Frequently asked questions.
Twenty-five questions covering the programme structure, application process, tuition and scholarships, and what daily life looks like as a student in Thessaloniki. If your question isn't here, the Programme Secretariat is here to help.
Programme structure.
The programme offers 55 courses in total. Each student must successfully complete 45 of them — approximately 80% of the available curriculum — accumulating 270 ECTS across the first nine semesters. The tenth semester is dedicated to a thesis project worth 30 ECTS, bringing the total to 300 ECTS.
ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System — the standard credit system used across European higher education. One ECTS credit corresponds to 28 hours of total student workload, including lectures, lab time, fieldwork, reading, assignments, and exam preparation.
Each course in the programme is worth 6 ECTS — equivalent to roughly 168 hours of total work. Students typically take five courses per semester, totalling 30 ECTS per semester and 60 ECTS per academic year.
No courses are formally compulsory — all 55 courses are technically elective. However, the programme operates within a structured framework that ensures balanced and progressive learning, organised around six interdisciplinary pillars (foundations, soil & water, plant & animal production, food science & chemistry, sustainability & environment, and economy & governance).
The flexible-elective model means students can shape their academic direction without sacrificing coherence — but the curriculum is designed so that successful progression naturally covers the core scientific competencies.
The academic year consists of two semesters — a winter semester and a spring semester. Each includes 13 weeks of teaching, followed by an exam period.
An interesting feature: students can take courses offered in the current semester or in previous semesters of the same academic period (winter or spring). This allows personalised study planning and prevents delays caused by course-availability constraints.
Yes. Absences cannot exceed 30% of the total teaching hours. Documented cases of force majeure are the only exceptions. The 30% threshold applies per course — exceeding it means the student cannot sit the course examination that semester.
Teaching is primarily in person, using the infrastructure of both the School of Agriculture (180-hectare farm, 17 specialised laboratories) and the School of Chemistry (3 dedicated laboratories). The programme uses synchronous distance-learning methods only on an exceptional basis — for example, when a guest lecturer is contributing remotely or when extraordinary circumstances require it.
The combination of in-person lectures, lab exercises, fieldwork, project work, and seminars is what makes the programme genuinely hands-on rather than primarily theoretical.
Yes. From your first day of enrolment, you are assigned an academic advisor who provides guidance and support throughout your studies. Faculty members from both participating Schools — Agriculture and Chemistry — serve as academic advisors, ensuring that students benefit from cross-disciplinary mentorship reflecting the programme's joint nature.
During the tenth (final) semester, students undertake and defend a thesis worth 30 ECTS on a topic related to sustainable agriculture, food science, or related interdisciplinary fields. The thesis is the integrative capstone of the programme — bringing together the scientific principles, lab and field methods, and analytical approaches developed across the previous nine semesters.
Topics are agreed with thesis supervisors from one or both participating Schools, depending on the disciplinary scope of the project.
Assessment methods vary by course and may include:
- Written examinations
- Oral examinations
- Laboratory performance evaluation
- Project reports and case studies
- Continuous assessment during the semester
- Or a combination of the above
The final grade for each course may combine continuous assessment, lab work or other assignments, and written or oral examinations. Electronic assessment tools may be used to facilitate grading, ensure transparency, and provide timely feedback.
Application & admissions.
Applications are accepted electronically throughout the year — the programme uses a rolling-applications model rather than a single deadline. The full selection cycle for each academic year must be completed by 30 September, which means earlier applications generally have more time for evaluation, interview scheduling, and visa processing.
For September 2027 entry, the cycle closes on 30 September 2027.
The minimum requirement is CEFR Level B2 or higher. Six pathways are accepted:
- English as your mother tongue
- A recognised B2+ certificate from an examination body listed by ASEP / the Greek Ministry of Education
- A degree from a Greek School of Foreign Languages or equivalent
- A Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate fully taught in English
- A high school diploma where the last two years were taught in English
- Other qualifications recognised at the discretion of the Programme Committee
A standalone language-teaching certificate is not sufficient — you must submit the underlying degree on which the certificate is based.
