Education in Greece

Education in Greece is run centrally by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. The Constitution (Art. 16) makes education at all levels of state institutions free of charge and sets compulsory schooling at no fewer than nine years. Today compulsory education lasts 11 years, from kindergarten to the end of lower secondary school. Children without Greek citizenship attend public schools too.

Compulsory schooling

• Kindergarten (Νηπιαγωγείο): compulsory for two years, from age 4. Before that, nurseries and infant centres for children from 2 months to 4 years are optional.
• Primary school (Δημοτικό): six years, for ages 6–12. A child starts in the year they turn 6 by 31 December, at the school for your address.
• Lower secondary (Γυμνάσιο): three years, ages 12–15, the last compulsory stage.
• Upper secondary (Λύκειο): general (ΓΕΛ) or vocational (ΕΠΑΛ), three years from age 15. It is not compulsory.

Public schools are free, and enrolment costs nothing. You enrol online through gov.gr with TAXISnet codes, or at the school. You need proof of address, the child's health card (ΑΔΥΜ) and vaccination record. Foreign pupils can enrol at any time during the school year. Children coming from schools abroad join the class that matches their schooling and age.

Higher education

• Public universities are free for first-degree (undergraduate) students. Some master's programmes charge fees, set by each university. The Hellenic Open University also charges fees.
• Entry to public universities is mainly through the national exams (Πανελλαδικές εξετάσεις) at the end of the general Lykeio.
• Non-state universities, run as non-profit institutions, are now allowed by law. They set their own tuition fees.

Student support

• Free textbooks: undergraduate students choose their textbooks each semester in the Eudoxus (ΕΥΔΟΞΟΣ) system and receive them free.
• Free meals: university students get free meals if family income is up to €45,000 a year (with one child; more for larger families), or own income up to €25,000 for unmarried students over 25.
• Student housing allowance: €1,500 a year for students who rent in another city, within income limits. It is only for Greek or EU citizens and is applied for from 1 to 30 June.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Kindergarten from age 4 is compulsory, not optional. Child benefit can be stopped if a school-age child is not enrolled or misses too much school.
• Bring certified, translated school reports from abroad; they help the school place your child correctly.
• Greek is the language of teaching. Ask the school what Greek-language support it offers; there are also intercultural primary schools.
• The student housing allowance is closed to third-country nationals until they become Greek or EU citizens.

Official guidance: Eurydice: Greece overview, Eurydice: higher education funding, Mitos: primary school enrolment, Mitos: free student meals, Ministry of Education