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Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh): Tuition-Free Quota Places, Seven English-Taught Degrees and Admission

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is Greece's largest university, with about 88,000 students and 41 undergraduate programmes. A non-EU applicant has two ways in. Greek-taught programmes are tuition-free through the Ministry of Education quota: in 2026 AUTh offered these applicants 87 places and admitted 80. In English, the university runs seven fee-paying bachelor's degrees, from sport science at $6,810 (€6,000) to medicine at $13,630 (€12,000) a year, and medicine, law and clean energy accept an ordinary national school-leaving certificate.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki campus from the Biology building roof. Photo: Alkoclick / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Auth_Campus_from_Bio_roof.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Two features matter for applicants from Russia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia and similar systems. English-taught medicine costs clearly less than in Athens, and instead of UCAT you sit the programme's own online test. And the university's School of Modern Greek Language runs a year-long course for $850 (€750) and holds the exam that departments accept at registration.

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Location | Thessaloniki; main campus in the city centre, about 33.4 hectares |
| Founded | 1925; first students in 1926 |
| Size | about 88,300 students: 77,200 undergraduate, 6,600 master's, almost 4,000 doctoral; 10 faculties with 40 schools plus one single-school faculty |
| Tuition-free bachelor's | Greek-taught, via the ministry quota; 87 places for non-EU nationals across 41 programmes in 2026, 80 admitted |
| Language for the free route | B2 certificate; School of Modern Greek year-long course $850 (€750) plus a $57 (€50) fee |
| English-taught bachelor's | medicine, law, sport science, clean energy, materials science, environmental engineering, sustainable agriculture — $6,810–13,630 (€6,000–12,000) a year |
| Ranking | THE World University Rankings 2026: 801–1000 |
| Residence halls | about 1,500 beds; free for students selected on income and social criteria |

## Which AUTh Route to Choose {#section-1}

| Route | Language | Annual fee | Selection | Suits |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ministry quota | Greek | none | the ministry, by school-leaving grade, application in July | applicants ready for a year of Greek and a grade-based competition |
| Medical Degree | English | $13,630 (€12,000) | documents, online test and interview | future doctors who want English-taught medicine below Athens prices |
| Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) | English | $7,950 (€7,000) | documents and online interview | law students without Greek who want civil and common law |
| Engineering and science programmes | English | $6,810–9,080 (€6,000–8,000) | documents and interview | applicants strong in maths, physics and chemistry |
| Sport and Exercise Sciences | English | $6,810 (€6,000) | per programme rules | those interested in sport science and health |

## Tuition-Free Greek-Taught Bachelor's: 2026 Places and Grades {#section-2}

Non-EU nationals enter AUTh's Greek-taught programmes through the nationwide ministry competition: you apply in early July, list departments by preference and are placed by your school-leaving average on the 20-point scale. The steps and documents are in our guide to [applying to Greek universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-greek-universities).

| AUTh programme (2026) | Places | Admitted | Top grade | Last admitted |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medicine | 2 | 2 | 20.00 | 19.84 |
| Dentistry | 1 | 1 | 19.88 | 19.88 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 1 | 1 | 20.00 | 20.00 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 2 | 2 | 20.00 | 20.00 |
| Informatics | 1 | 1 | 19.62 | 19.62 |
| Pharmacy | 1 | 1 | 19.47 | 19.47 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | 19.36 | 18.59 |
| Economics | 4 | 4 | 18.97 | 17.65 |
| Film | 2 | 3 | 20.00 | 19.65 |
| Journalism and Mass Media | 3 | 3 | 19.62 | 14.90 |
| Law | 7 | 6 | 18.71 | 12.83 |
| Philology | 4 | 4 | 16.71 | 13.10 |
| Agriculture | 2 | 2 | 14.83 | 10.80 |
| Early Childhood Education | 3 | 1 | 11.43 | 11.43 |
| Physical Education and Sport Science (Serres) | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| All AUTh programmes | 87 | 80 | — | — |

The pattern resembles Athens, with differences. Medicine in Thessaloniki needed 19.84 in 2026, while Athens took only 20s. Law was more accessible: the last admitted candidate had 12.83 against 16.20 at NKUA, and one place stayed empty. Engineering programmes, by contrast, offer one or two places each with grades at the very top. The conversion of your certificate to the 20-point scale is issued by a Greek authority; an approximate table for five-point systems is in our guide to [free education in Greece](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-education-in-greece).