Yes. Shortlisted candidates participate in an online interview with members of the Programme Committee. The interview assesses:
- Communication and reasoning skills
- Academic and personal readiness
- General understanding of issues in the agri-food sector
At the Programme Committee's discretion, an English language test may be conducted before the interview, with topics specified in the call for applications.
Yes. Appeals against the results may be submitted within 5 working days of the notification of results, by written request to the Programme Secretariat. Appeals are reviewed by the Programme Committee.
After acceptance, you have 15 days to enrol by submitting any final supporting documents and paying the €1,000 enrolment deposit. The first instalment of tuition is due during the enrolment process. Failing to enrol within this window is treated as a refusal of the place, which is then offered to the next candidate on the waiting list.
In normal cases, no — applications and acceptances relate exclusively to the academic year specified in the call. Candidates wishing to study in a subsequent year must reapply.
Exceptionally, the Programme Committee may approve postponement of studies for one academic year by reasoned decision, provided the candidate documents serious reasons. Granting or denying such postponement is at the sole discretion of the Committee.
Tuition & scholarships.
Tuition is €7,000 per academic year, paid in two equal instalments of €3,500 each. Across the five-year programme, total tuition is €35,000.
In addition, applicants pay a €150 application fee at the time of submission and a €1,000 enrolment deposit upon acceptance — both non-refundable.
Tuition is paid into a bank account held by the Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE-AUTH) of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki — a regulated public-university account. Payment instructions are provided after enrolment, and the corresponding receipt is issued and notified electronically after each instalment.
The first instalment is due during enrolment in the programme; subsequent instalments are due before the start of each semester.
Six categories of scholarship support are available:
- Entry scholarships — up to three per year, full first-year tuition exemption for top-ranked candidates
- Excellence scholarship — 50% tuition exemption for the student with the highest annual GPA
- Excellence prizes — first-year award and best-graduate award (honorary or cash)
- War-zone & protected-status — full or partial tuition exemption for students from war zones or under international/subsidiary protection
- Social scholarship — case-by-case awards for students facing financial hardship, health issues, or family crisis
- Reciprocal scholarships — partial tuition exemption in exchange for work supporting the programme (library, administrative, research assistance)
Full details on the main Admissions page.
No — both are non-refundable. The €150 application fee is required for the application to be considered complete and to proceed to evaluation; it is not refunded if the application is rejected or withdrawn. The €1,000 enrolment deposit is similarly non-refundable in cases of withdrawal from the programme.
Living & studying in Thessaloniki.
Several real-estate agencies in Thessaloniki specialise in helping students find apartments. Options range from university residences to private rentals, with private studio rents typically running between €250–€450/month depending on neighbourhood and proximity to campus.
The Programme Secretariat can provide information on recommended housing agencies and student-friendly neighbourhoods after enrolment.
For your studies, no — the entire programme is taught in English. All courses, lab instructions, exams, and academic interactions happen in English.
For everyday life, basic Greek is helpful but not necessary. Thessaloniki is a major university city with a young, multilingual population — most service-industry workers, university administrators, and younger residents speak English comfortably. Many students pick up everyday Greek over the course of the five years; AUTh runs Greek-language courses through the School of Modern Greek if you'd like to learn formally.
AUTh provides a range of services for all students, including international ones:
- Library & Information Centre — one of the largest in the Balkans
- Free meals for eligible students through the Student Club
- Free psychological support through KESYPSY (Counselling and Psychological Support Centre)
- Accessibility services for students with disabilities
- Sports facilities including gym, courts, and a summer campsite at Posidi, Chalkidiki
- Digital infrastructure — institutional email, eLearning platform, secretariat services
Plus an academic advisor assigned to every student from day one. See the About AUTh page for full details on each service.
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