Greek Universities Enforce New Graduation Deadlines, Expelling 300,000 Students

Universities across Greece have begun enforcing strict new graduation deadlines, marking a major overhaul of the country’s higher education system. As part of the reform, institutions have removed over 308,000 inactive students from official university records, officials confirmed.

The policy, which came into effect at the start of 2026, applies nationwide and significantly changes how long students can remain enrolled in undergraduate programs.

Over 308,000 Inactive Students Removed

According to university data, 308,605 students were removed from registries as of December 31, 2025. These students had enrolled in four-year degree programs before 2017 but had failed to meet academic requirements to continue.

Authorities clarified that exemptions remain in place for students facing:

• Serious medical conditions
• Proven full-time employment obligations
• Major family responsibilities

The government said the cleanup ensures university records now reflect active participation, improving transparency and administrative efficiency.

New Graduation Deadlines Explained

Under the newly enforced rules, students must complete their degrees within defined limits:

• Four-year programs: Maximum of 6 years
• Five- and six-year programs: Maximum of 8–9 years
• Part-time students: Eligible for extended study periods

A transition window that ended in late 2025 allowed current students extra time to finish pending coursework.

Why Greece Supports the Reform

Policymakers argue that Greece’s higher education system has long suffered from high enrollment but low graduation rates. Keeping inactive students on official rolls distorted performance metrics, international rankings, and funding calculations.

Officials also said unlimited study durations weakened academic standards and burdened universities with unnecessary administrative work. With state funding now partially tied to performance indicators like graduation rates, accurate student data has become critical.

Critics Warn of Social Impact

Student groups and some academics have criticized the move, saying strict deadlines may disproportionately affect working-class and part-time students, many of whom juggle full-time jobs alongside studies.

Opponents argue that inactive students typically do not receive public benefits such as housing or textbooks, questioning whether the removals produce meaningful cost savings. Staffing shortages and curriculum changes, they say, can also delay graduation even for committed students.

Aligning Greece With Global Standards

For years, Greece stood apart from other countries with no enforced completion limits. By contrast:

• Germany and France enforce fixed study timelines
• UK and US universities require steady academic progress
• Cyprus has long applied deregistration rules

With this reform, Greece aims to align its universities with international academic norms, while still allowing flexibility for students facing exceptional circumstances.

Why This Matters

The sweeping changes signal a turning point for Greek higher education, reshaping student expectations, university accountability, and academic standards. As Greece modernizes its system, the debate over access versus discipline is likely to intensify in the months ahead.