Duration of Studies – Part-time Study – Suspension of Studies
- Duration of Studies
The duration of studies for the award of the Master’s Degree in Science (MSc Degree) is set at two (2) semesters. It is an intensive program with a summer period of one full year of study, ending on August 31.
The nine (9) courses offered (60 credit units) are divided into the first two semesters of study (A, B) and the writing of the thesis, including basic research and bibliography, and the public presentation (15 credit units) and positive evaluation of the master’s thesis in the semester.
- Enrolment in the PGMP is considered to end upon completion of:
a) the minimum required duration of study,
b) the successful completion of all educational activities and practical training and the MSc thesis, if required.
With regard to the maximum duration of study, the postgraduate student is required to complete his/her postgraduate studies within twice the duration of the PGMP.
Exceptional exceeding of the maximum duration of study applies.
The MSc student may request an exception to the maximum duration of study for serious health reasons relating to himself/herself or to a first-degree relative by blood or marriage or to a person with whom the student has entered into a civil partnership. The application addressed to the CC shall be submitted by the postgraduate student before the expiry of the maximum duration of study to the Department Secretariat, accompanied by supporting documents substantiating the application and, in particular, the existence of health issues relating to:
(aa) the MSc student,
(ab) the first-degree relative by blood or spouse of the student or the person with whom the MSc student has entered into a civil partnership. Serious health reasons must be proven by a document issued by a public hospital or a competent special committee of a public hospital.
(b) In order to prove the health reasons invoked, the application must be accompanied by a recent family status certificate, if the health reasons do not concern the student, and by a certificate from a Health Committee or a medical opinion from a public hospital signed and stamped by the Director of the National Health System Clinic or the Laboratory or University Department. The competent department of the Institution may request any additional supporting documents it deems necessary for the examination of the application.
(c) The Secretariat forwards the applications to the Assembly, which decides on the approval or rejection of the application, as well as on the duration of the additional study period. Further extension of the maximum duration of study may be approved again through the procedure described for part-time study and suspension of study, provided that the conditions laid down in the relevant provisions and this decision continue to be met.
ii) Part-time Study
Part-time study is possible for MSc students enrolled in the DUTH, the duration of which may not exceed twice the normal duration of study.The following are eligible to apply for part-time study:
a) Postgraduate students who can prove that they work at least twenty (20) hours per week,
b) Postgraduate students with disabilities and special educational needs, and
c) Postgraduate students who are also athletes in sports clubs registered in the electronic register of sports clubs of Article 142 of Law 4714/2020 (A’ 148), kept at the General Secretariat for Sport, under the following conditions:
(ca) for the years in which they rank 1st to 8th in national individual sports championships with the participation of at least twelve (12) athletes and eight (8) clubs, or compete in teams of the two (2) highest categories in team sports, or participate as members of national teams in European championships, world championships, or other international competitions under the Greek Olympic Committee, or
(cb) participate at least once, during their studies in the program for which they are applying for part-time student status, in the Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic Games may, upon submitted request (electronically/by an authorized person/by post/in person, through a Citizens Service Centre) to the Secretariat of the relevant Department, be enrolled as part-time students or be included in the part-time study program.
- The application (Sample Form A.2 in the Annex) together with the documents proving the conditions for part-time study must be submitted electronically or in person to the above Secretariats, no later than the end of the Department’s course registration period. The Department Secretariat forwards the applications to the Dean’s Office of the Faculty for approval. Applications must be submitted by the deadline for renewal of enrolment, as specified in the relevant announcement by the relevant Secretariat.
- At the same time as the application, documents proving that the conditions for part-time study are met must be submitted as attachments.
In particular:
a) Postgraduate students who fall under the category of employees and work at least twenty (20) hours per week must submit the relevant employment contract or a recent employer’s certificate, as well as the insurance stamps required for insured persons in the private sector.
b) Postgraduate students who fall under the category of students with disabilities must submit a certificate of disability from a Disability Certification Center (KEPA) or from a seven-member medical committee of a public hospital. The postgraduate students who are registered in the special category of students with disabilities are not required to submit any additional documents other than those submitted for their registration.
c) Postgraduate students that fall under the category of students with special educational needs must submit a certificate confirming this from the competent authorities.
d) Postgraduate students that fall under the category of athletes must submit a certificate from the General Secretariat of Sports or the Olympic Committee, or from the Sports Club registered with the General Secretariat of Sports (the certificate must include the General Secretariat of Sports registration number and the sports club’s recognition number), where applicable, certifying the reason for requesting part-time student status, in accordance with the relevant provisions.
The certificates in cases a) and d) must be resubmitted to the Department Secretariat at the beginning of each academic year in order to verify that the reasons for admission to part-time study status still apply.
e) The Coordinating Committee of the Institution may request any additional supporting documents it deems necessary for the examination of the application.
The decision to approve or reject the application shall be issued by the Assembly, following a recommendation by the CC, with the submitted application and the supporting documents attached.
For postgraduate students who are enrolled in a part-time program, each academic semester counts as half an academic semester. Postgraduate students may choose the courses they wish to attend and in which they will be examined.
Postgraduate students who have been placed on a part-time study program may, upon request to the Department Secretariat, without requiring additional supporting documents, return to full-time study at any time. In order to return to full-time student status, a confirmatory act is issued by the relevant Dean’s Office, which is notified to the applicant’s Department.
The Certificates issued to Postgraduate students who are in part-time study status shall state the relevant decision of the Assembly.
iii. Suspension of studies
- In exceptional cases, postgraduate students may be granted, upon submission of a reasoned request, a temporary suspension of studies, which may not exceed two (2) consecutive semesters. The application shall include the requested period of interruption and the reasons (indicatively and not limited to: health reasons, force majeure, personal, family, financial reasons, etc.). The request must be accompanied by all relevant supporting documents from the competent public authorities or organizations proving the reasons invoked by the applicant or his/her relatives up to the second degree of kinship, reasons for military service or serious financial reasons, etc. In cases of force majeure or personal reasons, the application must be accompanied by an a solemn declaration in accordance with Law 1599/1986, describing the reasons invoked, and no additional supporting documents are required.
- The application is forwarded by the CC to the Department Assembly for approval. In exceptional cases and for reasons of force majeure, the application may be submitted after the registration period has expired. The academic semesters during which the MSc student is on leave of absence are not counted towards the maximum duration of study.
- The interruption of studies is granted by decision of the Assembly, following a recommendation by the CC.
- During the suspension, the MSc student forfeits his/her student status. The period of suspension is not counted towards the maximum time limit for completing the program.
- Upon returning to their studies, the Postgraduate student continues to be subject to the study status applicable at the time of their registration as a MSc student.