### Registration and Greek

AUTh registers quota admissions in September: 11–25 September in 2026. You first enter details and upload scans on register.auth.gr, then submit the signed application and documents to the department secretariat in person, through an authorised person or by registered post. Classes for 2026/27 began on 28 September. Without a Greek certificate, registration is completed the following year within that category's dates.

The AUTh School of Modern Greek Language covers the language year:

| Option | Dates for 2026/27 | Cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Year-long course, 20 hours a week | 28 September 2026 to 28 May 2027 (application deadline was 30 August 2026) | $850 (€750) plus a non-refundable annual $57 (€50) fee |
| "B2 for University Enrollment" exam | held on 1 September in 2026, written and oral parts on the same day | $79 (€70) |

The year-long course accepts entry levels from A1 to B2 and leads to levels from B2 up to C2.1. You need a school certificate or degree with an apostille and an official translation into Greek or English to enrol.

Greek stays on the timetable after you start. Every foreign student admitted to AUTh through the quota studies "Greek for academic purposes" at C1–C2 level at the School of Modern Greek instead of a foreign language, following their department's curriculum.

## English-Taught Bachelor's: Seven Programmes {#section-3}

All seven admit international students directly, outside the ministry quota. Fees are per academic year.

| Programme | Length | Fee | Key point |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medical Degree | 6 years, 360 ECTS | $13,630 (€12,000) | 60 places a year; online test unless you hold MediTest-EU or A-levels |
| Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) | 4 years, 240 ECTS | $7,950 (€7,000) | decision within 15 working days of the interview |
| Clean Energy Science and Engineering | 4 years, 240 ECTS | $9,080 (€8,000) | 40 places for September 2027, rolling applications in order of receipt |
| Materials Science and Engineering | 5 years, 300 ECTS | $9,080 (€8,000) | apply via Study in Greece or the programme site |
| Environmental Sciences and Engineering | 5 years, 300 ECTS | $6,810 (€6,000) | the lowest-priced of AUTh's English-taught engineering degrees |
| Sustainable Agriculture and Food Science | 5 years, integrated master's | $7,950 (€7,000) | joint programme of several schools |
| Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance | 4 years, 240 ECTS | $6,810 (€6,000) | run by the physical education schools |

### English-taught medicine (AUSoM)

The programme is for foreign citizens who completed their last two school years outside Greece. A national school-leaving certificate is accepted as the base document, so applicants from Russia or Kazakhstan do not need IB or A-levels.

- Test. A 60-question multiple-choice online test on school biology, chemistry and general reasoning. Candidates with MediTest-EU, or final (not predicted) A-levels at AAB or higher including chemistry and biology, are exempt.
- English. IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL 79+.
- Documents. Passport, your school certificate plus final-two-year grade sheets officially translated into English, a certificate that the qualification gives university access at home, and any home-country university entrance results.
- Deadlines. For 2027/28 there are two application windows: 9 November 2026 – 29 January 2027 and 22 March – 31 May 2027.
- Money. You pay $1,360 (€1,200) before the test; it is refunded if you are not admitted. After admission you pay a further $5,450 (€4,800), non-refundable, making a first instalment of $6,810 (€6,000). The second half of the annual fee is due at the end of the winter semester. Candidates exempted from the test through MediTest-EU or A-levels pay a non-refundable $6,810 (€6,000) straight away.
- No deferral. A place cannot be moved to the next year for visa delays, military service or any other personal reason.

