The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the University of Exeter, UK, signed a Head of Terms Agreement to launch the country’s first Dual Undergraduate Degree Programme in Medicine. This initiative marks a significant step towards internationalizing Higher Education in Greece, which will now offer the first six-year Undergraduate Programme leading to the award of a Dual Degree in Medicine.
In a spirit of great satisfaction and collaboration, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of NKUA, signed the Agreement alongside Professor Richard Holland, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the University of Exeter Medical School, Professor Efstathios Efstathopoulos, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at NKUA, and Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Chair of the NKUA’s School of Medicine. Also in attendance at the ceremony were the NKUA’s Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion, Professor Sophia Papaioannou, the Dean of the NKUA’s School of Health Sciences, Professor Pagona Lagiou, the Vice-Chair of the NKUA’s School of Medicine, Professor Konstantinos Tsioufis, the Director of the Division of Basic Medical Sciences at the School of Medicine of the University of Athens, Professor Effie Basdra, as well as Professor Marios Politis, member of the Undergraduate Programme Committee representing the University of Exeter, whose contribution was instrumental in shaping and implementing the partnership.
Based in Athens, the Undergraduate Programme will bring together academics from both Medical Schools to teach the curriculum in English and will admit its first students in September 2028. The Programme will aim to provide an innovative educational experience with international scope, enabling graduates to practice Medicine in both the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Those who will graduate from the Programme will obtain two degrees—one from the University of Athens, the other from the University of Exeter—and will have the option to apply for medical residency in either the United Kingdom or Greece, as holders of qualifications from recognized Medical Schools in both countries.
As part of the Agreement, the two Institutions will form a Strategic Cooperation Committee to monitor the development of the Programme and ensure that it maintains quality while matching the curriculum with academic requirements in Greece and the United Kingdom. The two parties will conclude the final Agreement following the approval by the competent academic and regulatory bodies—the General Medical Council in the UK and the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education in Greece.
The creation of this Undergraduate Programme marks a historic collaboration between two leading Universities that reshapes medical education in Europe. At the same time, it aligns with the University of Athens’ extroversion policy, which promotes innovation, quality, and the global reach of Greek Higher Education.
Within the above context, the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, said:
‘The signing of the Head of Terms Agreement with the University of Exeter today is a watershed event for the University of Athens and our School of Medicine. Launching the first international Dual Medical Degree in Athens reaffirms our commitment to internationalization and enhances our global academic presence, particularly that of our Medical School. By partnering with the University of Exeter, a leading UK Institution, we aim to offer a high-quality Programme with an international focus and perspective. The entire initiative further underscores how the University of Athens continues to invest in knowledge, foster innovation, and create opportunities for students both within and beyond national borders.’
Accordingly, Richard Holland, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the University of Exeter Medical School, said:
‘This is an important day for both Universities of Exeter and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens as we come together to sign our Head of Terms Agreement to pursue development of our unique joint undergraduate medical degree, with the ambition to open the first joint medical degree in September 2028.
Those medical students will enter a course that will combine the very best of modern VR medical education with the excellence of your Greek medical education in a degree that will permit graduates to work in either the UK or EU. A joint degree that will be designed to have both Hellenic Authority and UK GMC approval will be the first of its kind.
We consider this Head of Terms to be more than simply a connection through Medical Education as it brings our two great Universities closer together with opportunities to work even closer in mutual areas of our research interest and the potential to develop at the areas of educational collaboration.
Finally, I wish to personally thank the Rector and Dean for their wonderful hospitality. The warmth of our welcome and the enthusiasm and commitment of all your staff means that I know this collaboration will be a great success. Thank you!’
Speaking on the occasion, the Chair of the NKUA’s School of Medicine, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, stated:
‘The collaboration between the NKUA’s School of Medicine and the University of Exeter Medical School paves the way for the creation of a unique, top-tier Undergraduate Medical Programme that will combine the best of European and British educational standards. That marks a significant step forward for medical education—not only in Greece, but internationally!’
On his part, Professor Marios Politis, member of the Undergraduate Programme Committee representing the University of Exeter, said:
‘The partnership between the University of Exeter and NKUA to create the first Dual Medical Degree represents a critical milestone in the internationalization of medical education in Europe. The programme will integrate the academic standards of both Institutions, offering students an educational environment of the highest quality. That is a historic moment for Europe and for all those Universities that constantly prioritize academic excellence and international collaboration.’
Photos: Dimitrios Konstantinidis
