Study Guide

Admission Requirements

Article 4 of the Regulations of the Master’s Programme

The minimum number of students admitted annually is fifteen (15), and the maximum number may not exceed thirty (30). If there is a tie between two or more candidates for the last available spot in the ranking of successful candidates, the candidate with the higher undergraduate GPA will be selected; the selection shall be made by drawing lots by the Coordinating Committee of the Master’s Programme.
Graduates of Law Schools at Greek universities or equivalent institutions abroad are eligible to apply for admission to the Master’s Programme.
Graduates of other Schools or Departments of domestic universities, as well as those from recognized equivalent institutions abroad, are also eligible to apply for admission to the Master’s Programme. They must submit their application to the Coordinating Committee no later than June 30 of each year. The Assembly of the Law School, upon the recommendation of the Coordinating Committee, makes a reasoned decision, assessing their ability to meet the Programme’s requirements, regarding the inclusion of these graduates on the list of candidates.
Admission to the Master’s Programme is granted upon submission of an application and a personal interview, in accordance with Appendix A of these Regulations, following an announcement made within the month of May of each year. By decision of the Assembly of the Law School, upon recommendation of the Coordinating Committee, admission may be granted through written examination, in accordance with the provisions of Appendix B of these Regulations.
In addition to the method of admission to the Master’s Programme, the announcement specifies:
a) The necessary qualifications of the candidates.
b) The required documents/attestations and the deadline for their submission.
c) The method for submitting the supporting documents.
d) The dates of the written examinations or interviews.
All candidates are required to submit the following supporting documents via email to the Master’s Programme Secretariat by the deadline specified in the announcement, regardless of their admission method:
a) Application for admission to the Master’s Programme.
b) A copy of degree(s) from a Greek university. If the undergraduate studies were completed abroad, the applicant is not required to provide an equivalency of academic qualifications from the Hellenic National Academic Recognition and Information Center (Hellenic NARIC). Even if an equivalency certificate is submitted, the School of Law will still conduct the recognition.

The Law School is responsible solely for the academic recognition of degrees, not for their equivalency. Responsibility for the recognition of the equivalence of degrees remains with the Hellenic NARIC.

Applicants who have already submitted an application or are enrolled in a Master’s Programme, subject to the condition of submitting an individual recognition decision issued by the Hellenic NARIC, are exempt from this requirement, and their application or continuation of studies shall be assessed in accordance with the criteria set out in the new law.

Procedure for verifying the general type of first-cycle (undergraduate) degree:

The authenticity is certified:

with Hague Apostille,
by submitting the degree and simultaneously notifying the foreign university by the applicant. This notification is accompanied by an official email from the foreign university, which enables the Secretariat of the relevant Academic Department to verify its authenticity,

Where the specialisation conferred by the degree is required, verification is carried out on the basis of its indication on the Diploma and the transcript of records or the Diploma Supplement,
Where the grade is relevant, the corresponding grade conversion is applied in accordance with the procedure communicated by the Hellenic NARIC,
Academic recognition is granted only for the purposes of the specific procedure, is established by decision of the Assembly of the Law School, and is not issued to the applicant. If the applicant requires a relevant certificate, they must apply to the Hellenic NARIC for equivalence.
c) Certificate of studies accompanied by a detailed transcript of all undergraduate courses, including the exact final degree grade.
d) Photocopy of the applicant’s national ID.
e) Foreign applicants must submit a certificate of proficiency in the Greek language issued by a Modern Greek Language School of a university, a Greek high school diploma, or a degree from a Greek-language university.
f) Certificate of English proficiency at B2 level.
g) Cover letter outlining the applicant’s academic interests, motivations, and reasons for wishing to enrol in this Master’s Programme.

In addition to the required documents, candidates are invited to submit, where available:

a) Evidence of relevant research and/or writing activities and/or participation in educational programs.
b) Evidence of relevant professional experience.
c) Certificates of proficiency in languages other than English.

In addition to the above documents/certificates, in the case of admission through written examination, applicants who wish to be exempted from the foreign language examination must submit a certificate of proficiency at C2 level in English, French, or German, in accordance with the Council of Europe’s proficiency levels, which is recognized by the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP).

Admission Selection Process and Criteria

Article 2 of Appendix A

to the Regulations of the Master’s Programme

The evaluation process is conducted in three (3) phases.
The first phase is preliminary. To move on to the second phase, candidates must submit all required supporting documents/attestations, including certification of proficiency (Level B2) in English, in accordance with the Council of Europe’s level system, which is accepted by ASEP. Additionally, candidates must provide a cover letter outlining their academic interests, motivations, and reasons for wishing to enrol in the Master’s program.

