Μake us preferred on Google The rector of the University of Patras, Christos Bouras, has sounded the alarm over the gradual decline in the number of students at Greek universities.
Speaking to ERTnews, he said that about 400 students who passed this year’s Panhellenic exams ultimately did not enroll at the University of Patras. According to Bouras, this development is not due to a single factor but is the result of a series of pressures facing families and young people.
The Cost of Studying and Housing
According to Bouras, the main causes include financial difficulties, the increased cost of housing and transportation, and the operation of non-state universities.
In fact, the non-enrollments do not concern only departments with low demand. As the rector pointed out, losses were recorded even at the School of Medicine, where nine admitted students did not complete their enrollment, as well as in popular engineering departments.
At the same time, the student housing problem remains particularly acute, as rents continue to be high. The rector noted that students who meet the required criteria will be accommodated in the available student dormitories, while the University of Patras continues to provide free meals until the relevant procedures are completed.
Demographics: The Challenge of the Coming Years
Demographic decline is also causing particular concern, as it is expected to affect higher education even more in the years ahead.
According to the figures presented by Bouras, about 70,000 places are currently offered in higher education, while about 60,000 students are admitted. The estimates he cited show that by 2040 the number of new students could drop to 30,000 to 32,000, while the number of available places will remain at roughly the same level.
Given this outlook, the rector spoke in favor of an overall restructuring of the academic map, leaving open even the possibility of merging universities and departments.
Internationalization and Attracting Students From Abroad
As part of its efforts to address the consequences of the demographic problem, the University of Patras is investing in internationalization.
As Bouras said, the institution is creating new foreign-language study programs and developing partnerships with universities abroad, with the goal of attracting more students from other countries.
At the same time, special emphasis is being placed on accessibility. The rector referred to a special vehicle that transports students with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments to and from the university’s facilities every day.
As he noted, these initiatives are part of a broader effort to create a university that is accessible to everyone and free of discrimination.