Greek is taught during the programme; you do not need it beforehand. Clinical training takes place at the university hospital and six other hospitals in the city. English-taught medicine in Athens, Patras, Heraklion and Larissa is compared in our guide to [medicine in Greece](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-medicine-in-greece).

### English-taught law (International LL.B.)

- You need a school certificate, English at B2 (IELTS Academic 6.0+, TOEFL 79+ or Cambridge and Michigan certificates) and a successful online interview. IB, A-levels and SAT count in your favour but are not required.
- Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis. The interview is usually scheduled within a month of applying; the committee may set a knowledge test first.
- The fee is $7,950 (€7,000) a year, with a non-refundable $1,700 (€1,500) deposit on acceptance, credited towards first-year tuition.
- The programme is based on civil law with a dedicated common law track. Graduates can move straight into the one-year LL.M. in European Business and Economic Law.
- Classes begin in the first week of October. The programme's student services help with the AFM tax number, a bank account, insurance and the residence permit.

### Engineering and science programmes

Clean Energy Science and Engineering, run jointly by the schools of mechanical engineering, chemistry and agriculture, has 40 places for September 2027. Applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no written exam: selection is by file plus a short online interview on physics, chemistry, mathematics and English. Your final-year transcript must show passed mathematics, physics and chemistry. You confirm a place with a $1,140 (€1,000) advance, and registration closes on 30 September 2027. The full four-year degree costs $36,340 (€32,000).

## What a Year in Thessaloniki Costs {#section-4}

| Item | Amount | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tuition | $0 on Greek-taught quota programmes; $6,810–13,630 (€6,000–12,000) in English | 2026/27 and 2027 intake |
| Greek year | $910 (€800) for course and fee | School of Modern Greek, 2026/27 |
| Living in Thessaloniki | $510–910 (€450–800) a month | AUTh Faculty of Law estimate |
| Student residence permit fee | $170 (€150) on issue | Law 5038/2023; since 2026 the permit covers the full programme length (Law 5275/2026) |
| Minimum funds for the permit | $740 (€650) a month | Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024 |

Living in Thessaloniki is usually cheaper than in Athens, but the residence permit requires the same minimum. For lawful ways to pay tuition and deposits from Russia, see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia); every cost item across Greece is compared in our guide to the [cost of studying in Greece](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-greece).

## Residence Halls and Finding a Flat {#section-5}

AUTh's student housing consists of three buildings near the "40 Ekklisies" neighbourhood plus the former Egnatia hotel (11 Leontos Sofou St.), about 1,500 beds in total, with a restaurant, reading room and Wi-Fi. There is no rent, but entry is through a competition based on family income and social circumstances; an undergraduate keeps the place for the programme length plus two years. First-year applications open the day after the admission lists are published.

Everyone else can use the university's rental listings platform: only landlords post flats, you can search by price, area and size, and the service is free. The $1,140 (€1,000) annual housing allowance is for Greek and EU nationals; non-EU students do not qualify.

## Visa, Residence Permit and Work {#section-6}

A non-EU student enters Thessaloniki on a national D study visa and then applies for a student residence permit in Greece. Your department or the English-taught programme's office prepares the papers the consulate needs, and AUTh's Foreign Student Support Unit helps with the permit and arrival. Work is allowed part-time, outside study hours and up to 20 hours a week. Graduates may extend their stay for 12 months on a separate permit to find a job in their field or start a business. Visa steps are in our [Greece student visa guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-greece-student-visa).

## Who AUTh Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere {#section-7}

A good fit for:

- applicants who want English-taught medicine but not the $19,300 (€17,000) a year and UCAT or MCAT requirement in Athens;
- future lawyers without Greek: the LL.B. accepts a school certificate plus B2 English;
- applicants in engineering and science taught in English: on the Study in Greece list, all four English-taught public-university bachelor's programmes in engineering and the natural sciences belong to AUTh;
- quota applicants who want wide choice: 41 Greek-taught programmes, from film to veterinary medicine.

