In the past decades, especially in the 1980’s-90’s, many Greek students chose foreign universities – mostly Romanian and Bulgarian – to study for post-graduate degrees, and now the Greek economic crisis is increasing their numbers, according to news247.gr.
The Greek newspaper Imerissia reported too that about eight of 10 Greek students having already enrolled in Czech and Slovakian universities are now trying to be allowed to study in Romanian and Bulgarian universities instead due to the low cost of living. Apart from students of Greek descent, several other Europeans choose the same countries to study to save money.
In 2008, when a worldwide recession began, young Greeks’ interest to study in previously popular countries such as the UK, Italy, France, Germany and the United States decreased significantly in contrast to Balkan countries. There were 2,339 Greek students in universities in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 2011, compared to only 1,315 in 2007.
The numbers are expected to jump sharply, to about 2,600, with Greece in the fifth year of deep recession and 2 1/2-years into crushing austerity measures that have seen big cuts in government spending, including education.
The data shows that one of them has already graduated from a Greek university and is now trying to get a second degree at some other field. The most popular Universities in the Balkan countries for Greeks offer graduate degrees in Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy (28%), while Pedagogy and Law schools come next (24%) followed by Polytechnic (20%) and Economic schools (16%).
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