Greece’s highest administrative court has annulled the operating licenses and study-program approvals of three branches of foreign universities, while the government insists that the ruling does not undermine the legal framework that opened the way for non-state universities in the country.
The Council of State issued decisions concerning the new system for non-state, non-profit university branches, known in Greek as NPPΕs, finding procedural and administrative flaws in specific licensing and certification decisions. The rulings concerned CITY University, Keele University and Anatolia College, according to the court’s announcement and Greek media reports.
Crucially, however, the court reiterated its earlier position that Greece’s Constitution does not prohibit the establishment and operation of branches of foreign universities from European Union countries or states covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services, provided they operate under a special legal framework designed to protect academic standards and academic freedom.
Procedural flaws behind the annulments
In two cases, the Council of State found that the licensing process had proceeded without the competent certification body confirming that the institutions had complied with observations concerning building modifications and required documentation.
In another case, the court found that the opinion supporting a license had been based on an evaluation report prepared by a committee member who had a relationship with the educational institution under review, creating what the court described as grounds for suspicion of bias.
The court also annulled study-program certification decisions, partly because of the cancellation of the underlying operating licenses and partly because the criteria used for certification were not sufficiently specific in quantitative and qualitative terms.
Government says academic year will not be lost
The Education Ministry moved quickly to reassure students and institutions that the decision does not invalidate Greece’s broader reform allowing foreign universities to establish branches in the country.
According to government officials, the issues identified by the court are bureaucratic and procedural and can be addressed through the appropriate administrative process. The ministry has also sought to reassure students that the academic year will not be lost.
The distinction is significant in Greece, where higher education has long been shaped by constitutional restrictions on private universities. Law 5094/2024 created a framework for non-profit branches of foreign universities to operate in the country, triggering intense political and legal debate.
Earlier this year, Greece’s 2026 Annual Progress Report said four institutions had been granted operating licenses under the new framework: The Open University, the University of York, Keele University and UNIC Athens.
Thursday’s ruling represents the first major test of how that framework has been implemented.
For now, the Council of State has drawn a clear distinction between the legality of the broader system and flaws in individual administrative decisions. The immediate question is whether the affected institutions can correct the deficiencies identified by the court and continue operating without disruption to students.
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