Education is the first consideration for people who receive citizenship or residence permit. Every investor who takes advantage of such programs bothers about their family in a totally new environment. The demand and success of the Greece Golden Visa Program have increased superbly. This means that the foreign community in Greece is quickly expanding. However, education In the Greek language is not compulsory.
The Greek Education System
Greece has thousands of experiences in education. Ancient Greek civilization is one of the first places where a proper educational system had been carried out.
Building upon that tradition, Greece continues to give its citizens and residents a high-quality education. Including both public and private, Greece has a wide variety of exquisite schools. However, private institutions are the ones that teach in various languages. Therefore, they would be the best fit for international students.
The Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs regulates Greek education system in Greece. Private and public Greek schools and international schools are all open in the educational system. However, it is important to note that public schools in Greece practice only in the Greek language. On the other hand, they are free, and they cover tuition fees and textbooks.
Pre-School Education
Pre-school education is called Vrefonipiakoi Paidikoi Stathmi (crèches) in the schooling system. It’s essential to note here that they are not part of compulsory education. Children can begin pre-school education after two and a half years of age.
Compulsory Education
Education in Greece is mandatory and free for children from the age of 6 to 15. Compulsory education falls under these three levels:
- Primary School (Dimotiko): Primary school is for children from 6 to 11 years of age
- Secondary School (Gymnasio): Secondary school is for children from 12 to 14 years of age
- Senior High School (Iykeion): Senior High School is for children from 15 to 17 years of age
Higher Education in Greece
The state governs higher education as an entirety in Greece. There are public and private universities in the country. The fees of public universities are lower than those of private universities.
- Higher education falls under the following groups:
- Non-university level: Generally, programs of technical/vocational training last three years
- University level first stage: They are undergraduate degrees and generally last four years
- University level second stage: The first level of postgraduate studies last for a minimum of four semesters
- University level third stage: Doctoral degree which depends on the field of study
Moreover, you must show proof of proficiency in the language of the school, if you plan to attend a private institution. Regularly, the language is English, and an IELTS or TOEFL certificate is enough.
An EU country student does not pay tuition fees for a bachelor’s degree. In other hand, for a master’s degree, there might be some fees. On the other hand, a non-EU country student pays around €1500 as a tuition fee per year.
Finally, the cost of private universities is between €1000 and €1600.
International Schools in Greece
There are several international schools in Greece, mostly located in Athens. International Institutions are desirable for expats. These schools provide various languages of education and foreign/international curricula. Furthermore, they follow the curriculum models of the US, the UK, and France. British and American schools are the most popular international schools in Greece. Various international schools offer education in kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, and high school.
Due to their curricula the quality of education in these schools is very high. Furthermore, teachers in International Schools have EU Teacher’s Qualification.
Keep in mind that these schools also provide internationally recognized accreditation such as the “International Baccalaureate (IB)”. These are generally highly competitive education programs.
