Greece's 2026 University Admissions: Scores Rise, But Nearly 10,000 Spots Remain Empty

Greece's higher education system faces significant imbalances, with nearly 10,000 university spots remaining unfilled after the 2026 entrance exams. Out of 62,329 available places, 52,590 were filled, leaving 9,739 vacant. This situation, where some departments admitted only a single-digit number of students, reignites debate about restructuring the academic landscape.

Despite the vacancies, the overall trend for admission scores shows an upward movement. Educational analyst Yiannis Zambelis reported that 62% of university departments saw an increase in their entry scores compared to 2025, with the average change being a rise of 263 points. Out of 451 departments examined, 279 recorded higher scores, while only 164 saw a decline.

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The general picture of the scores is upward. 62% of departments recorded an increase compared to 2025, with the average change being +263 points. Of the 451 departments examined, 279 saw an increase, while only 164 moved downward.

The most striking increases were observed in engineering and computer science programs, particularly at regional branches. For instance, Mechanical Engineering in Serres rose by 2,450 points, Civil Engineering at the University of Patras by 1,775 points, and Mechanical Engineering in Heraklion by 1,890 points. Computer science departments also experienced significant gains, with Computer Science in Kastoria up by 1,700 points, and Computer Engineering and Informatics at the University of Patras and Ioannina increasing by 1,285 and 1,013 points, respectively. These increases are attributed to the growing career prospects in the tech sector.

Traditional high-demand fields like medicine, law, and psychology remained stable, with medical schools showing slight score increases. A notable surprise was the Firefighter Officers School, which saw a dramatic rise of 7,570 points. Conversely, the Department of Plant Production at the Agricultural University of Athens experienced the largest drop, losing 4,230 points. The overall trend indicates a shift towards fields with strong employment prospects, yet the substantial number of vacant positions and low demand in certain regional departments pose a critical challenge for future higher education planning.

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Particularly regional departments showed spectacular increases, with Mechanical Engineers in Serres recording an increase of 2,450 points, Civil Engineers at the University of Patras 1,775 points, and Mechanical Engineers in Heraklion 1,890 points.