Keele University in Greece, the first branch campus of a UK public university to receive a licence to operate as a non-state university in Athens in 2025, has announced the official accreditation of its undergraduate Law programme by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE).

According to the university, the approval by the independent national authority marks the culmination of years of systematic preparation and paves the way for the launch of a modern legal education programme that combines the Greek legal tradition with contemporary international developments in the field of law.

The new programme provides comprehensive education in the principal areas of Greek law—private, public, and criminal law—while incorporating elements of European, international, and English law.

In doing so, students will develop a broader legal perspective, equipping them to meet the demands of an increasingly interconnected legal environment.

Greece now welcomes a programme that, according to Keele University, builds on the academic heritage and international outlook of Keele Law School, which is consistently ranked among the world’s top 100 universities for International Outlook, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

Four-year programme combining theory and practice

The undergraduate Law programme spans four years and has been designed to combine rigorous academic training with the practical application of legal knowledge.

The curriculum includes integrative courses alongside innovative teaching methods such as moot court, enabling students to develop advocacy, analytical, and legal reasoning skills through simulated courtroom proceedings.

Particular emphasis is also placed on international law and European Union law, preparing graduates for a legal landscape in which challenges increasingly extend beyond national borders.

The programme aims to educate a new generation of legal professionals with modern expertise and an international outlook, capable of addressing emerging challenges such as digital justice, artificial intelligence, data protection, and developments in commercial law.

“A living academic reality”

Professor Emeritus of Criminal Law at the Democritus University of Thrace and Dean of Keele University Greece’s Law School, Aristotelis Charalampakis, described the accreditation as a major milestone for the institution’s new academic venture.

“This is the moment we have been waiting for,” he said.

“With the official licence now in hand, we are no longer speaking about a plan but about a living academic reality. We are fully prepared to welcome a new generation of talented students and provide them with a legal education that combines the Greek legal tradition with European and international practice. We are shaping the legal professionals who will lead tomorrow.”

Modern facilities in the heart of Athens

Keele University Greece’s Law School will be housed in the institution’s new premises at 33 Hippocrates Street in central Athens.

The facilities have been designed to support a modern model of higher education and include a dedicated moot court room, fully equipped libraries, and specially designed study areas.

These facilities are intended to foster an academic environment that encourages research, collaboration, innovation, and the development of practical legal skills.

New interdisciplinary programme in Investigative Criminology

The Law School will also offer Greece’s only interdisciplinary undergraduate programme in Investigative Criminology.

The programme combines legal studies with modern forensic investigation methods and is headed by Dr Penelope Miniati, a biologist, forensic geneticist, and Honorary Director of the Hellenic Police Forensic Science Division.

With the accreditation of its Law programme, Keele University in Greece enters a new phase of development, aiming to establish itself as a new centre of excellence in legal education, with a strong emphasis on academic quality, international engagement, and preparing the next generation of legal professionals.