In addition to the mandatory supporting documents/attestations, candidates may submit, where available: a) Evidence of relevant research and/or writing activities and/or participation in educational programmes. b) Evidence of relevant professional experience. c) Certificates of proficiency in foreign languages other than English.

In the second phase, the Coordinating Committee of the Master’s Programme considers the following criteria:
i) Degree grade: Calculated on a scale from five to ten (5-10), multiplied by a factor of four (4). The maximum score is forty (40) points.
ii) Research or writing activity and/or participation in educational programmes: This includes previous research or writing activities (publications, conference presentations, and research projects), as well as participation in educational activities, summer courses, or international competitions at recognized institutions in Greece or abroad. The maximum score is ten (10) points.

The scoring is structured as follows:

Participation in a programme or activity lasting less than one month: 1-2 points.
Participation lasting one to three months: 3-5 points.
Participation lasting more than three months or documented research/writing activity (publication, presentation, contribution to a research project): 6-10 points.
The relevance to the subject area of the Master’s Programme is taken into account accordingly (±2 points).

iii) Relevant professional experience: Maximum score: ten (10) points.

The scoring is based on the duration and relevance of the employment to the subject matter Master’s Programme:

— Internship undertaken prior to graduation (through the National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA), Erasmus+, and other recognized internship programs): 3 points

— Voluntary work in organizations (student groups, NGOs, etc.): 2 points

— Traineeship to become a lawyer: 2 points

— Professional experience after graduation: 1–3 points

The experience must be relevant to the subject matter of the Programme; in cases where the relevance is not complete, the score may be reduced by up to two (2) points.

iv) Knowledge of foreign languages (other than English):

Proficiency in English at a minimum B2 level constitutes an eligibility requirement and is not awarded points.

— Maximum score: ten (10) points, allocated as follows:

— B2 level in one additional language: 3 points.

— C1 level in one additional language: 5 points.

— C2 level in one additional language: 7 points.

The third phase consists of an oral interview, scored on a scale from zero (0) to ten (10). The interview score is multiplied by a factor of three (3), meaning that the interview may contribute up to a maximum of thirty (30) points.

At this stage, the candidate’s cover letter is also considered, in which they present their academic interests, motivations, and reasons for wishing to enrol in the Program.

The interview process is conducted by the Coordinating Committee of the Master’s Programme and aims to comprehensively evaluate the candidate’s academic aptitude, scholarly maturity, and overall profile.

The thirty (30) points allocated to this stage are distributed as follows:

Academic competence and critical thinking: up to twelve (12) points.
Relevance of academic interests to the subject matter of the Master’s Programme: up to eight (8) points.
Oral communication and argumentation skills: up to five (5) points.
Professional orientation and the potential contribution of the Master’s Programme to the candidate’s academic/professional development: up to five (5) points.

Candidates who score fewer than thirty (30) points in the second phase may not be invited to the interview.

If, after the second phase, there are thirty (30) or fewer candidates and all are deemed eligible, the Coordinating Committee may admit all of them without conducting an interview.

Article 3 of Appendix A to the Regulations of the Master’s Programme

Based on each candidate’s final score, a ranking list is drawn up in order of merit. The final list of successful candidates is approved by the Assembly of the Law School. If there is a tie between two or more candidates for the last available spot in the ranking of successful candidates, the candidate with the higher undergraduate GPA will be selected; the selection shall be made by drawing lots by the Coordinating Committee.
Successful candidates are notified by the Secretariat of the Master’s Programme via e-mail and are invited to respond by e-mail within five (5) days as to whether they accept their admission to the Programme and its operating terms. Failure by a selected candidate to respond within the above deadline shall be deemed a refusal of acceptance. Appeals against the results must be submitted within five (5) days from the announcement of the results. In the event of refusals, the Secretariat of the Master’s Programme shall notify the immediately following candidates in order of ranking from the relevant list of successful candidates.

Enrollment of Successful Candidates and Course Declarations

Article 5 of the Regulations of the Master’s Programme

Enrollment of successful candidates begins after the announcement by the Secretariat of the Programme. The enrollment period lasts ten (10) days.
The documents required for enrollment are: a) a photocopy of the applicant’s national ID card, and b) one (1) photograph. If deemed necessary, the Assembly of the Law School may request additional supporting documents.
Upon submission of the above documents, postgraduate students must declare the courses they wish to take during the first (A) semester of their studies. This procedure is repeated immediately after the completion of the February examination period for spring semester courses. The relevant declarations are recorded electronically in each postgraduate student’s individual academic record.

