ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than 300,000 inactive university students have been removed from the rolls in Greece, cutting the country’s official student population by nearly half, authorities said Friday.
The move marks the end of a decadeslong practice — formally abolished in recent legislation — that allowed extended enrollment to facilitate lifelong learning and lengthy breaks for work.
On Friday, the Education Ministry said that 308,605 students admitted to state-run universities’ four-year degree programs before 2017 had been removed from the records.
“Student status is not valid for life in any modern European university,” Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said. “We want degrees with value, which reflect effort, skills and passion.”
Ministry officials said that about 35,000 people successfully applied for reenrollment in 2025.