Education and schools in Greece for foreign children

How the education system works in Greece

The Greek education system is divided into three levels. Primary school (Dimotiko) - 6 years, from 6 to 12 years old. Secondary (Gymnasio) - 3 years, from 12 to 15 years. Senior (Lykeio) - 3 years, from 15 to 18 years. Compulsory education up to 15 years of age inclusive.

Public schools are government funded and completely free. Language of instruction is Greek. Private Greek schools operate in Greek, but often with an expanded foreign language program. International schools conduct classes in English or other international standards.

Children of citizens and residence permit holders have the same access to public schools. Age, nationality, religion are not an obstacle to enrollment.

Public schools: pros and pitfalls

Public school in Greece is free. Textbooks are provided free of charge. There are no additional fees. Classes are small, especially in the provinces.

The main barrier is the Greek language. A child without knowledge of the language ends up in a regular class. There are few special adaptation programs. Teachers generally do not speak English at a level sufficient to fully support a foreign student.

Practice shows: children under 10-11 years old adapt in 6-12 months. Teenagers who move at the age of 14-16 face real difficulties. For them, a private or international school is a smarter choice.

What you need to enroll in a public school: birth certificate (with apostille), documents on previous education, medical certificate of vaccinations. Parent's passport with residence permit or residence permit.

Private Greek schools

Private Greek schools operate in the Greek language, but with a broader curriculum. Strengthened English, electives, fewer students in the class. The quality of teaching is higher than in the average state school.

The cost depends on the school and city. In Athens, a private Greek school costs €4,000-10,000 per year. In Thessaloniki it is a little cheaper - €3,500-8,000. Regions - from €2,500-5,000.

This option is suitable for families who plan to live in Greece for a long time. The child receives a full Greek education with the prospect of entering a local university. At the same time, the language is mastered faster than in a public school.

International schools in Greece: overview and prices

International schools are concentrated in Athens and Thessaloniki. This is where most of the expats and families with investor residence permits are concentrated.

Athens College (Afinas) - one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the country. Founded in 1925. Training is conducted in Greek with a strong English component. Accepts children from kindergarten to high school. Cost: €8,000-14,000 per year.

Campion School (Athens, Pallini) - British school. British National Curriculum and IGCSE program. Language of instruction is English. Cost: €12,000-18,000 per year. Popular among families from the UK and CIS countries.

The American College of Greece (Deree) - American system. The bachelor's degree is recognized in the USA. There are day programs for high schools. Cost: from €10,000 per year.

Anatolia College (Thessaloniki) is the strongest international school in the north of the country. Founded in 1886. IB program, bilingual education (English and Greek). Cost: €9,000-15,000 per year. Excellent reputation in academic circles.

St Catherine's British School (Athens) - another British school with a GCSE and A-Levels program. Cost: €11,000-16,000 per year.

Cost of education: table by type of school

Additional expenses for an international school: uniform €200-400, transport €100-300 per month, textbooks €300-700 per year, extracurricular activities €50-200 per month.

Public universities in Greece are free for enrolled students. EU students and residence permit holders are admitted under the same conditions as Greeks. Tuition fees at private universities and colleges are €3,000-10,000 per year.

IB program in Greece

The International Baccalaureate (IB, International Baccalaureate) is a diploma that is recognized by universities around the world. It gives you the opportunity to enter the UK, USA, Canada, Germany without additional exams.

In Greece, the IB program is offered by: Anatolia College (Thessaloniki), Campion School (Athens), The American College of Greece. Some private Greek schools also offer IB as an addition to the national curriculum.

The IB Diploma Program is designed for the last 2 years of school (16-18 years old). Training is in English. Cost of IB exams: about €800-1,200 for the entire course separately from school fees.

For children who plan to enroll in European or American universities, IB is one of the best options. It is tested, recognized and understood by admissions committees.

Universities in Greece: overview and admission conditions

Greek public universities have a long history and recognized programs - especially in the fields of medicine, law, engineering and the humanities.

University of Athens (EKPA, National Kapodistrian University) - the largest in the country. About 70,000 students. Strong faculties: medicine, law, economics, philosophy. Included in the top 500 world rankings.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) is the second largest university in Greece and one of the largest in Europe. About 80,000 students. Wide range of specialties. Strong engineering school.

National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) - a prestigious technical university, founded in 1836. Specialization: architecture, construction, mechanical engineering, computer science.

Admission for foreigners: through Panhellenics (national exams) or based on the results of IB/A-Levels. EU citizens and residence permit holders can do the same as Greeks. Education at state universities is free - only a registration fee of €100-300 per year.

Private universities and colleges

Private higher education in Greece is a different story. For a long time, the constitution prohibited the opening of private universities. This ban was lifted in 2024, and the market began to change.

Currently, foreign university campuses and accredited colleges are actively operating in Greece. Deree (The American College of Greece) issues diplomas recognized in the United States. New York College Athens and Thessaloniki cooperate with American universities. Macedonian College operates according to British standards.

Tuition fees at private universities: from €3,000 to €10,000 per year, depending on the program. MBA programs - €8,000-15,000 per course. Many colleges offer education in English, which is convenient for expat children.

Conditions for foreign children: how to enroll your child in school

Enrollment in a public school does not require citizenship or permanent residency. It is enough to confirm the fact of residence in Greece.

List of documents for enrollment in a public school: child’s passport, document on registration at the place of residence in Greece (rent), residence permit or parent’s visa, medical certificate of vaccinations according to the Greek schedule, school certificate from the previous place of study (translation is not necessary, but it helps).

