Significant decrease in the official student count

With a drastic step the Greek education authorities have reduced the number of students officially registered in the public universities of the country. According to the Ministry of Education more than 308.600 inactive students are removed from the list of those who are allowed to study at the university per Ministry of Education. This measure almost halves the national recorded student population.

The inactive students were those who had been enrolled in bachelor's degree courses but had not yet graduated. They were those who got in the year prior to 2017 and were in the program but never made it legally fit to stay on as a student. The first-stage implementation of the new laws took place on December 31, 2025, marking the end of the first phase of the reform.

End of Long Study Breaks and “Forever Student” Status

The reform eliminates in Greece a very old practice, allowing students to remain in the universities for an indefinite period, and they could take long gaps of time to work, travel or for personal matters. This arrangement was for decades, but the policy was abolished by legislator to make it more consistent with modern European standards.

Sofia Zacharaki, Education Minister, underlined that the situation of the students should be a true reflection of their efforts and progress in academics. She pointed out that degrees should be an indication of the real skills and the work done, not just a matter of time on the university lists.

Reenrollment Opportunities

Greece’s Education Ministry has unveiled that notwithstanding the removal of over 300,000 students, still about 35,000 persons reapplied successfully for admission into university programs in 2025. The applicants indicated a refurbished interest in finishing their studies and also conformed to the stipulations imposed by the modified law.

 

Impact on Greek Universities

Following the removals, the number of active university students in Greece, such as those who are still enrolled and have met the academic requirements, is more than 350,000. The mentioned students are distributed throughout 25 state-run higher education institutions.

Public universities in Greece have always been the primary choice for undergraduate programs, and the state pays for these programs. Private universities were not in the system until recently; however, Greece has started to introduce accredited private higher education institutions along with the public ones.

Reasons and Reactions

The officials claimed that the inactive students were not a burden to the universities, financially speaking, but their presence made it harder to coordinate academic resources and planning. By having updated lists of students, the administrators of the university think they can make more precise predictions regarding class sizes, staff, and infrastructure.

Nikos Papaioannou, the Deputy Minister of Education, stated that the clearer records would liberalize the academic quality, and daily operations and also help Greece's international university rankings.

Nonetheless, the critics, especially those coming from the academic community, argue that the reform does not sufficiently consider the disruptions caused by the extreme economic crisis that Greece went through during the last decade. They contend that the policy might be unreasonably harsh on students who have had a particularly tough time during those years.