granted under a new legal framework for non-state universities. The institutions are:
- The Open University – American College Anatolia in Thessaloniki
- University of York City in Thessaloniki
- University of Keele, Greece, in Athens
- University of Nicosia (UNIC Athens) in Athens
Each will operate faculties ranging from law, medicine and business administration to engineering and social sciences.
The ministry said the evaluation process, overseen by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education, assessed the academic standing of the parent institutions, staffing levels, infrastructure, and student support services. Greece’s foreign ministry also reviewed applications from universities outside the European Union.
The next stage will involve certification of individual study programmes to ensure they meet national and international standards.
“This reform strengthens Greece’s higher education system and aligns it with global academic trends,” Zacharaki said.