A very high-profile decision striking off “eternal students” from the rolls of Greece’s numerous four-year public higher education institutions will come in force as of Jan. 1, the relevant deputy education minister reiterated on Monday.
Speaking on news radio program, Minister Nikos Papaioannou said some 250,000 to 260,000 individuals will be affected.
The current center-right government has pledged to implement stricter rules for university studies, beginning with the specific measure to eliminate so-called “eternal students”, i.e. individuals enrolled for many years in a free tuition framework and without the prospect of graduation.
The same deregistration measure for five-year studies program will be implemented in 2026, followed by six-year programs in 2027.
He noted that so far, lists of inactive students have not been sent by the University of Athens and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. However, he assessed that both universities are ready to send the specific lists.
Papaioannou added that 35,000 individuals took advantage of a “second chance” option and applied for an extension of their studies.
At the same time, the deputy minister explained that inactive or “eternal/eternity” students do not entail a financial burden on universities, but they do affect institutions’ evaluations. As he said, the actual number of students will determine the correct ratios of admissions and administrative staff.
