Program Overview
Imagine strolling to class with ancient ruins as your backdrop. With a Semester in Greece, the city of Athens will unfold before you, and glimpsing the Acropolis will become second nature. Although Athens is Europe’s oldest city, you’ll also enjoy its modern flair and contemporary art. This historic metropolis has a vibrant street life and laid-back lifestyle. You’ll take classes at Hellenic American University’s Athens campus and live and study in the heart of the city. Small class sizes give you personalized attention and you can join student council or one of several student clubs. Thanks to guided walking tours and included excursions, you’ll never feel lost in your new home during your Semester in Greece!
- GPA Requirement
- 2.5
- Application Deadlines
-
Fall: June 1
Spring: October 15
- Avg Course Load
- 3-5 Courses (up to 15 US credits)
- Language(s) of Instruction
- English
Key Program Highlights
- Ideal location for exploring the Mediterranean, including the beautiful neighboring islands of Hydra, Poros, and Egina
- Small class sizes with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Greek cooking classes with fresh ingredients from local markets
- Artful blend between ancient history and modernity in a 3,400-year-old city
- Trips to iconic monuments from throughout Greece's rich history, such as the Parthenon
Your Journey Begins Here
-
Connect with your Global Advisor to start planning. Apply by the application deadline.
-
Meet your Program Coordinator to finalize acceptance paperwork, housing, courses, flights, visas, payments, etc. Attend a pre-departure orientation.
-
Fly away. You'll be greeted at the airport, participate in a robust On-site Orientation and La Vida Local Curriculum with your Site Director.
Life in Athens
Welcome and Orientation
Upon arrival, you’ll take part in both the university and CISabroad orientation program. You’ll learn the “do’s and don’ts” of living in Athens, Greece. You will be provided with super useful welcome packets, which include maps, hiking areas, and parks, as well as various recreational activities within walking distance of your housing. Where to go out, how to stay safe, and where to shop are just a few of questions that will be answered by our staff. Oh, and there’ll be a welcome meal, something traditional and yummy, as Greek cuisine is known to be one of the best in the world!
Farewell and Re-entry Program
Though you’re not an astronaut returning from space, re-entering your home culture after being abroad can be shocking to the system. We’ll walk you through some of the things to expect, rehash your time abroad so that you can remember the highlights and, yep, we’ll feed you one last delicious Greek meal before you go!
Housing Options
Students will live in off-campus, shared apartments, located within 20 minutes on foot from the school. Housed in traditional, historical buildings with beautiful tall ceilings and plenty of space, the apartments include a range of amenities.
Amenities:
- Students will share double rooms, but there are single rooms available on request (additional fee applies).
- The apartments feature a washing machine, dishes, wifi, and bed linens.
- Fully equipped kitchens include cooking utensils, a fridge, and either a cook top OR an electrical stove.
- Please note that there are no elevators in most of the apartment buildings.

Local Life
- Festivals: Technopolis in the Gazi neighborhood is approximately 30 acres and constitutes one of the most interesting live industrial museums in Europe! Now used as a cultural center for concerts and festivals, there’s always something interesting going on here.
- Dance classes: There are more than 10,000 Greek dances from different regions all over Greece. Make sure you stretch before class!
- Cooking classes: Food is a huge staple in Greek culture - everything revolves around it. Learn to cook and then eat like a local.
- Theaters/Shows/Concerts: Greeks love the arts! Experience a live concert at the famous Odeon of Herodes Atticus, right under the lit-up Parthenon. It’s magical!
- Organic Wine & Olive Oil Tasting Tour: Learn firsthand what it takes to cultivate and organically produce premium wines and extra virgin olive oil.
More About Athens
Flanked by some of the world's most beautiful seas, Greece is located on the southernmost point of the Balkan Peninsula. Explore the country's largest city and capital, Athens, on your study abroad experience. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a recorded history dating back over 3,400 years. Historians consider Athens the cradle of Western civilization. Today, the city artfully blends ancient history with modernity. You'll see new buildings and stadiums built for the 2004 Summer Olympics in the midst of world-famous ancient ruins.
Athens has the third largest port in the world, allowing visitors to flock to the city by sea. The flourishing population of approximately 660,000 people makes Athens a bustling, cosmopolitan city. You'll notice a vibrant street life combined with a relaxed culture. As you explore, you'll discover the true spirit of the city in the surrounding neighborhoods, which all have lively music, food, and people.
Athens serves as one of the most important cities in southern Europe for international trade, tourism, entertainment, arts, and education. The city still carries on Greek traditions and customs while rapidly evolving, reflecting its location at the crossroads between east and west. Be sure to visit the ancient Acropolis, a structure that has seen the city grow and transform since the fifth century BC. Athens really is a classroom in itself!
Program Excursions
While participating on a CISabroad program, you'll be able to take part in built-in weekend and day trips at no additional cost. These trips are subject to change from term to term; listed below are excursions that have run in the past.

