6 international scholarships to study in Greece for cheap

Did you know that international students pay approximately 1,500 to 9,000 euros (US$1,655 to US$9,931) annually for their undergraduate or postgraduate studies? That’s true for those who choose to study in Greece.

Better yet, you can survive with under 800 euros (US$884) a month. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre will cost about 493 euros (US$544) a month, and the same one-bedroom apartment outside of the city centre costs around 404 euros (US$446) a month.

“The country’s 24 universities offer more than 140 programmes taught entirely in English, allowing international students to choose from a wide variety of disciplines from theoretical fields to scientific and technological disciplines,” says Theodoros Papaioannou, the director of academic affairs at Study in Greece, in a webinar hosted by THE Student.

Top universities include the National Technical University of Athens, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, all offering a diverse range of programmes that attract international students to study in Greece.

If the thought of studying in one of the most breathtaking European countries excites you, consider these scholarships that you can apply to study in Greece for free — or at a much lower cost:

Some of these scholarships cover up to 50% of your tuition fees. Source: AFP

6 international scholarships to study in Greece for free or at a much lower cost

1. The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), Hellenic-American Scholarship

ACT offers scholarships for full-time students at an accredited institution in the US or Canada of Greek descent who have been accepted into the ACT study abroad programme. 

The Hellenic-American Scholarship will cover half of the tuition for eligible Hellenic-American applicants. This award does not include housing, orientation, field trips, and study abroad fees.

Aside from what is mentioned above, you must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply for the scholarship.

2. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’s undergraduate excellence scholarship

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers a four-year English-taught programme devoted to the study of Greek Antiquity — the BA Program in the Archaeology, History and Literature of Ancient Greece.

Aimed at international citizens, the programme offers a unique opportunity to study the culture of ancient Greece while acquiring first-hand knowledge of some of Greece’s most important archaeological monuments, sites, and museums. The curriculum includes courses in Greek archaeology, ancient Greek history, and Greek and Latin literature.

The programme costs 6,000 euros (US$6,621) per year, amounting to 24,000 euros (US$26,482) in total. However, the undergraduate excellence scholarship awards students who meet eligibility criteria and their academic goals with 10,000 euros (US$11,034).

Those who study in Greece not only get to enjoy a life by the Mediterranean, you’ll also be surrounded by culture at every turn. Source: AFP

3. University of Crete’s International Programme in Medicine scholarship

Established in 1983, the Medical School of the University of Crete is one of the biggest medical and research complexes in the country.

Here, they offer a six-year English-taught International Programme in Medicine. However, knowledge of the Greek language is necessary for communicating with patients during the clinical cycle of the studies. The good news is that the programme offers intensive courses in Greek to all students, which will allow you to reach knowledge at the B2 level by the end of the pre-clinical cycle.

The programme costs 15,000 euros (US$16,552) per academic year and will total 90,000 euros (US$99,309) to complete the degree. There is a merit-based scholarship — a “Teaching Assistantship” programme where outstanding students are offered the chance to provide teaching assistantship to earlier-year students in laboratories and tutorials.

Need-based scholarships can also be awarded, on a case-dependent basis for students in the last years of their studies.

With temperate weather, a welcoming community, and an affordable cost of living — Greece is the perfect place to choose for your upcoming study abroad destination. Source: AFP

4. The American College of Greece’s NESA Scholarship

If you’re from a NESA (Near South East Asia) country, you can check out The American College of Greece‘s NESA Scholarship. This financial aid is awarded annually, and the award amount is based on the spending policy set by the Board of Trustees.

In particular, the award is given for one academic year to promising students originating from one of the countries served by the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools. You might even have a chance to renew the award for another year if you meet the eligibility requirements.

For first-time applicants, you must demonstrate academic promise, have completed your secondary education at a lyceum with a high school grade of 17 and above (or equivalent), and of course, originate from an NESA country* (Proof of birthplace is required).

*NESA countries listed on the site include: Bangladesh, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

5. ALBA Graduate Business School, GMAT Scholarships

For the high achievers who want to pursue their postgraduate degree in Greece, check out ALBA Graduate Business School‘s GMAT Scholarships.

Candidates who earn a GMAT (GMAT Focus Edition) score of 645 and above are granted 40% off their total tuition fees for all MBA and MSc’s (excluding the Executive MBA Programme and the Dual Degree MSc in Supply Chain Management Programme).

However, if you miss the 645 mark, don’t worry — you’ll still be able to apply for the scholarships, though the amount won’t be as high as the 40% mentioned earlier.

Sunsets seem particularly beautiful when you’re surrounded by an equally breathtaking environment. Source: AFP

6. University of Piraeus Scholarship

Eligible students pursuing an MSc in Energy: Strategy, Law & Economics at the University of Piraeus will be awarded scholarships from leading companies and institutions based on their academic performance during the first two semesters.

10 companies support this merit-based scholarship, including but not limited to Renewable Energy Sources Operator & Guarantees of Origin, MYTILINEOS, CNN Greece, and AEGEAN.

This master’s programme is also one of the few programmes in Europe dedicated to Energy Strategy, Law, and Economics.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on October 4, 2024.