A Greek island harbour
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Southern Europe

Greece

British and Cypriot degrees taught in Athens, with a visa filed in Colombo and the lowest costs in Southern Europe.

Language
EnglishFull degrees taught in English
Work during study
20 / 20Hours a week — UG / PG
After graduating
Stay-backConditions apply
Visa route
VFS ColomboNo New Delhi appointment
Area
EU & SchengenTravel across 29 countries
01 — Overview

Why Sri Lankan students choose Greece

A British or Cypriot degree, taught in Athens, at Southern European cost.

The three institutions we represent in Greece all teach in English and all award degrees validated outside Greece — British university awards, or degrees from the University of Nicosia. You study in Athens and graduate with a qualification recognised well beyond it.

Greece is the cheapest destination in Southern Europe on our list, and the residence permit is filed at VFS Colombo with no New Delhi appointment.

Greek maritime and shipping companies control one of the largest merchant fleets in the world, and the logistics and supply-chain sector around Piraeus is substantial. For students in those fields the industry is genuinely on the doorstep.

  1. 01British and Cypriot validated degrees taught in Athens.
  2. 02Visa filed in Colombo, with no third-country appointment required.
  3. 03The lowest costs in Southern Europe among the countries we represent.
  4. 04One of the world’s largest maritime and shipping sectors, centred on Piraeus.
  5. 05Three partner institutions, all teaching in English.
  6. 06EU-recognised qualifications under the Bologna framework and the ECTS credit system.
  7. 07Schengen mobility across twenty-nine countries on your residence permit.
  8. 08Mediterranean climate and a capital with three thousand years of history in it.
02 — Institutions

The three universities we represent

Metropolitan College Greece
Athens & four other cities · Featured

Metropolitan College

Greece’s largest private college, with campuses in five cities and degrees validated by British universities across business, health, engineering and the creative fields.

BusinessHealthEngineeringPsychology
  • IST College (Independent Science & Technology College)
    Athens

    IST College

    A long-established Athens college offering British-validated degrees in business, computing, psychology and the creative industries.

    BusinessComputingPsychologyCreative
  • University of Nicosia Athens campus building
    Athens

    University of Nicosia — Athens Campus

    The Athens campus of the University of Nicosia, teaching in English and awarding the university’s own accredited degrees.

    BusinessComputingHealth sciences
03 — At a glance

The facts, in one place

Capital
Athens
Language of instruction
English
Currency
Euro
Bachelor’s
3–4 years
Master’s
1–2 years
Credit system
ECTS · Bologna
Visa route
VFS Colombo
Dependents
After studies
Intakes
On enquiry
Work rights

What you are allowed to work

20
Hours a week during undergraduate study.
20
Hours a week for postgraduate students.
Stay-back
Months to look for work after you graduate.
After
Dependents may join once studies conclude.
04 — Entry

What Greece asks you for

Requirements vary by institution and by programme. These are the documents every file needs.

  • Completed secondary education, or equivalent, for bachelor’s entry
  • A recognised bachelor’s degree for master’s entry
  • Academic transcripts, translated and attested
  • Evidence of English proficiency
  • Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
  • Statement of purpose or motivation letter
  • Financial documentation for the residence permit
  • Health insurance valid in Greece
Send us your transcripts We will tell you what is missing and which programmes you qualify for.
05 — Costs

What a year in Greece actually costs

Greece is the least expensive Southern European destination we represent.

Tuition varies widely by field, and each university sets its own fees. Living costs depend on the city, on whether you take university accommodation or a private flat, and on how much you cook. The residence permit carries its own financial requirement, set by the migration authority and reviewed periodically.

We prepare a written cost estimate for every student we work with. Tuition for your specific programme, realistic monthly costs for the city you will actually live in, the current requirement for the permit, and the scholarships you may be eligible for. Built around your circumstances rather than a generic table — and there is no charge for it.

Request your cost sheet

06 — Living

Living in Athens

Greece

Athens is a large, dense, unpolished capital that rewards the people who stay long enough to learn it. Student areas cluster around the universities and the metro reaches most of the city cheaply.

Costs are the lowest in Southern Europe on our list — rent, food and transport all noticeably below Spain or Malta. The climate is Mediterranean: hot, long summers and short, mild winters.

English is widely spoken in Athens and universally in the institutions we represent. Greek is not required for your degree.

07 — Our work

What we handle for Greece

  1. 01University and programme selection
  2. 02Application filing and follow-up
  3. 03Statement of purpose guidance
  4. 04Document preparation and attestation
  5. 05Financial documentation review
  6. 06Scholarship search
  7. 07Residence permit filing at VFS Colombo
  8. 08Accommodation support in Athens
  9. 09Pre-departure briefing
  10. 10On-arrival registration support
08 — Questions

What students ask us

Can I study in Greece in English?
Yes. All three institutions we represent teach entirely in English, and their degrees are validated by British universities or by the University of Nicosia.
Where is the Greek student visa processed for Sri Lankans?
At VFS in Colombo. Greece is one of the destinations that does not require a New Delhi appointment.
Can I work while studying in Greece?
Yes. Undergraduates may work up to 20 hours a week during term, and postgraduates up to 20 hours. Hours are counted across the academic year, and we will explain how that works for your programme.
Can I stay in Greece after I graduate?
A stay-back is possible in Greece, but the conditions are narrower and less standardised than the fixed job-search permits offered by Finland, Sweden or the Netherlands. We will tell you plainly what applies to your case rather than imply more than exists.
Whose degree do I actually receive?
That depends on the institution and the programme — some are validated by British universities, others awarded by the University of Nicosia. It is one of the most important things to be clear about before you apply, and we will confirm the exact awarding body for the specific programme you are considering.
Can my spouse or family join me?
Dependents can join once your studies conclude rather than during them. If bringing family during your degree matters, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Spain all allow it.
Are Greek degrees recognised internationally?
Yes. Greece is part of the Bologna Process and uses the ECTS credit system, so qualifications are recognised across the European Higher Education Area and transfer readily for further study or professional registration.
Can I travel elsewhere in Europe on my permit?
Yes. Greece is a full member of the Schengen area, so your residence permit allows short-stay travel across the zone without a separate visa.
How much will it cost me in total?
That depends on the programme, the university and the city, and a generic figure would mislead you. We prepare a written estimate for each student — tuition, living costs, permit requirements and any scholarships you qualify for — at no charge. Request yours here.

Talk to someone who has filed this application before

A free consultation at our Colombo or Kurunegala office, or online. Bring your transcripts and we will tell you where you stand.

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