Higher education

Currently, Greek higher education is not divided into higher professional education ( HBO i ) and research-oriented education ( WO i ), like in the Netherlands. Instead, Greek higher education institutions can offer both types of education. Please note that until 2018-2019, this was different: back then, universities mainly offered WO and Technological Educational Institutes (TEIs) and other higher education institutions only offered HBO. Currently, universities offer both HBO and WO programmes.

Until the 2018-2019 academic year, students could start studying for a Ptychio TE at Technological Educational Institutes (TEIs). Currently, TEIs no longer exist: they have been incorporated into existing universities or have merged into new universities. As a result, new students can no longer start studying for a Ptychio TE. Instead, they can join a university to study for a Ptychio. Students who had already started studying for a Ptychio TE continue their education at the university and can still get their Ptychio TE.

• Duration i : 4 years.
• Study load i : 240 ECTS.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects, often in a technical field of study. Students usually do not write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: an Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou, often with a grade average of at least 10, or an Apolytirio Epangelmatikou Lykeiou. Students also have to pass entrance exams for higher education (Panellinies exetaseis/Πανελλήνιες Εξετάσεις).
• Function of the diploma: work. Sometimes, students have access to study programmes for a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis.
• Diploma: Ptychio TE (Πτυχίο TE), in full: Ptychío Technologikís Ekpaídefsis / Πτυχίο Τεχνολογικής Εκπαίδευσης.

Universities offer study programmes for a Ptychio (Πτυχίο).

• Duration: 4 years. There are exceptions:
  • The study programme takes 1 or 2 years for students who already have a Ptychio TE.
  • Veterinary medicine takes 5 years.
  • Medicine takes 6 years.
• Study load: usually 240 ECTS, but 300 ECTS for veterinary medicine and 360 ECTS for medicine.
• Content: often research-oriented subjects, usually without a thesis (εργασια).
• Admission requirements: an Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou, often with a grade average of at least 10. Students also have to pass entrance exams for higher education (Panellinies exetaseis/Πανελλήνιες Εξετάσεις).
• Function of the diploma: work and access to study programmes for a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis.
• Diploma: Ptychio (Πτυχίο).

Students complete some 5-year undergraduate programmes with a Diploma (Δίπλωμα). In Greece, these study programmes are called integrated masters, but this does not mean they are masters-level programmes. Greece places these study programmes at bachelor level (HQF level 6). They are offered by universities.

• Duration: 5 years.
• Study load: 300 ECTS.
• Content: usually study programmes in the field of agriculture or a technical field of study, such as architecture or engineering. The final year mainly consists of writing a thesis (εργασια).
• Admission requirements: an Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou, often with a grade average of at least 10. Students also have to pass entrance exams for higher education (Panellinies exetaseis/Πανελλήνιες Εξετάσεις).
• Function of the diploma: access to study programmes for a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis or work. In principle, access to a PhD programme is also possible. However, Greek universities usually ask for a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis.
• Diploma: Diploma (Δίπλωμα). Sometimes, the diploma has a different name:
  • Integrated master;
  • Diploma of Single Cycle Studies (Δίπλωμα Ενιαίου Κύκλου Σπουδών); or
  • Diploma of Single and Integrated Title of Studies on Postgraduate Level (Διπλωμα Eνιαίος και Aδιάσπαστος Tίτλος Σπουδών Μεταπτυχιακού Επιπέδου).

Students conclude master’s programmes with exams for a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis. Universities offer these study programmes. The diploma is sometimes called Diploma Metaptychiakon Spoudon.

• Duration: 1½ or 2 years.
• Study load: 90 or 120 ECTS.
• Content: usually research-oriented subjects an a thesis (εργασια).
• Admission requirements: a Ptychio from a university or a Diploma from a university. Sometimes, a Ptychio TE gives access as well.
• Function of the diploma: access to PhD programmes or work.
• Diploma: one of the following diplomas:
  • Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis / Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα; or
  • Diploma Metaptychiakon Spoudon / Διπλώμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών.
    This is often translated as ‘Diploma of Postgraduate Studies of Master of Science’.

Students conclude a PhD programme with a Didaktoriko Diploma. They can take a PhD programme at one of the universities that are allowed to offer PhD programmes.

• Duration: at least 3 years.
• Content: academic research and a thesis, sometimes some subjects in the field of research as well.
• Admission requirements: a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis.
• Diploma: Didaktoriko Diploma (Διδακτορικό Δίπλωμα).