Aristotle University of Thessaloniki · Founded 1925
One of Europe’s largest Universities. One of Europe’s most liveable cities.
AUTh is Greece’s flagship public university — with 92 years of research leadership, faculty in the global top 2%, and a campus at the heart of a city that has welcomed students from across the world for centuries.
Greece’s largest and most research-intensive university.
Founded in 1925, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece and one of the most important research universities in south-eastern Europe. With 11 schools, 41 departments, and over 40,000 students, it is a true research university in the European tradition — combining deep disciplinary expertise with broad interdisciplinary collaboration.
AUTh ranks in the 501–600 band in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU, Shanghai Rankings) — placing it among the top universities globally and the highest-ranked institution in Greece in several subject fields
As a public university of the Greek state, AUTh’s degrees are automatically recognised across the European Higher Education Area — and its qualifications carry the full weight of EU academic and professional recognition frameworks.
501–600ARWU world ranking — top global band
41Departments across 11 schools
2,300+Academic and research staff
40,000Students enrolled on campus
EUPublic university — fully recognised across Europe
The School of Modern Greek Language of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has been offering courses in Greek language and culture to foreigners and expats since 1970 and operates ever since under the supervision of the Faculty of Philosophy.
The strength of AUTh is not in its size — it is in the depth of its research output and the international standing of its faculty. For students, this means learning from scientists who are actively advancing the frontiers of the field
100 years.
300,000 alumni.
Greece’s flagship university.
AUTh was founded in 1925 — three years after the major population exchange between Greece and Turkey — as a national university for the new, enlarged Thessaloniki. It was named after Aristotle, the philosopher born in Stageira in northern Greece, whose intellectual legacy defines the university’s commitment to empirical enquiry and disciplinary breadth.
Over nine decades, AUTh has educated hundreds of thousands of Greek professionals — doctors, engineers, scientists, lawyers, economists and artists who have shaped modern Greek society and contributed to institutions and industries across the world. Today it remains Greece’s largest university by student enrolment and one of its most research-active institutions by publication output and funding secured.
A campus in the heart of a living city.
The AUTh campus is one of the largest university campuses in south-eastern Europe — a 33-hectare urban campus located within the city, not on its outskirts. The School of Mechanical Engineering is situated within the main campus, meaning students have everything within walking distance: laboratories, libraries, student unions, cafés and sports facilities.
The campus hosts a full range of student organisations, sports clubs, cultural societies and international student networks.
Student support services include an international student office, academic counselling, psychological support, and accommodation assistance. The university’s student health service is free for enrolled students, as is access to all campus libraries and digital resources.
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A city that has always welcomed students from across the world.
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second city — a Mediterranean port at the crossroads of Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. It is one of the most culturally rich, historically layered, and student-friendly cities in Europe. And it is extraordinarily affordable.
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A city that has always welcomed students from across the world.
Thessaloniki is easily accessible via Macedonia International Airport (SKG), located about 15 km from the city center, with direct connections to major European destinations. The city is connected to Greece’s national motorway network, providing convenient road access from Athens, the Balkans, and neighboring countries. Its strategic port serves commercial shipping, cruise vessels, and regional ferry services in the Northern Aegean
Getting around Thessaloniki is easy thanks to the modern Metro subway and the extensive OASTH urban bus network serving the city and surrounding areas. For regional and intercity travel, KTEL buses provide frequent connections to destinations across Northern Greece. Together, these transport options offer efficient and affordable mobility for residents and visitors alike
The University Gym of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki provides the students and personnel of the university with a wide range of sports programmes and activities. All programmes aim to improve the quality of life of the members of the academic community through sports, games and physical activity.
There are two big refectories which seat 1,000 and 500 students respectively, whereas two smaller refectories seat members of the personnel of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The Kalandra University Camp is the property of the University of Thessaloniki, the members of the university and the wider community.
The following figures represent typical monthly costs for a student living independently in Thessaloniki in 2026.
Shared accommodation reduces these costs further.
Housing (rent & utilities): 700 € / month
Food, travel & personal Expenses: 900 € / month