The deadline for submitting the electronic Mechanographiko (candidate preference form) for Greece’s national university entrance exams—the Panhellenic Examinations—is fast approaching. The online platform remains open until Thursday, 16 July 2026. From Friday, 17 July 2026 onward, candidates will enter the final phase: the official announcement of admission thresholds (‘bases’) for undergraduate programmes in Greek higher education institutions—and for parallel admissions to public Vocational Training Institutes (SAEK, formerly IEK).
Timeline and Methodology
According to the Ministry of Education’s official schedule, the full list of 2026 admission thresholds is expected to be published during the last ten days of July. These preliminary estimates—reported by Ta Nea—are based on a combination of historical data (2021–2025) and current trends in candidate performance and application patterns.
Field-by-Field Outlook
First Scientific Field (Humanities, Law, Social Sciences)
Admission thresholds are expected to remain largely stable or dip slightly. Top-tier programmes—such as Law and Psychology—are projected to see only marginal changes compared to 2025. While this year’s top scores are marginally stronger than last year’s, the overall number of candidates is lower. Mid-tier programmes, however, may experience more noticeable fluctuations—either up or down—in their admission cutoffs.
Second Scientific Field (STEM and Engineering)
A clear upward trend is anticipated across most engineering schools. Elite technical programmes—including those at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)—typically show only minor variation year-on-year. But mid-tier engineering departments appear more sensitive to shifts in score distribution. Electrical and Computer Engineering (ΗΜΜΥ) programmes are expected to rise modestly, while Mechanical, Chemical, and Naval Architecture Engineering programmes may see relatively larger increases compared to 2025.
Third Scientific Field (Health and Life Sciences)
This field historically shows the least volatility—thanks to consistently high candidate performance, especially in core subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Modern Greek. This year’s strong results in those subjects are expected to push admission thresholds upward, though more gently than in the STEM field. Medical, dental, and other health-related programmes are likely to maintain their high entry standards with only modest adjustments.
Fourth Scientific Field (Economics and Informatics)
Lower average scores in the Economics exam are expected to drive mixed outcomes—particularly downward pressure on admission thresholds for programmes heavily weighted toward that subject. Economics-focused schools are likely to see a slight decline, while Informatics programmes—even within the same scientific field—may behave differently due to distinct subject weightings, varying demand, and overlapping candidate pools from other fields.