France’s Sorbonne Paris Nord University is poised to become the first foreign institution to open a private university in Greece under a new law.
The university will submit its application to Greece’s Ministry of Education on Friday, February 14, seeking approval to establish the “French University of Greece - International Campus Sorbonne Paris Nord.”
The move comes just months after Greece passed a law allowing non-state, non-profit universities to operate in the country.
A delegation from Sorbonne Paris Nord, including Vice President Olivier Oudar, Professor Anne Fauchon, and Dr. Stylianos Amargianakis, president of the French College of Greece, will formally present the application.
They will be accompanied by Nicolas Eybalin, cultural attaché at the French Embassy and director of the French Institute in Greece.
If approved, the institution will operate independently, without ties to any Greek educational body, and will mark a significant shift in Greece’s academic landscape.
Sorbonne Paris Nord, a public university and one of 13 institutions that succeeded the historic Sorbonne University after 1968, is a major research and education hub in northern Paris.
Greek Education Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis confirmed the development in an interview with Greek public broadcaster ERT on Tuesday, calling it a “milestone” for the country’s higher education reform. However, the move has drawn criticism from opponents who argue that private universities could undermine Greece’s public education system and exacerbate inequality.
The Sorbonne Paris Nord application is expected to be the first of many, with up to 10 additional foreign institutions reportedly preparing to apply by the end of February.
The new law, passed in March 2024, aims to attract international academic institutions to Greece, but its implementation remains a polarizing issue.
As Greece prepares to welcome its first private university, the decision could redefine the country’s approach to higher education—and reignite a heated national debate.
By Yiannis Panagiotopoulos