In a landmark step toward the internationalization of Greek public higher education, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom have signed a Preliminary Agreement to establish the first dual undergraduate medical degree program in Greece.

The six-year program, which will be taught entirely in English, will be based in Athens and delivered collaboratively by faculty from both universities’ medical schools. It is set to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2028.

Graduates of the program will receive two medical degrees—one from NKUA and one from the University of Exeter—opening pathways to medical practice in both Greece and the UK. As such, the program is poised to offer a truly international educational experience, combining academic excellence with cross-border professional mobility.

A Strategic Cooperation Committee will be established under the agreement to oversee the development of the program and ensure academic standards are harmonized in line with both countries’ educational and regulatory frameworks.

Final approval of the program is pending authorization from the relevant regulatory bodies in the UK and Greece—the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE), respectively.

This dual degree initiative marks a historic collaboration between two leading institutions and reflects NKUA’s broader strategic commitment to fostering international partnerships, enhancing academic quality, and promoting innovation within Greek public higher education.

Commenting on the agreement, NKUA Rector Professor Gerasimos Siasos stated:

“Today’s signing of the Preliminary Agreement with the University of Exeter is a momentous occasion for the University of Athens and our Medical School. The creation of the first international dual medical degree program based in Athens confirms our strategic commitment to internationalization and