Better to consider alternatives if:

- you need an English-taught bachelor's in economics, business or IT: AUTh has none; in Thessaloniki, for example, the University of Macedonia teaches accounting and finance in English;
- your average is below 4.0 out of 5 and you are aiming for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine through the quota: in 2026 those places went at around 20;
- you may need to defer: English-taught medicine does not hold places over.

Other institutions are compared in our overview of [universities in Greece](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-greece); the capital's main alternative is profiled on our [National and Kapodistrian University of Athens](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-athens) page, and the country page on [studying in Greece](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-greece) gives the wider picture.

## Common AUTh Application Mistakes {#section-8}

- Mixing up Greek exams. For quota registration, the School of Modern Greek's "B2 for University Enrollment" exam, the NKUA certificate or the Centre for the Greek Language B2 are accepted; other course certificates are not meant for this.
- Leaving the medical test late. The $1,360 (€1,200) payment is due before the online test date, and applications are accepted only in two windows, closing 29 January and 31 May 2027.
- Ignoring what is non-refundable. After admission to medicine, $5,450 (€4,800) is kept; on the LL.B., the $1,700 (€1,500) deposit.
- A late visa. English-taught medicine does not carry a place over to the next year, even when the visa is delayed.
- Missing subjects. Clean energy requires mathematics, physics and chemistry on the final-year transcript.
- Expecting a free residence place without selection. Rent-free rooms go only to winners of the income and social-criteria competition.

## Ranking {#section-9}

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, AUTh is in the 801–1000 band. For choosing a programme this says little: language, certificate requirements, price and the clinical or practical base of the specific field matter more.

## FAQ {#section-10}

### Can I study at Aristotle University for free?

Yes, if you study in Greek and are admitted through the ministry quota. For school leavers from outside the EU, AUTh set aside 87 places across 41 programmes in 2026, and 80 were taken. You need a high school-leaving average and a Greek B2 certificate at registration.

### How much does English-taught medicine at AUTh cost?

$13,630 (€12,000) a year for six years. The first instalment of $6,810 (€6,000) is made up of $1,360 (€1,200) before the online test and $5,450 (€4,800) after admission, and the second part is non-refundable.

### Do I need UCAT or BMAT for medicine in Thessaloniki?

No. An applicant with an ordinary school certificate takes the programme's own online test: 60 multiple-choice questions on biology, chemistry and reasoning. MediTest-EU or final A-levels at AAB or above exempt you from the test.

### Does AUTh accept a Russian or Kazakh school certificate for English-taught programmes?

Yes. Medicine, the LL.B. and Clean Energy Science and Engineering list a school certificate with an English translation as the base document. You also need B2 English and an interview; medicine adds the online test, and clean energy requires mathematics, physics and chemistry on the transcript.

### What grade do I need for AUTh through the quota?

There is no single threshold. In 2026 the last candidate admitted to medicine had 19.84, psychology 18.59, law 12.83, while early childhood education and physical education in Serres left places unfilled.

### Where can I learn Greek for AUTh?

At the university's own School of Modern Greek Language. For 2026/27 the year-long course costs $850 (€750) plus a $57 (€50) fee, and the "B2 for University Enrollment" exam costs $79 (€70).