Delphi
Delphi is the site of the 4th century BC Temple of Apollo, once home to a legendary oracle. This extensive mountainside archaeological complex contains the remains of the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, plus a stadium and a theater.

Acropolis of Athens
Make a visit to the sacred rock of the Acropolis, where you can admire architectural treasures dating from the 5th century BC.

Cape Sounion
The southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula is known for its amazing sunsets and the Temple of Poseidon, which hangs off a cliff.
Academics
GPA Requirement
If you find your GPA is lower than the requirement listed at the top of this page, do not despair! Get in touch to let us know your situation. In many cases, there are additional application materials that you can submit to make your case for acceptance.
How to Choose Your Courses
Now the fun part! You get to pick the courses you will take abroad. Review the course information on this page and once you’ve decided which courses you want to take. Fill out the CISabroad Course Selection Worksheet in your online portal.
Course Approval
Make sure to talk with your home university about course approval and get additional classes approved before you go abroad. For example, if you are taking 4 classes abroad, we recommend getting 8 approved. This gives you some flexibility in setting up your class schedule. Think about courses required for your major, but also courses that fulfill your elective requirements.
Choose your courses, making sure to get them approved by your home university and then fill out the Course Selection Worksheet.
Course Information
Semester in Greece’s course options include Psychology, Music, English Language and Literature, Administration, General Engineering, and Information Technology. The Hellenic American University established as a US institution of Higher Ed in 2004 and accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the oldest accrediting association in the US.
Course load: 3-5 courses; up to 15 credits.
Course Description and Catalog: To view the tenative schedule of courses for Fall 2018, please click on the following link link: Tentative HAUniv UG Schedule Fall 2018 . Please note that this list is not yet finalized and is subject to change. For more information on these courses, please consult the most current HAUniv catalog, found here.
Highly Suggested Course:
Athens Across the Ages – 3 credit hours: This experiential learning course takes students on a journey across the country for a series of interactive excursions exploring the history of Greece through day hikes walking tours and guided visits to regional museums, historical sites and famous monuments. Travelling from the Homeric epics of the Bronze Age to the 19th century War of Independence, students follow the vicissitudes of 5,000 years of history, covering over 1,000 kilometers of geography with peripatetic lectures and group discussions.
The University
Explore your studies beyond the classroom in one of the world's oldest cities. Hellenic American University's Athens campus, also known as Hellenic American College (HAEC), is centrally located in the neighborhood of Kolonaki in the heart of Athens. You can even see the Acropolis from the top floor of the building where you take classes.
On campus, the community feels like family. You'll learn from international faculty in small class sizes, which means you'll get one-on-one attention. Choose from one of the many student clubs to develop leadership skills and actively contribute to the community. Because twenty percent of the student body comes from countries outside of Greece, you'll have a diverse experience. To fully take in the culture, wander through the library that holds over 35,000 titles in English and Greek. And, don't forget the online collection of over 250,000 digital books. In between classes, grab lunch at the Union Cafe for affordable Greek cuisine. Most importantly, you can glimpse a bit of history everywhere you turn in Athens.
Hellenic American University (HAU) has educational sites in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Athens, Greece. The programs in Athens are offered at Hellenic American College (HAEC) through an Agreement of Cooperation that the sister schools have signed. NEASC accredits all programs offered by HAU and therefore the credits you earn while studying at HAEC can easily transfer back, as students will receive a U.S. transcript issued by HAU.
Accreditation(s): Hellenic American University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Student Feedback

