National Technical University of Athens

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About the National Technical University of Athens

NTUA was established in 1837 by royal decree as a technical school for architectural education that at first taught on Sundays and holidays. By 1840 a regular day school had been added in its own building on Piraeus Street, and in 1871 it moved to new buildings in the Patission Street complex.^[1] Wikipedia dates the move to 1873 and gives the early name as Royal School of Arts, so sources differ on details.^[8]

The university calls itself a university of science and technology with eight engineering schools and a ninth school of applied mathematical and physical sciences. The engineering schools are Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Computer, Architecture, Chemical, Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics, Mining and Metallurgical, and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.^[1][7] Teaching is spread over the Zografou Campus and the Patission Complex.^[7]

How is NTUA ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, NTUA is 378th and the highest-ranked Greek institution, ahead of the University of Athens (402nd), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (502nd), the University of Crete (649th) and the University of Patras (771–780).^[3] A second Greek news report of 22 June 2026 says NTUA stayed within the top 400 but fell 23 places from the previous year.^[9]

Wikipedia shows two different QS 2027 positions for NTUA (=378 in its ranking table and 387 in its text); we use 378, which the Greek press report states.^[8][3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so one position is only one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at NTUA?

NTUA’s nine schools cover civil, mechanical, electrical and computer, chemical, rural and surveying, mining and metallurgical and naval architecture and marine engineering, as well as architecture and applied mathematical and physical sciences.^[7] Engineering degrees at Greek public universities take five years.^[4] Undergraduate teaching is generally in Greek.^[4]

Some master’s programmes are taught in English. The Ministry’s programme database lists the MSc in Computational Mechanics (School of Chemical Engineering) in English, 3 semesters and 90 ECTS credits.^[6] Study in Greece notes that international master’s programmes are open to Greek and foreign students and typically run about three semesters including the thesis.^[10]

How much does NTUA cost?

Greece has no single tuition rate. The Eurypedia description of the system (page updated 28 October 2024) says that first-cycle studies at public universities are free of charge and that fees may be charged for particular postgraduate programmes.^[5] Study in Greece states that Greek-taught undergraduate programmes are free and that English-taught bachelor’s programmes charge roughly €5,000–15,000 per year.^[4] For master’s programmes it gives an average of €3,000–7,000 per year, set by each programme’s own regulation.^[10] Its page on doctoral studies does not mention tuition.^[11]

The European Commission’s country profile (page updated 24 April 2026) lists €5,000–15,000 per year for non-EU/EEA bachelor’s students and €3,000–7,000 for non-EU/EEA master’s students.^[12] We found no official page that states how these rules apply to a non-EU student in a Greek-taught diploma programme at NTUA, so confirm this with the school secretariat.

Example: an English-taught master’s

For the MSc in Computational Mechanics the Ministry’s database shows €1,500 for full-time non-EU students, marked with an asterisk it does not explain, and lists no EU fee. It does not say whether the amount is per year, per semester or for the whole programme, and it showed no open application call when we read it.^[6] For rent and living costs in Athens, see our Greece guide.

How do you apply to NTUA?

• Bachelor’s / diploma, foreign applicants: Study in Greece describes the route for applicants who, like their parents, do not hold Greek nationality. You prepare your documents with an apostille or legalisation, have them translated into Greek and certified, and apply electronically through the Ministry of Education’s system for foreign applicants (exams-foreigner.it.minedu.gov.gr) during a short window each year. After acceptance you contact the school secretariat for visa documents.^[4]
• Master’s: admission requirements, selection and fees are set by each programme. The Ministry’s master’s finder and the Study in Greece portal list the programmes and their application calls.^[10][6]
• Doctorate: the departments set their own admission requirements, and a postgraduate diploma is normally required.^[11]

NTUA’s English pages have no dedicated page for international degree students; they link Erasmus+ and a “Knowledge without Frontiers” page, which we did not summarise.^[7] We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme.

Do you need to speak Greek?

For undergraduate engineering and architecture programmes, plan on Greek. Study in Greece notes that courses are generally taught in Greek, so Greek language study may be relevant for foreign applicants.^[4] NTUA’s English pages do not state a required Greek level, so ask the school you are interested in.^[2]

For international master’s programmes, Study in Greece says that knowledge of one or more foreign languages is an essential prerequisite; the accepted proof is set by each programme.^[10] The MSc in Computational Mechanics is listed with English as its language of instruction.^[6]

More about studying in Greece

• Greece: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Greece

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• University of Crete
• University of Patras