### Does AUTh have residence halls for international students?

There are about 1,500 beds in three residences and an annex. Students who win the income and social-criteria competition live there free. For everyone else, the university runs a free listings platform with flats posted directly by landlords.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [AUTh: about the university, student and faculty numbers](https://www.auth.gr/en/university/), [history](https://www.auth.gr/en/history-en/), [undergraduate programmes](https://www.auth.gr/en/ugrad-en/)
- [Times Higher Education: AUTh profile, WUR 2026](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/aristotle-university-thessaloniki)
- [Greek Ministry of Education: 2026 quota results](https://www.minedu.gov.gr/site/70726-28-08-apotelesmata-eisagogis-allodapon-allogenon-stin-tritovathmia-ekpaidefsi-2026) and [cut-off grades for non-EU nationals (XLS)](https://www.minedu.gov.gr/publications/docs2026/%CE%91%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%BF_%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%92%CE%91%CE%A3%CE%95%CE%99%CE%A3_%CE%95%CE%A0%CE%99%CE%9B%CE%9F%CE%93%CE%97_%CE%91%CE%9B%CE%9B%CE%9F%CE%94%CE%91%CE%A0%CE%A9%CE%9D_-_%CE%91%CE%9B%CE%9B%CE%9F%CE%93%CE%95%CE%9D%CE%A9%CE%9D_%CE%95%CE%9A%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%A3_%CE%95%CE%A5%CE%A1%CE%A9%CE%A0._%CE%95%CE%9D%CE%A9%CE%A3%CE%97%CE%A3_%CE%A0%CE%91%CE%9D%CE%95%CE%9B.2026.xls)
- [AUTh Department of Studies: 2026/27 registration of admitted foreign nationals](https://dps.auth.gr/2026/09/10/foreigners_2026/) and [residence halls and housing allowance](https://dps.auth.gr/%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B7/)
- [AUTh student guide: housing](https://studentguide.auth.gr/rent/)
- [AUTh School of Modern Greek Language: year-long course](https://smg.web.auth.gr/on-site/yearly-20-on-site-course/), [B2 for University Enrollment](https://smg.web.auth.gr/b2-for-university-enrollment/), [course for quota-admitted students](https://smg.web.auth.gr/el/allodapoi-foithtes-auth/)
- [AUTh School of Medicine: admission and fees](https://aristotlemedical.edu.gr/admission-fees), [FAQ](https://aristotlemedical.edu.gr/faq), [2027/28 applications](https://aristotlemedical.edu.gr/apply-now)
- [AUTh Faculty of Law, International LL.B.: FAQ](https://aristotlelaw.edu.gr/faq/) and [admissions and finance](https://aristotlelaw.edu.gr/admissions-and-finance/)
- [Clean Energy Science and Engineering: admissions, $9,080 (€8,000) a year and $36,340 (€32,000) in total](https://cese.auth.gr/admissions/)
- Study in Greece programme pages for AUTh: [Sport and Exercise Sciences](https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/1729/details/sport-and-exercise-sciences-for-health-and-performance), [Materials Science and Engineering](https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/2243/details/materials-science-and-engineering), [Environmental Sciences and Engineering](https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/2244/details/environmental-sciences-and-engineering), [Sustainable Agriculture and Food Science](https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/2246/details/sustainable-agriculture-and-food-science)
- [Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024: minimum funds (PDF)](https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3_%CE%9A%CE%A5%CE%91-%CE%95%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%BA%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%80%CF%8C%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BD.pdf) and [Law 5038/2023, Articles 118, 119, 171 (PDF)](https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf)
- [Law 5275/2026, Articles 30–32 (Gazette A' 17, 6 February 2026): full-length student permit, work limit and H.11 job-search permit (PDF)](https://sete.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260100017.pdf)
- Checked on 29 September 2026. ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10.

Comparing the quota with AUTh's English-taught programmes, choosing departments for the quota form, preparing for the online test and interview, documents and the application are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Quota places are allocated by the Greek Ministry of Education; admissions committees decide English-taught places; the consulate issues the visa, the migration authority the residence permit, and the university allocates residence places under its own criteria.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Applying to Greek Universities in 2026–2027: The Foreign-Applicant Quota, English-Taught Programmes and a Step-by-Step Plan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-greek-universities)
- [Free Education in Greece: Who Studies Tuition-Free and What the "Free" Route Really Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-education-in-greece)
- [Medicine in Greece in English: Five Public Programmes, Fees and Admission for 2026–2027](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-medicine-in-greece)
- [Cost of Studying in Greece: Tuition, Living Costs and Mandatory Fees for 2026/27](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-greece)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying in Greece for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-greece)

Updated: September 2026