Four approval decisions for establishment and operation licenses were issued today by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, through the competent Deputy Minister Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, for submitted applications to operate during the 2025-2026 academic year as non-state Universities under the legal form of Legal Entity of University Education (N.P.P.E.), following the receipt of favorable opinions from the National Authority for Higher Education (ETH.A.A.E.) and the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (E.O.P.P.E.P.). Specifically, for parent institutions established in countries outside the European Union, the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also duly obtained.
Ministry of Education: These are the four private universities that received licenses
According to a related announcement by the Ministry of Education, the evaluation process was based on strict specifications set by ETH.A.A.E. regarding quality assurance, implementation of the parent institution’s academic procedures, adequacy of staffing in academic and administrative/technical personnel, completeness of infrastructure and material-technical equipment, suitability of their organizational structure and adequacy of their support services. Correspondingly, E.O.P.P.E.P. focused on the technical and building specifications of the facilities.
The first N.P.P.E. branches that receive establishment and operation licenses are the following:
1.The Open University
American College of Thessaloniki – Legal Entity of University Education, Thessaloniki
· School of Humanities and Social Sciences
· Business School
· School of Technology and Sciences
2 The University of YORK
CITY Legal Entity of University Education
– European Branch of the University of YORK, Thessaloniki
· School of Law and Humanities
· School of Sciences
· Business School
3. The University of Keele
The University of Keele, Greece – Legal Entity of University Education, Athens
· Law School
· School of Humanities and Social Sciences
· Medical School and Health Sciences
4.University of Nicosia
UNIC ATHENS Legal Entity of University Education, Athens
· Medical School
· School of Humanities and Social Sciences
· Business School
· School of Sciences and Engineering
· School of Life and Health Sciences
· Law School
Immediate certification process for study programs
Following the completion of the licensing process, the certification procedure for study programs by ETH.A.A.E. will begin immediately, according to the law.
The Minister of Education, Religious Affairs & Sports Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, made the following statement: “We are completing a historic step, for the benefit of the younger generations of our homeland. The National Authority for Higher Education (ETH.A.A.E.) within the framework of its institutional role approved the applications, which meet the strict conditions set by the law. All applications come from recognized universities abroad, and their addition to the Greek academic map can only offer positive contributions.
Greek society now has the maturity, experience, and knowledge to understand exactly what was lost for decades and how the country can turn its emergence as a regional educational hub into a strategic advantage. We give the opportunity for tertiary education in Greece to keep pace with international trends, strengthen extroversion and provide more choices to our young people.
Above all, however, the government and the leadership of the Ministry of Education set as the highest priority the support of public universities. Against those who reproduce stereotypes, distort reality and invest in stagnation, we respond with facts: increase in regular funding, historically high levels in strengthening student welfare, new projects in dining, housing, equipment and research, an upgraded institutional framework that addresses problems without wronging university people.
Actions, not words, count in the field of public education. Our government faces daily the supreme responsibility towards the obvious, towards young people and the future of our homeland”.
Papaioannou: Greece turns a page in higher education
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, responsible for higher education issues, stated: “With the completion of the licensing process for Legal Entities of University Education (N.P.P.E.) in our country, Greece turns a page in higher education. This is a historic reform, which gives our young people more opportunities, more choices and more paths to excellence. The licensing process was completely transparent, documented and strict, as required by the institutional framework.
The New Democracy government and personally Kyriakos Mitsotakis, consistent with their pre-2019 electoral commitment, opened the way for creating a richer and more competitive academic map. Our goal is for Greece to become a hub of knowledge and university education in Southeast Europe, attracting students and scientists from around the world. At the same time, we continue to practically support public universities, with new faculty recruitments, with funding enhancement, with infrastructure upgrades. Because we deeply believe that education is the most powerful tool for development and social cohesion.
