With the release of Panhellenic exam results last Thursday—and the subsequent publication of official statistics on candidate performance and total applicant numbers—it is now possible to estimate how admission thresholds for Greece’s higher education institutions will shift for the upcoming 2026–27 academic year. These thresholds, known as Elachistes Vaseis Eisagōgēs (EVE) or Minimum Admission Scores, play a decisive role in university admissions.
According to data released by the Ministry of Education, a total of 89,032 candidates competed for 68,788 undergraduate places across Greek universities and technological educational institutes (TEIs) this year. Of these applicants, 75,109 came from general upper secondary schools (Gymnasiums—GE.L.), and 13,923 from vocational schools (EPAL).
Education analyst and teacher Giorgos Chatzitegas told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) that overall threshold movements are expected to be modest—but not uniform across fields. Based on ministry data, the estimated minimum admission scores per scientific field are as follows:
Estimated Minimum Admission Scores (EVE) by Scientific Field
- 1st Scientific Field (Humanities): 8.91 (down slightly from 9.04 in 2025)
- 2nd Scientific Field (Sciences): 10.48 (up from 9.82 in 2025)
- 3rd Scientific Field (Health Sciences): 9.84 (up from 9.60 in 2025)
- 4th Scientific Field (Economics & Informatics): 8.25 (down from 8.40 in 2025)
The EVE is calculated as 80% of the average score achieved by all candidates in a given field. Chatzitegas noted that downward pressure on thresholds is expected in the 1st and 4th fields, reflecting generally lower candidate performance compared to last year. In contrast, the 2nd and 3rd fields—covering natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and related disciplines—are projected to see upward movement.
“This rise stems primarily from a tripling in the number of top-scoring candidates—those scoring between 18 and 20. Last year, they represented about 10% of test-takers; this year, they make up roughly 30%. Physics, in particular, has significantly lifted scores across both scientific fields,” he explained.
For medical schools specifically, Chatzitegas forecasts a modest increase of approximately 200–250 points in admission cutoffs. He also expects a clear rise for science and engineering programs—leading, he warned, to more unfilled university places as a side effect of the EVE mechanism. Overall, he estimates over 10,000 vacant spots may remain across public universities due to the current implementation of the minimum admission threshold.
Candidates can calculate their own scores using the Ministry of Education’s official online tool. By entering their written exam grades, applicants receive an automatic estimate of their total points for every department or school within their eligible scientific field or vocational sector.