Greek university admissions 2026 shift toward engineering, over 10,000 seats remain empty

The 2026 Panhellenic university admissions in Greece show a marked move of candidates toward engineering and polytechnic schools. The opening of military academies to the 3rd and 4th scientific fields boosted the applicant pool, raising demand for engineering programmes such as the National Technical University and other polytechnics.

Humanities and teaching faculties experienced a decline, leaving more than 10,000 university places empty across Athens and Thessaloniki, including long‑standing programmes. Analysts Stratos Stratigakis and Christos Kostidis point to labour‑market shifts favoring technology, energy and environmental fields, and stress the need for curricula updates in low‑demand departments. They also note a strong market need for skilled technicians such as refrigeration, carpentry and automotive mechanics.