STUDY ABROAD GREECE

Greece is the land of Homer and The Iliad and Odyssey, which is considered the foundation on which modern literature took shape. Greece is the cradle of western civilization and of course the birth place of democracy as well. As a study abroad student in Greece you have a chance to experience a culture that has been the foundation of modern western thought. This, apart from anything else is a good reason for choosing Greece for your study abroad program.

While keeping pace with modern times, Greece has remained true to its roots and the present day Greek language is almost the same as it was in the days of Plato. Its education system, however, amalgamates traditional values with modernization.

The Hellenic Republic, commonly known as Greece, has been the center of many old civilizations by virtue of its geographical location. While involved in your high school study abroad, you have a chance to study the rise and fall of some of the greatest civilizations, such as, Classical and Hellenistic Greek eras, the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.

The government supports and funds the country’s 18 universities and 14 institutes of technological education as the Greek constitution bars any private educational institution to grant degrees. The top ranking universities of Greece include, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Democritus University, National Technical University of Athens, University of Crete, and University of the Aegean. Whereas there are numerous high school study abroad courses available, a summer study abroad in Greek language and mythology are two of the most favored courses.

If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, any EU country, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or USA you will not need a visa and can study in Greece for up to 90 days. All others wanting to join a study abroad program require a student visa which is provided within four to ten days for a cost ranging from $ 20 to $ 45 depending upon your nationality.

Obtaining a students’ visa for entry in to Greece is simple and requires fairly limited documentation. A valid passport, an acceptance letter from an institute and one photograph is all that is required to be submitted with a completed visa application form. Study abroad scholarships are offered by a number of universities as well as foundations and trusts that promote high school summer abroad programs in Greece.

Greece has been at the crossroads of different civilizations and has evolved on the foundation of its strong ties with civilizations of like Europe, Africa and Asia. Present day Greece shows marked influences of different cultures - Roman, Arab, Latin crusaders, Venetians, Slavs, Albanians, Turks, Italian, and the Byzantine Empire.

Athens is the capital city as well as the commercial hub of Greece. Athens is also home to some of the spectacular ruins of its earlier splendors. The ruins of the Greek civilization and the main temple of the goddess Athena, the Parthenon, (built more than 400 years before Christ) are perched proudly on the flat oval top of Acropolis - a 260 foot high hill in Athens. Below the Acropolis you will find Europe’s first theatre, Theatre of Dionysus. Used for paying homage to Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and drama, the theatre could house up to 17000 spectators in its heydays. The theatre is being renovated but still displays the fascinating world of Greek entertainment and history. Even if architecture and archeology do not interest you, a tour of the ruins will provide an invigorating respite from academics during your summer study abroad.

Greece is not about history and mythology alone. You can choose a private island out of the more than 2000 islands that surround Greece for a bustling night life and to get some relief from your busy schedules of high school study abroad. The Cycladic Islands will give you a real life glimpse of what you have probably seen only in picture postcards - the alluring white buildings in the backdrop of bright blue church domes and golden beaches that meet the pristine blue sea. The lush green Northeast Aegean Islands are known for its beaches that rank among the most beautiful in Greece. The bigger islands of Crete, Evia and Cyprus, however, require much more time to explore.