2026 University Preference System in Greece Closing on 16 July

The countdown continues for the electronic preference (mekanografiko) systems, which are a crucial stage in the university transition process in Greece. The online platform used for the placement processes in the country's higher education institutions will remain open until Thursday, 16 July 2026. By this date, candidates are obliged to submit their preference forms through the system. It is of great importance for the healthy progress of the placement process that candidates fill out and send their forms completely. After the process ends, a new calendar process will begin for the registration and other details of the students placed in a university.

The digital platform used by students to make their university preferences also serves state vocational training centers (SAEK). These centers, formerly known as public vocational training institutions (IEK), offer four-year education programs that provide students with practical skills. This system provides a parallel application opportunity for candidates who want to be placed in two different educational institutions. Thanks to this, young people can evaluate both academic and technical/vocational education opportunities in the same evaluation process. This flexible structure of the system allows students to make choices in a wider range suitable for their career goals.

After the official completion of the process of submitting preference forms, the stage that students are most curious about will begin. At this stage, the entrance thresholds (bases) for each department and program will be announced at the national level. These thresholds, which indicate the minimum scores required to be placed in university quotas, are calculated according to the candidates' exam performance and high school grade point averages. With the announcement of these scores, it will become clear which student is placed in which department. This situation means the official beginning of the new period in which young people will direct their education that will shape their future plans, following a long preparation period.

The university entrance system in Greece has undergone various reforms over the years to reach its current digital structure. Candidates' overall achievement scores are created by combining their course grades throughout high school with the results of centralized exams held at the national level. This scoring method aims to evaluate students not only based on a single exam but also on their overall academic performance. Preference procedures carried out through the electronic platform increase the transparency of the system and provide greater convenience to students. This modern infrastructure, which has replaced old systems, enables both students and educational institutions to carry out their procedures more efficiently.

Education experts and guidance teachers advise candidates to act carefully and strategically until the deadline when filling out their preference forms. The base scores of university departments from previous years, quota numbers, and future career opportunities of the departments should be well researched. In addition, it is of great importance for students to make choices in the state SAEK preferences filled out in parallel, in accordance with their interests and the needs of the labor market. Since a mistake or incorrect data entry made can negatively affect students' preference processes, the guides offered by the system should be examined carefully. It should not be forgotten that all updates and choices made until the date of 16 July cannot be changed after this date, and candidates should act with this awareness.