Miranda Catsambas - Smith College
Program Support
Meet Our StaffBefore, during, and after your study abroad experience, you’ll be supported by the dedicated and passionate CISabroad staff. Our goal is quick responses to your questions before you depart, and even quicker once you’ve arrived on site.
Robust Advising Center
Our team of advisors will help you choose a program, connect with your home university regarding classes and financial aid and get you prepared to apply for your program.
Team of Dedicated Program Coordinators
Your Program Coordinator will assist you in finalizing housing, enrolling in courses, booking flights, obtaining visas, arranging payments, and provide pre-departure orientation.
Experienced On-site Staff
From greeting you at the airport to a robust On-site Orientation to La Vida Local Activities our on-site staff will be there to support you throughout your time on-site.
Ongoing Support
Our support doesn’t end when your program does. We have alumni programming, webinars, and resources to help you readjust when you’ve returned from your experience.
Your Support Staff

Global Advising Team
We love what we do and want to talk to you! The Global Advising Center is here to help you decide on a program, and complete the Online Application. From the moment you first hear from us be it through a phone call, email or personal visit, you will find that our passion for international education is contagious. We’re ready to launch you abroad.

Maggie McCally
Program Coordinator - England, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, British Isles, Celtic Culture, European Experience
Forgive yourself for not always knowing exactly what to do in a new place; if you’re humble, people will be happy to nudge you in the right direction. And always have a deck of cards in your backpack!

Evgenia Karamani
SITE DIRECTOR IN GREECE
To explore a new country, I choose to walk rather than take transportation even for longer distances. It helps you better feel the vibration and get into the pace of local life. Makes you hungrier for local dishes, too!
Program Fees & Dates
Advisor Tip: Please do not book flights until you have received confirmed dates in your acceptance paperwork. Dates posted here are subject to change.
-
Fall 2018
Application DeadlineJune 1ArrivalAugust 31OrientationSeptember 1 - 2Classes StartSeptember 3Classes EndDecember 14DepartureDecember 18PRICE$12,590
-
Spring 2019
Application DeadlineOctober 15ArrivalJanuary 28 (Estimated)OrientationJanuary 29 - February 1 (Estimated)Classes StartFebruary 4 (Estimated)Classes EndMay 24 (Estimated)DepartureMay 31 (Estimated)PRICE$12,590 (Estimated)
CISabroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner universities.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
Add on even more adventure with CISabroad’s Explore Europe Weekends – for only $400! Travel to Paris or Rome during your semester program and meet up with other CISabroad participants. Our trusted CISabroad site directors will show you the most famous excursions as well as how to truly live La Vida Local. Your all-inclusive Explore Europe Weekend package includes travel around the city, accommodations, and entertainment – an incredible value for $400.
Program Inclusions
As with all study abroad programs, you should count on a few additional expenses.
Program fees are in US dollars and include the following:
- Full-time tuition and fees
- Housing
- Medical and accident insurance
- CISabroad support services before, during, and after the program
- Academic advising
- Financial aid counseling
- Assistance with travel arrangements
- Pre-departure orientation
- Airport pickup
- CISabroad orientation
- HAU orientation
- On-site support
- Internet connection
- NYTimes Digital Subscription
- La Vida Local cultural program
- Two 1-day learning excursions outside of Athens
- Seminars about local culture economics and politics
- Student Guild fees
- HAU official transcript