Admission Criteria and Procedure

The MSc program accepts graduates of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from Greece and recognized equivalent institutions abroad.

Candidates with foreign degrees must provide a certificate of recognition (equivalence) of their degree by the Hellenic NARIC (D.O.A.T.A.P., formerly D.I.K.A.T.S.A.), no later than their registration date in the MSc program in Public Administration.

For foreign applicants, knowledge of the Greek language is required, proven by:

• A Level B2 Certificate from the Modern Greek Language Teaching Center of the University of Athens,

• A B2 Certificate of Proficiency from the School of Modern Greek Language of the University of Thessaloniki,

• Or a B2 Certificate from the Center for the Greek Language.

This certificate is not required if:

1. The candidate holds a degree from a Greek or Cypriot HEI, or

2. The candidate’s foreign degree explicitly shows successful instruction and examination in the Greek language.

A call for expressions of interest to apply to the MSc is published on the program’s website, the department’s and institution’s website, or other media outlets, including all relevant information: application procedures, necessary qualifications, required documents, and selection criteria.

The Department, based on dates defined by the Assembly or the MSc Program Committee (S.E.), announces open positions (call for expression of interest) for graduates' admission.

The announcement includes:

• Admission conditions,

• Eligible degree categories,

• Number of available places,

• Admission procedure,

• Application deadlines,

• Required documentation.

Applications and supporting documents are submitted to the department’s Secretariat either in printed or electronic format.

Required Application Documents

1. Completed MSc application form (provided by the Department Secretariat or available online – mandatory).

2. Degree certificate and D.O.A.T.A.P. recognition for foreign degrees – mandatory.

3. Official transcript – mandatory.

4. Copy of ID card (both sides) or passport – mandatory.

5. Recent photograph attached to the application – mandatory.

6. Detailed CV – mandatory.

7. Proof of work experience – optional.

8. Language proficiency certificates (English or other languages) – optional.

9. Copy of another MSc degree or second university degree (recognized by D.O.A.T.A.P. if foreign) – optional.

10. Scientific publications – optional.

11. Any other documents supporting the applicant's suitability for the program – optional.

Application Evaluation Procedure

The MSc Program Committee (S.E.) evaluates applications that:

• Are submitted within the deadlines, and

• Include all required documents.

Evaluation is conducted in three (3) stages:

Stage 1: Verification of formal qualifications and required documents (items 1–6).

Stage 2: Scoring of eligible candidates:

Total possible score: 100 points, based on the following:

1. Degree Grade – up to 25 points
   (e.g., grade 8/10 = 20 points)

2. Relevant Work Experience – up to 25 points

   • 0 months = 0 points

   • Up to 2 months = 2 points

   • Over 2 to 12 months = 10 points

   • Over 12 to 36 months = 20 points

   • Over 36 months = 25 points

3. Foreign Language Knowledge (English/French/German) – up to 10 points

   • Good (B2) = 5 points

   • Very Good (C1) = 7.5 points

   • Excellent (C2) = 10 points

4. Other CV Qualifications – up to 10 points

Stage 3: Interview – up to 30 points

Candidates selected by the Evaluation Committee will be interviewed. The Committee will then compile a ranked list of successful and reserve candidates, which is submitted to the Department Assembly for approval.

In case of a tie, the MSc internal regulations of the University of Western Macedonia apply.

Publication of Results & Acceptance

Following the Assembly's approval, the results (successful and reserve candidates in descending order) are posted on the Department's notice boards and website within 10 working days.

An official acceptance letter is then sent by the Program Director or Deputy Director to each admitted candidate. Candidates must submit a formal acceptance declaration to the MSc Secretariat within 10 working days of the results announcement. Failure to do so within this deadline is considered a withdrawal.

If any admitted candidates withdraw, the Secretariat notifies the next reserve candidates in order of ranking.

Appeals

Candidates may submit appeals to the MSc Secretariat within five (5) working days of the result announcement. The S.E. reviews the appeals and submits a recommendation to the Department Assembly, which makes the final decision and, if necessary, amends the list of admitted students.