Maximum Duration of Studies

Maximum Duration of Studies According to Law 4957/2022 (Gov. Gazette A' 141)

  1. The maximum duration of studies in an undergraduate program, with a minimum duration of eight (8) academic semesters for the award of the degree, is this time, increased by four (4) academic semesters. After the completion of the maximum duration of studies, subject to the following paragraphs, the Department's Administrative Board issues a decision of expulsion.

  2. The internal regulation of the Higher Education Institution (HEI) specifies the procedural details and the supporting documents for the exceptional extension of the maximum duration of studies as mentioned in paragraph 1 for serious health reasons that concern the student or a first-degree relative (blood relative), spouse, or a person with whom the student has entered into a cohabitation agreement.

  3. The maximum duration of studies, as defined in Article 76 of Law 4957/2022, applies to students admitted to HEIs from the academic year 2022-2023 and onwards. For students enrolled in undergraduate programs at HEIs when Law 4957/2022 came into effect, and who had not exceeded the minimum duration of their studies at the time of the publication of Law 4777/2021 (Gov. Gazette A' 25), the calculation of the maximum duration of studies under paragraph 1 of Article 76 is applied from the start of the academic year 2021-2022 and onwards. Students who were enrolled in undergraduate programs at HEIs when Law 4777/2021 came into effect, and who had exceeded the minimum duration of their studies, are granted a time equal to the minimum duration of their studies to complete their studies from the start of the academic year 2021-2022 and onwards, without the right to extend the study time as per paragraph 1 of Article 76.

Therefore, according to paragraph 1 of Article 76 and paragraph 3 of Article 454 of Law 4957/2022, the following apply regarding the maximum duration of studies:

  1. For students admitted from the academic year 2022-2023 onwards:

The maximum duration of studies in an undergraduate program, with a minimum duration of eight (8) academic semesters, is the minimum study time, increased by four (4) academic semesters (two (2) academic years).

As a result, students admitted in the academic year 2022-2023 must complete their studies by the academic year 2027-2028 (including the September 2028 examination period). Students admitted in the academic year 2023-2024 must complete their studies by the academic year 2028-2029 (including the September 2029 examination period).

  1. For students:
  • Admitted in the academic year 2021-2022, and
  • For students who, in the academic year 2020-2021, had not exceeded the minimum study time (this applies to students who were in their 1st to 4th year of study during the academic year 2020-2021):

The maximum duration of studies in an undergraduate program, with a minimum duration of eight (8) academic semesters, is the minimum study time, increased by four (4) academic semesters (two (2) academic years).

The calculation of the maximum duration of studies applies from the start of the academic year 2021-2022 and onwards.

Therefore, these students must complete their studies by the academic year 2026-2027 (including the September 2027 examination period).

  1. For students who, in the academic year 2020-2021, had exceeded the minimum study time (this applies to students who were in their 5th year or beyond in the academic year 2020-2021), they are granted a time equal to the minimum duration of their studies, which is eight (8) academic semesters (four (4) academic years) for four-year programs, starting from the academic year 2021-2022 and onwards.

As a result, these students must complete their studies by the academic year 2024-2025 (including the September 2025 examination period).