Seven Non-State Universities Licensed in Greece
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The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports has issued seven decisions granting installation and operation licenses to non state universities under the legal form of University Education Legal Entities (N.P.P.E.) for the 2026 2027 academic year. The approvals concern four new applications and three re evaluation applications, all of which received the required positive opinions from the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (ETH.A.A.E.) and the National Organisation for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (E.O.P.P.E.P.). For parent institutions based outside the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also provided its formal assessment.
According to the Ministry, the evaluation process was conducted under strict criteria set by ETH.A.A.E., focusing on quality assurance, adherence to the academic procedures of the parent institution, adequacy of academic, administrative and technical staffing, completeness of infrastructure and equipment, suitability of organisational structures and the robustness of student support services. E.O.P.P.E.P. concentrated on the technical and building specifications of the facilities, ensuring compliance with the standards required for university level operation.
The newly licensed N.P.P.E. branches include Georgetown University, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Roger Williams University and the European University Cyprus, with campuses in Athens and Thessaloniki. The re evaluated branches receiving renewed licenses are those of Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, the University of Essex and the University of Derby, all of which continue their operations in Athens.
The issuance of these licenses marks a significant step in the evolution of higher education in Greece, strengthening the regulatory framework for non state university institutions and expanding the academic options available to students seeking internationally recognised programmes. The rigorous evaluation process and the involvement of the competent authorities ensure that both newly established and re evaluated institutions meet high academic and operational standards, contributing to the overall enhancement of the country’s educational landscape.
