Following the completion of the 2026 Panhellenic Examinations, thousands of candidates aiming for a place in higher education are expected, most likely, to enter the process of completing and finalizing their University Application Form (Mihanografiko) on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

More specifically,

According to the Ministry of Education’s schedule, the relevant circular is expected to be issued immediately, possibly within the day, while—provided that final technical checks of the electronic platform are completed without issues—the submission process for application forms for General (GEL) and Vocational (EPAL) high school candidates, as well as the Parallel Application Forms for Public Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK), is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 7. At the same time, the ministry aims to announce admission base scores and successful candidates by July 23 or 24, so that this year’s university admission process can be completed on time.

The moment of decisions
Completing the application form is a highly demanding process, crucial for candidates’ future. The selection of departments should not be based solely on points, but requires a substantial evaluation of personal interests, career prospects, study duration, living costs, and the development opportunities offered by each department.

As educators and career advisors point out, the most common mistake is choosing schools based exclusively on last year’s admission thresholds or predictions of their movement. They emphasize that the correct strategy is to rank departments according to the candidate’s true preferences, since the electronic system checks each choice sequentially and places the candidate in the first department in the list for which they meet the requirements.

Step-by-step process
Access to the electronic application is carried out using a personal security code (password) that candidates have already received from their school.

Initially, each candidate can temporarily create their application form, test different preference orders, and make as many changes as they wish before final submission.

The process is completed only when the candidate chooses to finalize the form. After this action, the system issues a protocol number, which is recommended to be saved or printed for security purposes.

Mistakes that cost dearly

Every year, repeated mistakes are observed that can significantly affect the final outcome.
These include: choosing departments solely based on points, omitting departments of genuine interest, the mistaken belief that “safe options” should come before higher-preference schools, not carefully studying each department’s professional rights, overlooking the financial costs of studying in different cities, and delaying final submission until the last hours of the deadline.

Experts advise candidates to spend time studying each department’s curriculum rather than just its name, as many schools with similar titles differ significantly in subject matter and career prospects.

The Parallel Application Form
Alongside the standard application form, candidates also have the option to submit a Parallel Application Form for admission to Public Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK).

This option offers an additional educational pathway with programs closely linked to the labor market and in-demand specialties. Submission of the Parallel Application Form does not affect participation in the university admission process, as the two procedures operate independently.

The Minimum Admission Threshold remains decisive
Once again this year, the Minimum Admission Threshold (Base Entry Requirement) remains a key filter for access to higher education.

Candidates who do not meet the required threshold for a department cannot apply for it successfully, even if their total score is high. Therefore, careful review of available options is considered essential before final submission.

Factors influencing choices
In recent years, more and more candidates take financial criteria into account when completing their application forms.

The increased cost of rent and living expenses in major student cities leads many families to choose schools closer to home or in lower-cost areas. At the same time, strong interest is shown in departments related to high-demand fields such as IT, Artificial Intelligence, digital technologies, healthcare, and energy applications.

Steps until the announcement of results
Provided no issues arise with the electronic platform, the coming weeks are expected to unfold as follows:

• Issuance of the Ministry of Education circular
• Start of electronic submission of application forms and Parallel Application Forms
• Period of processing and finalization of submissions
• Announcement of admission base scores and results by July 23 or 24
• Enrollment of successful candidates in universities at a later stage, according to ministry guidelines

What candidates should remember
Completing the application form is not a process to be rushed. The correct order of preferences, awareness of study programs, career prospects, and a realistic assessment of personal goals are the key elements that can determine each student’s academic and professional path.