If the child does not speak Greek, the school may offer additional classes. In large cities there are special preparatory classes (Τάξεις Υποδοχής) for immigrant children. The program lasts for a year.

To enroll in an international school, the documents are similar, plus sometimes an interview or entrance test is required. Applications for the next academic year are submitted from January to April.

The best cities for families with children

The choice of city to live with children depends on the family’s priorities. Education, security, infrastructure all vary by region.

Athens - maximum choice of schools. Almost all international educational institutions are concentrated here. Transport accessibility is good. The downside is traffic and a higher cost of living. The northern suburbs (Kifisia, Glyfada, Ekali) are considered family areas with good schools.

Thessaloniki - a comfortable option for families. Anatolia College with IB program, Aristotle University, less fuss. Rental prices are lower than in Athens. The sea and mountains are nearby.

Crete (Heraklion) - good infrastructure, calm environment. There are few international schools, but there are good private Greek schools. Suitable for families who are ready to integrate into the Greek environment.

Islands (Corfu, Rhodes) - suitable for those who work remotely and are ready for isolation. Education is predominantly public, there are no or only a few international schools.

How to check the quality of a school before enrolling

There are a few simple steps to take before choosing a school. This will save time and money.

First: check your accreditation. International schools must be accredited by recognized organizations - New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Council of International Schools (CIS) or equivalent. Look for certificates on the school website.

Second: attend an open house. Most international schools in Athens and Thessaloniki hold them in October-November. You can come, chat with teachers, see classes.

Third: talk to other parents. The expat communities in Greece are active - the Facebook groups "Expats in Athens", "Expats in Thessaloniki" give reviews. There you can find real experiences of families who have already gone through this choice.

Fourth: clarify the recognition of diplomas. If you plan to return home or move on in the future, check how a diploma from a particular school is recognized. IB is widely accepted. The Greek certificate will need to be apostilled and translated.

Fifth: ask about teachers. In a good international school, most teachers are native speakers or have international certification (PGCE, Teaching License).

Investor residence permit and education: connection

The Greek Golden Visa program gives a residence permit for investments in real estate from €250,000 (or from €400,000 in priority areas). The residence permit applies to the spouse and children under 21 years of age.

Children with a Greek residence permit have the same rights to education as children of permanent residents. Public school is free. Private and international - according to the general rules, without surcharges for foreigners.

Important point: Golden Visa residence permit does not require permanent residence in Greece. The family can come on vacation, and the children can study at an international school remotely or abroad. But if children actually live in Greece, access to public education is open from the first day of registration.

Read more about the investor residence permit program on the page Golden Visa Greece.

Preschool education: kindergartens and nurseries

State kindergartens (Nipiagogeio) accept children from 4 to 6 years old. They are free. Open from 8:00 to 13:00. There is no after-school care, which creates problems for working parents.

State nurseries (KAPI, Paidiki Stathmoi) - for children from 6 months to 4 years. They work in municipalities. There are long queues in large cities. Priority is low-income families.

Private kindergartens and nurseries operate with flexible schedules. Accepts children from 6 months. Cost: €400-900 per month in Athens, €350-700 in Thessaloniki. Many private kindergartens offer classes in English or bilingual - this is convenient for expat children.

International pre-school and kindergarten exist at large international schools. Campion, Anatolia, some others accept children from 3-4 years old. Cost: €8,000-12,000 per year.

Language barrier: how to help your child

Greek is not an easy language. The alphabet is different from Latin. The grammar is complicated. For children who do not speak Greek, the first months of public school can be stressful.

Several working strategies. The first is a private Greek tutor before moving. Even basic knowledge makes adaptation much easier. Cost of an online tutor: €20-40 per hour.

The second is language courses in Greece. Most cities have language schools (frontistiria) that specialize in Greek for foreigners. Cost: €150-300 per month.

The third is additional classes at the school. Large public schools in Athens and Thessaloniki organize special classes for migrant children (Τάξεις Υποδοχής). Classes take place in parallel with the main program.

The fourth is an international school for the first 1-2 years. The child adapts, learns the language, and then goes to the state school. Some families use this route.

Taxes and expenses for education: what is important to know

In Greece, private school fees are not tax deductible for individuals. There are no tax benefits for education.

Holders of investor residence permits pay tax on income received in Greece. Income from abroad is taxed according to special rules. There is a Non-Dom regime option (flat tax €100,000 per year regardless of income) - for wealthy residents.

A practical point for families: international schools take a deposit upon enrollment (€1,000-3,000), which is returned upon expulsion. Check the conditions in advance. Some schools require full payment for the year upon enrollment.

Public universities in Greece provide students with health insurance and a range of subsidies. Private universities are not. The student visa for non-EU citizens requires proof of funds (around €6,000 per year).

Bottom line: how to choose a school in Greece

The choice depends on several factors: the child’s age, planned life in the country, language readiness and budget.

If the child is under 10 years old and the family plans to stay for a long time, a public school with a good Greek tutor works. Integration will go quickly. If a teenage child or family does not plan to stay for more than 3-5 years, an international school with an IB or British program will provide the opportunity to continue their studies anywhere in the world.

Athens and Thessaloniki offer maximum choice. There are more British and American schools in Athens. In Thessaloniki - Anatolia College with a strong academic reputation. In the regions, the choice is limited to public and private Greek schools.

If you have an investor residence permit under the Golden Visa program, your children already have the right to free public education. International schools are open without additional conditions. All that remains is to select the area and clarify the details.

More information about obtaining a residence permit in Greece: Golden Visa Greece 2026. External source for cost of living comparison: Numbeo - cost of living in Greece.