According to l.4957/2022 , Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) may organize third-cycle study programmes which aim to promote original scientific research and make a substantial contribution to the advancement of knowledge in at least one (1) scientific field and lead to the acquisition of a doctoral degree after the preparation and successful support of a doctoral thesis.

The third-cycle study programmes include the mandatory preparation of a doctoral thesis in a subject related to the scientific area of the Department and may also include an independent programme of doctoral study courses. It consists of the attendance and successful completion of an integrated course or other educational or research activities corresponding to a minimum of thirty (30) credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - ECTS).

The doctoral studies regulation sets:

1. The terms and conditions of the organisation of third cycle study programmes and entry of non-Master’s graduates as PhD students.

2. The deadline for submission of applications, the supporting documents and the language of the thesis.

3. The supervision of the doctoral thesis.

4. The maximum number of doctorate candidates for each supervisor.

5. Any additional duties of doctorate candidates.

6. All issues relevant to the organisation and operation of third cycle programmes.

The duration of studies for the acquisition of a PhD degree is at least 3 years. Six (6) calendar years are defined as the maximum duration for the completion of the doctoral thesis.

According to l. 5094/2024, in cases of cooperation with other higher education institutions in Greece, as well as with recognised institutions abroad, the successful completion of the joint doctoral studies programme may lead to the award of a single degree by the cooperating institutions, in accordance with the special protocol of cooperation, which is drawn up by the cooperating Departments and approved by decision of the Senate of the ΗΕΙ.

Furthermore, pursuant to l.4957/2022, HEIs can organize industrial PhDs. Candidates who meet the enrollment criteria for doctoral study programmes may submit an application for the preparation of a doctoral thesis in collaboration with a company or industry or its subsidiary operating in the country. This collaboration concerns the conduct of industrial or applied research with the aim of generating research results that can lead to the development of innovative products or services. 

The doctoral regulations outline the terms and conditions for the completion of industrial doctoral studies, cooperation with private entities for the conduct of doctoral research within these entities, and the terms and possibility of representation of the entity on the three-member or seven-member scientific committee (l. 5094/2024).

Admission requirements

Eligible to apply for a doctoral thesis are postgraduate degree holders of:

• Greek higher education institutions.

• Equivalent foreign institutions.

• According to l. 5029/2023, graduates of an undergraduate study programme of at least five years’ duration in a Higher Education Institution, corresponding to three hundred (300) ECTS credits, if there is a relevant provision in the Department’s Doctoral Studies Regulations.

PhD candidates have to submit an application to the secretary of the respective department. Their application must include:

• The proposed title.

• The language of the thesis (other than Greek if this is foreseen in the doctoral studies regulation).

• The name of the provisional supervisor.

Candidates should also submit the following:

• A curriculum vitae

• A thesis proposal

• Any other documents defined by the doctoral studies regulation.

The department’s general assembly classifies the doctorate candidates’ applications based on their relevance to the research field. Then, it appoints a committee consisting of three academic staff members of the department concerned.

The committee’s first duty is to examine the applications and interview the candidates. The committee then makes a proposal towards the department’s general assembly, where it states:

• The reasons whether the candidate should be accepted or not.

• The provisional supervisor, in case he/she has not already been proposed by the candidate.

The general assembly takes into account the supervisor’s opinion and the committee’s proposal. It approves or disapproves the candidate’s application justifying its decision.  In case of approval, the language of the thesis is also defined.

Universities may issue calls for doctorate candidates.  In these, they define:

• The terms and conditions.

• Deadlines.

• The application procedure.

• Additional information on the candidates’ duties, such as time limits for the completion of the doctoral thesis.

Doctorate candidates are students who follow the third cycle of studies at Universities. A doctorate cannot be completed in less than three full calendar years from the date of the appointment of the three-member advisory committee to which the thesis is presented (l. 4957/2022). The maximum time allowed for the completion of the doctoral thesis is six calendar years. The maximum duration of the doctoral thesis may be extended by decision of the Assembly of the Department at the request of the doctoral candidate but only with the consent of the three-member advisory committee and for exceptional reasons.

Doctoral candidates have the following obligations: (a) submit a detailed written report on the progress of their thesis on an annual basis to the three-member advisory committee and provide an oral presentation of this progress, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on Doctoral Studies; (b) cooperate with the supervisor and the members of the advisory committee in supporting the preparation of their thesis; (c) provide auxiliary teaching work in accordance with the needs of the first and second cycle programmes of the Department, as indicated by the supervisor; and (d) fulfill any other obligation set forth. Doctoral candidates have the rights of postgraduate students and any other rights specified in the regulations for doctoral studies. Doctoral candidates may participate in research projects/programmes of the HEI and may receive grants under co-funded, self-funded or other projects/programmes for the financial support of their doctoral research.

The members of the three-member advisory committee have either the same or related subject matter specialty or the same or related scientific work as the doctoral thesis being undertaken. The three-member advisory committee is responsible for assisting the doctoral candidate throughout the preparation and the writing process of the doctoral thesis as well as for monitoring its progress.

• Information and career counselling services.

• Support to students in the diagnosis of their inclinations and skills.

• Access to the labour market.

The doctoral candidate before a seven-member examination committee, which poses questions to the candidate, defends a doctoral thesis in public. The public defense of the thesis may be held by video conference if it is not possible for all members of the examination committee to be physically present. Once the defense has been completed, the seven-member examination committee meet in private to evaluate the doctoral thesis in terms of its quality, completeness, originality of thought and contribution to science and, based on these criteria, to approve or reject the award of the doctoral degree. The award of the doctoral degree requires the agreement and positive evaluation of the doctoral thesis by at least five members.

Organisational variations