Duration of Studies

Article 6 of the Master’s Programme Regulations

The duration of studies in the Master’s Programme is three (3) semesters. The first two (2) semesters focus on coursework, while the third semester is dedicated to writing the master’s thesis.

The maximum permitted period for the completion of studies is determined by a decision of the Assembly of the Law School and is set as follows:

– five (5) semesters for postgraduate students enrolled on a full-time basis.

– eight (8) semesters for postgraduate students enrolled on a part-time basis.

The winter (A) semester begins in the second (2nd) week of October and lasts thirteen (13) full weeks. The spring semester begins in the third (3rd) week of February and likewise lasts thirteen (13) full weeks. Upon recommendation of the Programme’s Coordinating Committee and by decision of the Assembly of the Law School, the start date of each semester may, for exceptional reasons, be modified.
The Master’s Programme offers the possibility of part-time study, subject to an application to the Coordinating Committee and a decision of the Assembly of the Law School, for employed postgraduate students, provided they demonstrably work more than twenty (20) hours per week. The same part-time option is also available to non-employed postgraduate students, provided there are serious reasons, such as disability, illness, pregnancy, or military service, which prevent them from meeting the minimum requirements of the full-time program. In such cases, part-time status must be approved by the Law School Assembly. The maximum duration of part-time study is six (6) semesters. During the first four (4) semesters, the student must complete coursework, and during the last two (2) semesters, the Master’s thesis must be completed.
Postgraduate students may be granted, upon submission of a relevant application, a temporary suspension of studies, which may not exceed two (2) consecutive semesters. During the suspension, the student’s postgraduate status is suspended. The period of suspension shall not be counted towards the maximum duration of regular studies. The suspension is granted by decision of the Assembly of the Law School and only if the serious reasons referred to in the preceding paragraph are met. Enrollment in another postgraduate or other educational programme, as well as employment, even for more than twenty (20) hours per week, shall not constitute serious grounds for granting a suspension. A postgraduate student who has been granted a suspension of studies shall, upon resumption, remain subject to the Regulation of Studies applicable at the time of their initial enrollment as a postgraduate student.
Postgraduate students may be granted, upon submission of a relevant application, an extension of studies to complete their coursework and to write the Master’s thesis, which may not exceed one (1) year, i.e., two (2) semesters. The extension is granted by decision of the Assembly of the Law School only if one of the serious grounds justifying the granting of a suspension is met.
Courses are conducted in person, except in cases where the law provides otherwise.

Rights and Obligations of Postgraduate Students

Article 7 of the Master’s Programme Regulations

Postgraduate students have all the rights, benefits, and facilities provided to undergraduate students, with the exception of the right to receive free textbooks.
Postgraduate students of the Programme are required to:
a) Attend diligently to all lectures, labs, and other activities prescribed for each course. For the successful completion of each course, postgraduate students must not have more than three (3) absences per course. Otherwise, they must retake the course in the semester in which it is offered. In such a case, the duration of studies shall be automatically extended.
b) Submit all required assignments within the prescribed deadlines for each course.
c) Attend the scheduled exams.
d) Submit, within the deadline announced by the Secretariat of the Master’s Programme, the declaration indicating the courses they wish to attend each semester.
e) Submit to the Secretariat of the Master’s Programme, prior to the evaluation of their Master’s thesis, a solemn declaration stating that it does not contain any instances of plagiarism.
f) Respect and abide by the decisions of the collective bodies of the Master’s Programme, as well as the rules of academic integrity.
g) Scholarship recipients are additionally required, by decision of the Assembly of the Law School, to perform the duties assigned to them in courses, laboratories, and research activities of the Programme.

Instructors’ Obligations

Article 10 of the Master’s Programme Regulations

The instructor (or, in the case of co-teaching, the instructors) responsible for teaching a course in the Master’s Programme is required:

a) Strictly adhere to the course schedule and timetable of lectures.
b) Determine, in an academically sound manner, the content of the postgraduate course within the scope of its specific subject matter.
c) Hold at least two (2) office hours per week, allowing for unimpeded communication with students on matters relating to their studies and the specific course.
d) Announce, at the beginning of the semester, the detailed course syllabus, covering a period of thirteen (13) weeks.
e) Make up any teaching hours lost due to reasons attributable to the instructor, on days and times announced in a timely manner.

