IB Diploma: University Admission in Greece

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

The IB Diploma opens two doors in Greece: the ministry's route for foreign school graduates into Greek-taught programmes, and direct applications to English-taught programmes. The rules differ, and only the second names the IB explicitly. This guide separates what the sources say from what you should confirm.

The ministry route (Greek-taught programmes)

Foreign graduates who meet the conditions in the ministry's general instructions take no entrance exam. Selection is by the overall mark of your leaving certificate. The instructions speak of a lyceum certificate "or equivalent" from a school abroad, completed in the last two classes of schooling, which must give you access to university in the country where you graduated. They do not mention the IB by name, so ask the ministry's examination directorate (phone and address are in the instructions) before you rely on this route. The full eligibility conditions are in how to get into a university in Greece.

Two requirements matter especially for IB students:

Grade conversion. If your total is not on a 0 to 20 scale, a Greek authority must issue a certificate with your average on that scale. An IB total out of 45 is not on that scale, so expect to need this certificate, and your rank depends on the converted figure. The authorities that issue it are listed in document recognition for Greece.
Greek language. You need a Greek certificate at B2 to enrol, unless your school taught and examined you in Greek. See Greek language requirements for Greece.

Check that the application window fits your schedule: in 2026 it ran only from 2 July to 9 July, and the ministry announces the dates for each year separately.

English-taught programmes and the IB

These programmes decide for themselves and several state IB requirements. Examples from the programme pages in October 2026:

Programme	IB requirement
Medicine in English, University of Athens	at least 36 points, including three Higher Level subjects (two from Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and three Standard Level subjects
Medicine in English, University of Crete	IB accepted with three Higher Level subjects, two from Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics; no minimum score stated
Sport and Exercise Sciences, Aristotle University	at least 28 points, with 5 or more in two relevant Higher Level subjects
Bachelor of Laws, Aristotle University	not mandatory, but 28 out of 45 or more is viewed positively
Archaeology, History and Literature of Ancient Greece, Athens	IB or leaving certificate, indicative average of 70%
International Business and Technology, AUEB	IB or leaving certificate; no score stated

The medical schools in Thessaloniki (Aristotle University) and Larisa (Thessaly) accept the IB or a school certificate as the academic base and then use an admission test. The only exemptions they list are MediTest-EU, BMAT at Thessaly and A-levels at AAB, so IB students should plan to sit the test or ask whether an exemption applies. See study medicine in English in Greece.

Predicted grades and timing

Athens Medicine accepts official predicted grades from your school when your final results arrive after the application deadline, and an offer can be conditional. In the Athens case, the platform for the 2027/28 year was announced to be open from 16 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, and the school diploma must be dated July 2027 or earlier. The deposit of €5,000 is refundable if a conditionally admitted student misses the predicted grades and the committee withdraws the offer, according to the programme page.

Other programmes publish rolling admissions or a single deadline, such as 1 August for the Athens archaeology programme in 2026/27, so apply with predicted grades where the programme allows and confirm that with the admissions office.

English and other requirements

Every English-taught programme asks for proof of English, and the IB does not replace it unless the programme page says so. Several programmes exempt native speakers and students whose secondary education was entirely in English, but not all do, so check each page. Typical certificates and scores are listed in bachelor's degrees in English in Greece.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.