14 - Greece - Progression of students

Progression of students is carried out at the level of Higher Education institutes in the context of the respective internal regulation. Please refer to the respective subdivisions for more information per sector.

Progression of Students in Higher Technological Education

The study regulations in the Departments of Technological Education Institutes (TEI) and the Higher School for Teachers of Technological Education (ΑΣΠΑΙΤΕ/ASPAITE) do not provide for the promotion of students from one semester to the next. They are based on the successful completion of each Module.

Students who fail a course, if the course is compulsory, will have to attend it again in another semester; but if it is an elective or optional subject, they will be able to select another such subject. If the course failed has been designated as a prerequisite for other dependent courses, the student does not have the right to select a course dependent on it or having it as a prerequisite. For students to pass a course, whether compulsory or optional, they must receive a pass mark of five (5) [out of a possible ten (10)]. This mark results from a combination of the mark received on written examinations at the end of the semester (60%) and the progress mark resulting from the performance of students in progress exams during the semester (40%).

Students complete their studies and receive their degree when they have passed the number of courses provided in the Curriculum and have accumulated the required number of credits.

Progression of Students in Higher University Education

There are three examination periods during each academic year: 1) January-February, 2) June, and 3) September, with each period lasting 2-3 weeks.

Students are entitled to be examined during the September period on courses from both semesters (winter and spring); during the June period, they may be examined on courses from the spring semester only. In January-February, in addition to the winter semester courses, students may be examined on the courses from the most recent spring semester. Students who fail a compulsory course are required to repeat it in a subsequent semester, given that attendance and successful examination in the courses set as compulsory by the Curriculum are a prerequisite for the award of a diploma, this applying to all students of the department, sector or direction. Students who fail an optional course should either repeat it in the following semesters or replace it with another optional course so that they cover the necessary number of courses specified by the Curriculum.

For students to pass a course, whether compulsory or optional, they must receive a pass mark of five (5) [out of a possible ten (10)]. This mark results either solely from the mark received on the written and/or oral exams at the end of each semester or from a combination of the mark received on examinations and the mark resulting from the participation of students in various educational activities (laboratory exercises, tutorials, writing of assignments, etc).

Students complete their studies and receive their degree when they have passed the number of courses provided in the Curriculum and have accumulated the required number of credit.

Progression of Students in Postgraduate Study Programmes

As regards first-level postgraduate studies leading to the granting of a Postgraduate Specialisation Degree (ΜΔΕ/MDE), the progress and promotion of postgraduate students rely on their passing the examinations in the courses specified by the Programme in question, in conjunction with the participation of the postgraduate students in the overall research, writing and educational activities defined by the Programme.

As regards each postgraduate student attending a postgraduate study programme, the Special General Assembly of the Department appoints a supervisor from among the teaching and research faculty (ΔΕΠ/DEP) to whom postgraduate duties have been assigned in the context of the specific programme. The said supervisor will be responsible for monitoring and checking the postgraduate student’s progress.

The way in which the performance and the entire work of postgraduate students are evaluated, the certification of the successful completion of their studies, the mark given to the ΜΔΕ/MDE and the way this is deduced are specified in the special regulation of the Programme of Postgraduate Studies (ΠΜΣ/PMS), which also sets forth any other detail regarding the organisation of postgraduate studies. The duration of a ΠΜΣ/PMS cannot be less than one (1) full calendar year.

As regards second-level postgraduate studies leading to the granting of a doctoral degree (ΔΔ/DD), doctoral candidates are obliged to submit a written report on the progress of their work at the beginning of each academic year. In case this report is not submitted during the academic year, the Special General Assembly, upon scientificrecommendation of the three-member advisory committee, is entitled to make available the subject matter to other postgraduate students. As regards the overall duration set for the elaboration of a doctoral thesis, it depends on the field of knowledge. In all events, it cannot be less than three (3) full calendar years. After candidates have met their obligations, their doctoral thesis is evaluated and judged by a sevenmember examining committee, which includes the supervisor of the thesis, two more members of the Advisory Committee [provided that they are members of the Teaching and Research Faculty (ΔΕΠ/DEP)] and another four ΔΕΠ/DEP members of a Greek university, who are appointed by the Special General Assembly of the Department and belong in the same academic field or in one related to the topic of the candidate’s thesis. At least three members of this examining committee must be professors.

The candidate presents and defends his/her thesis before the examining committee, which evaluates it by judging its originality and its contribution to the advancement of science. Its approval requires the agreement of at least five (5) members of the examining committee. Specific details about how a doctoral thesis is written and judged and how a doctoral degree is awarded as well as the stipulations regarding the type and grade of the doctoral degrees awarded are set forth in the Regulation of Postgraduate Studies of the respective ΠΜΣ/PMS or the Internal Regulation of the Department concerned.

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Date: 2009
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