Greece is increasingly attracting international universities seeking to set up campuses within the country, following recent reforms that allow branches of foreign institutions to operate within the national higher education system.
According to the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, four overseas universities submitted applications before the 28 February 2026 deadline to open branches in Greece, aiming to launch programmes in the 2026-2027 academic year. The institutions include Georgetown University, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, European University Cyprus, and Roger Williams University.
In a statement, the ministry said the applications demonstrate "further strengthening interest from the international academic community for a presence in our country, within the framework of the new institutional environment created for the operation of non-state, non-profit branches of foreign universities."
Georgetown University has announced plans to offer two postgraduate programmes in Greece. Three of its schools are ranked among the top 20 globally in their respective academic fields. The University of Sunderland also submitted a separate application to open a branch in Greece for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Meanwhile, five universities requested a re-evaluation of previously submitted applications to establish campuses. These include the University of Essex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, London Metropolitan University, the University of Derby, and the University of West London.
Officials state that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to internationalise Greek higher education, enhance the global presence of the country's universities, and foster additional cooperation between foreign institutions and Greece's public university system.
However, the right-wing government's education reform has faced opposition from students, academics, and trade unions through protests, strikes, and occupations aimed at defending public higher education. Critics argue that it weakens the public system, promotes a market-driven, two-tier system, increases social inequalities, and pushes universities towards commercialisation aligned with market demands and private investment.
