The Ministry of Education announced today the four non-state universities that have received licenses and will operate starting this year.

These are:

1. The Open University – American College of Anatolia in Thessaloniki
   · School of Humanities and Social Sciences
   · School of Business Administration
   · School of Technology and Sciences
2. The University of York City in Thessaloniki
   · School of Law and Humanities
   · School of Sciences
   · School of Business Administration
3. The University of Keele, Greece in Athens
   · Law School
   · School of Humanities and Social Sciences
   · School of Medicine and Health Sciences
4. University of Nicosia – UNIC Athens in Athens
   · Medical School
   · School of Humanities and Social Sciences
   · School of Business Administration
   · School of Science and Engineering
   · School of Life and Health Sciences
   · Law School

Official announcement of the Ministry of Education:

Today, four decisions were issued by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, through the competent Deputy Minister Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, approving the establishment and operation of non-state universities in Greece under the legal form of University Education Legal Entities (N.P.P.E.), based on submitted applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. The approvals were granted following the consent of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) and the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP). Specifically, for parent institutions based outside the European Union, the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also duly sought.

The evaluation process was based on strict standards set by HAHE regarding quality assurance, the application of the parent institution’s academic procedures, adequacy of academic and administrative/technical staff, completeness of infrastructure and equipment, suitability of organizational structure, and sufficiency of support services. EOPPEP focused on the technical and building specifications of the facilities.

The first N.P.P.E. branches granted licenses are:

Following the licensing procedure, the certification of study programs by HAHE will begin immediately, in accordance with the law.

Statement by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs & Sports, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki:

“We are completing a historic step for the benefit of younger generations in our country. HAHE, in the framework of its institutional role, approved the applications that met the strict legal requirements. All applications come from highly reputable foreign universities, and their addition to the Greek academic landscape can only bring positive results. Greek society now has the maturity, experience, and knowledge to understand what was lost for decades, and how the country can turn this into a strategic advantage by becoming a regional educational hub. We are giving higher education in Greece the chance to align with international trends, strengthening extroversion and offering more choices to our youth. Above all, however, our government and the Ministry leadership prioritize supporting the public university. To those who reproduce stereotypes, distort reality, and invest in stagnation, we respond with facts: increased regular funding, historic highs in student welfare support, new projects in housing, meals, equipment, and research, and an upgraded institutional framework that addresses problems without being unfair to the people of the universities. Deeds, not words, matter in public education. Our government faces daily the highest responsibility to serve the obvious: our young people and the future of our country.”

Statement by Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Nikos Papaioannou (responsible for Higher Education):

“With the completion of the licensing of University Education Legal Entities (N.P.P.E.) in Greece, the country is turning a page in Higher Education. This is a historic reform that gives our youth more opportunities, more choices, and more paths to excellence. The licensing process was completely transparent, documented, and strict, as required by law. The government of New Democracy and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, consistent with their pre-2019 pledge, opened the way for a richer and more competitive academic landscape. Our goal is for Greece to become a hub of knowledge and university education in Southeastern Europe, attracting students and scientists from around the world. At the same time, we continue to support the public university with new faculty recruitments, increased funding, and upgraded infrastructure. We deeply believe that education is the strongest tool for development and social cohesion. For decades, the country was trapped in stagnation, forcing thousands of young people to seek study opportunities abroad, taking resources and talent with them. We are breaking these barriers and allowing every young person to study in a globally competitive environment without leaving their homeland. Our educational policy is part of a broader strategy for the country’s future: there can be no strong economy without a strong education system, no national progress without open paths to knowledge and innovation. Greece moves forward with vision and planning, and Higher Education stands at the forefront of this course – with more options for students, more opportunities for society, and more strength for the country.”