Assessment of Postgraduate Students

Article 11 of the Master’s Programme Regulations

The method of assessment for postgraduate students for each course is determined by the instructor at the beginning of the semester and communicated to students along with the course syllabus. The method of examination and grading must ensure fairness, objectivity, and transparency.
The assessment of postgraduate students’ performance takes place during the second week of February for the courses of the winter (A) semester and during June for the courses of the spring (B) semester. Students who pass are graded on a scale from six (6) to ten (10), with the possibility of half-point increments, while those who fail are graded with an E (Repeat). Instructors are required to announce the examination results no later than ten (10) days after the date of the examination.
In the event of a grade of E, which corresponds to a mark below six (6), the postgraduate student is entitled to be re-examined only once in a resit examination held in September for courses in both the winter (A) and the spring (B) semesters. Instructors are required to announce the results of this examination no later than five (5) days from the date of examination.
If a postgraduate student fails the resit examination, they may repeat the course in the next semester in which it is offered; however, they shall no longer be entitled to any further resits in the event of failure in the first examination of that course. In that examination, the postgraduate student is entitled to request to be examined not by the course instructor but by a three-member committee composed of other faculty members of the same or a related discipline, appointed by decision of the Assembly of the Law School. If the postgraduate student fails this single re-examination, they shall be dismissed from the Programme by decision of the Assembly of the Law School.
Failure to participate in an examination shall be deemed equivalent to failure in that examination.

Course and Instructor Evaluation

Article 12 of the Master’s Programme Regulations

Course evaluation is conducted in accordance with the applicable standards of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). Upon completion of each course and prior to the examination period, postgraduate students evaluate the course electronically via the AUTH Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) Information System.
The evaluation of instructors is based on criteria including their knowledge and ability to effectively convey it to students, the level of their preparation, the use of most up-to-date and internationally established literature appropriate for high-level postgraduate studies, their willingness to respond to questions, the timely grading and return of assignments and written examinations, and their adherence to schedule reaching hours and office hours.

Master’s Thesis

Article 13 of the Master’s Programme Regulations

Provided that the postgraduate student has successfully passed all courses of the first and second semesters of the Master’s Programme, they may proceed to the preparation of the Master’s Thesis. The thesis may be written in either Greek or English.
For this purpose, the student must prepare a preliminary research outline and propose a supervising professor from among the instructors of the Programme, with the latter’s consent. The research outline must specify the topic to be examined, the methodology of the approach, and the bibliography to be used. Acceptance of the postgraduate student’s research proposal by the supervisor is based on the relevance of the topic to the subject matter of the Master’s Programme.
The Coordinating Committee decides on the appointment of the supervisor and the composition of a three-member Examination Committee for the assessment of the Master’s Thesis. The supervising professor serves on the committee. The remaining two (2) members shall be instructors of the Programme and must have the same or a related academic specialization as the subject matter of the thesis.
The topic of the Master’s thesis is recorded in a special register of postgraduate theses maintained by the Secretariat of the Programme. This register shall include, at a minimum, the full names of the candidate and the supervisor, the date of approval of the topic by the Coordinating Committee, and the date of completion of the process, whether by acceptance or rejection.
Depending on the progress of the thesis, the postgraduate student shall keep the supervising professor informed, who shall monitor, by means of a progress log, whether the objectives and specifications of the research are being met. The thesis should normally be between 15,000 and 20,000 words.
The Master’s thesis must be completed within the prescribed time, depending on whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time (one or two semesters, respectively). The final deadline for submitting the thesis is January 31 and June 1, for the first and second semesters, respectively.
Upon completion of the Master’s thesis, it shall be submitted in three (3) copies to the Secretariat of the Master’s Programme, accompanied by the supervising professor’s confirmation that it meets the requirements for submission for evaluation.
Presentations of Master’s theses are held on dates determined by the Coordinating Committee, no later than forty (40) days after their submission. The invitation and announcement for the thesis presentations are issued by the Director of the Master’s Programme.
During the presentation, the postgraduate student presents to the three-member Examination Committee the main points of the thesis and its conclusions. The presentation shall not exceed fifteen (15) minutes. This is followed by questions from the members of the Examination Committee, the total duration of which shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes.
Immediately after the completion of the public presentation, the three-member Examination Committee shall submit to the Secretariat of the Programme the examination minutes and the grade of the Master’s thesis, on a grading scale from zero (0) to ten (10). Where the three-member Examination Committee considers that revisions or additions are necessary, the thesis shall be deposited in the institutional repository only after confirmation by the supervisor that the final text complies with the Committee’s recommendations.
A change of the topic of the Master’s thesis is not permitted except by decision of the Assembly of the Law School, following a reasoned recommendation by the supervising professor. In no case shall a change of the thesis topic constitute grounds for an extension of the above deadlines.