The procedure for licensing foreign universities seeking to establish an academic presence in Greece, within the framework of the new legal structure for the operation of non-state university institutions, is moving into a countdown toward final decisions.

According to information, the evaluation of the dossiers by the National Authority for Higher Education (ΕΘΑΑΕ) is expected to be completed by the end of the month, after which it will send its opinion to the Minister of Education, Sofia Zaharaki. The Authority’s recommendation will concern whether the interested institutions meet the academic, administrative, and institutional requirements provided by law for the establishment and operation of branches of foreign universities in the country.

At the same time, the evaluation process by the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (ΕΟΠΠΕΠ) is ongoing, examining building facilities, educational infrastructure, laboratories, and the overall suitability of the spaces where the new institutions are intended to be housed.

The completion of both opinions is considered decisive, as it will pave the way for the issuance of final licensing decisions by the Ministry of Education.

Ten applications on the table

A total of ten applications are currently under review. Five concern new university schemes seeking to operate in Greece for the first time, while the remaining five are resubmissions of dossiers that had been submitted in the previous procedure and have been resubmitted with additional elements and improvements.

The picture emerging from the applications shows that interest from foreign institutions is mainly focused on high-demand fields such as health sciences, technology, business administration, law, psychology, and environmental studies.

The new “players”

Among the new applications, that of the European University Cyprus stands out, which plans to establish schools of Medicine, Life Sciences and Health Sciences, Business Administration, Digital Technologies, and Law.

The University of Sunderland, in cooperation with DEI College Thessaloniki, plans to begin operations in the 2027–2028 academic year, initially offering programs in Law, Psychology, and English Philology.

Roger Williams University of the United States, through cooperation with the American College of Greece – Deree, plans to operate three academic schools in the fields of Business and Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Technology.

The proposal of the American Farm School is also considered significant, aiming to create schools specializing in agrifood, innovation, and entrepreneurship, at a time when the primary sector is seeking skilled personnel with modern competencies.

Particular interest is also drawn by the cooperation between Georgetown University and the Public Power Corporation (ΔΕΗ). The plan foresees the launch of the Executive Master’s in Leadership from the 2026–2027 academic year, while at a later stage the M.S. in Environment program is expected to be added, linked to contemporary challenges of energy transition and climate policy.

The returning dossiers

Five universities are seeking a second chance, having already participated in the first phase of the process.

These include the University of West London in cooperation with BCA College, London Metropolitan University with CITY Unity College, the University of Derby with Mediterranean College, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord with IDEF College, and the University of Essex in cooperation with Aegean College.

Educational sources note that the new dossiers appear more substantiated and better adapted to the requirements set by the competent authorities in the previous evaluation cycle.

Expectations

Regarding the initiative to attract international academic institutions, the government estimates that it may contribute to upgrading the academic environment, strengthening the country’s international outreach, and attracting students from abroad.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education believes that the presence of foreign universities may reduce the phenomenon of educational migration, as thousands of Greek students choose to study abroad each year, spending significant financial resources.