Study Guide

Postgraduate Programme

Admission Requirements

(Article 4 of the Programme Regulation)

Graduates of Law from universities in Greece or from corresponding Schools or Departments of recognized equivalent institutions abroad are admitted to the Postgraduate Programme.

The number of admitted students per year is set at a maximum of thirty (30) students.

Admission to the Postgraduate Programme is carried out through entrance examinations, following a call issued within the month of May each year.

The call specifies:

a) The required qualifications of candidates.
b) The supporting documents and the deadline for their submission.
c) The manner of submission of the supporting documents.
d) The dates of the examinations.
e) The procedure for evaluating the candidates.

The candidate submits to the Secretariat of the Postgraduate Programme the following supporting documents:

a) Application for participation in the Postgraduate Programme.
b) Copy of degree or degrees from a Greek university, or, in the case of graduates of foreign universities, a certificate of recognition of equivalence and correspondence issued by DOATAP, as well as correspondence of their grading scale with the grading scale of domestic degrees.
c) Certificate of studies with detailed grades of all undergraduate courses, in which the exact degree grade is also indicated.
d) Photocopy of identity card.
e) Foreign applicants submit a certificate of proficiency in the Greek language from a School of Modern Greek Language of a university institution or a Greek secondary education certificate or a degree from a Greek-language university department.

In addition to the above supporting documents, the candidate, if he/she wishes to be exempted from the foreign language examination, submits a certificate of excellent knowledge (level C2) of English, French, or German, in accordance with the Council of Europe system accepted by ASEP.

Selection Procedure and Criteria for Admission

(Article 5 of the Programme Regulation)

Candidates are examined in two subjects.

For the specialization “Civil Law”, candidates are examined in Civil Law and Civil Procedure Law.

For the specialization “Civil Procedure Law”, candidates are examined in Civil Procedure Law and Civil Law.

For the specialization “Labour Law”, candidates are examined in Labour Law (Individual and Collective) and, at their choice, in Civil Law or Civil Procedure Law.

The examined subjects per specialization may be modified following a recommendation by the Coordinating Committee of the Postgraduate Programme and a decision of the Department Assembly taken before publication of the examination call. Successful written examination in English, French or German on a legal text of general content is also required, unless candidates possess certified excellent knowledge of English, French or German in accordance with the Council of Europe system accepted by ASEP.

The Department Assembly appoints annually, no later than May, a Selection and Examination Committee composed of faculty members appointed as examiners of the subjects. Two professors are appointed as examiners for grading the candidates’ written examinations for each examined subject, as well as one substitute for the principal examiners. Examiners are appointed from among professors or lecturers teaching the examined subject and, if this is not possible, from among those teaching related subjects. As examiners for the foreign language, professors and lecturers of the School or one member of the Special Educational Staff (E.E.P.) category of the corresponding foreign language may be appointed. The two examiners grade equally. The grade of the foreign language is recorded with the final designation “pass” or “fail” and not with a numerical grade.
The Committee compiles a complete list of all candidates and, after the relevant check, rejects those who do not meet the minimum criteria defined in the present Regulation and the Call.
The examinations are held during the first ten-day period of September, with the candidates’ details concealed, and the grading of the written papers is completed, as far as possible, no later than the end of the second ten-day period of the same month.
A candidate is considered to have passed the entrance examinations of the Postgraduate Programme when the sum of the grades of the two examiners in each of the two examined subjects is at least twelve (12), and the candidate also passes the foreign language examination. The grading scale for each examiner is zero to ten (0–10).
After completion of the procedure and disclosure of the names before the Selection and Examination Committee, the Committee draws up a list of successful candidates.

The evaluation criteria for ranking the successful candidates are:

a) The grade in each examined subject, on a grading scale of twelve to twenty (12–20), with a weighting coefficient of 0.35 and a maximum score for each subject of seven (7) points (20 × 0.35 = 7). The foreign language course does not receive a weighting coefficient and successful examination is sufficient.
b) The degree grade, on a grading scale of five to ten (5–10), with a weighting coefficient of 0.5 and a maximum score of five (5) points (10 × 0.5 = 5).
c) Certified excellent knowledge, according to established international standards (level C2), of two foreign languages (English, French, German), with one (1) point.
For the final score, the integer number and the first three decimal digits are taken into account. The list of successful candidates is ratified by the Department Assembly. In case of equal ranking, all candidates with equal scores are considered successful.
The final list of successful candidates is posted on the Secretariat notice board and on the Department website.

Registration of Successful Candidates and Course Declarations

(Article 6 of the Programme Regulation)

Registration of admitted postgraduate students begins following an announcement by the Secretariat of the Postgraduate Programme. The registration period lasts ten (10) days. The documents required for registration are: a) photocopy of identity card, and b) one (1) photograph, unless further documents are deemed necessary by decision of the Department Assembly.
Together with the above documents, postgraduate students declare the courses they will attend during the first semester of their studies. This procedure is repeated immediately after completion of the February examination period, for the courses of the spring semester. The relevant declarations are recorded electronically in the individual record of the postgraduate student.

Duration of Studies

(Article 7 of the Programme Regulation)

The duration of study in the Postgraduate Programme is three (3) semesters. During the first two semesters, courses are taught, and during the third semester the postgraduate dissertation is written.
The winter semester begins in the first week of October and lasts thirteen (13) full weeks. The spring semester begins in the second or third week of February and lasts thirteen (13) full weeks. By decision of the Coordinating Committee, the beginning of each semester may be modified for exceptional reasons.
In exceptional cases, postgraduate students may be granted, upon submission of a relevant application, for reasons of force majeure or other particularly serious reasons, temporary suspension of studies, which may not exceed two (2) consecutive semesters. During the suspension, the status of postgraduate student is suspended. The period of suspension is not counted towards the maximum duration of regular study. Attendance of another postgraduate or other educational programme does not constitute a serious reason for granting suspension. A postgraduate student who receives suspension of studies, upon returning to studies, continues to be subject to the study regime applicable at the time of his/her enrolment as a postgraduate student.
After the first two years of operation of the Postgraduate Programme, the possibility of part-time study may be provided by decision of the Coordinating Committee of the Programme, for the categories of students and under the specific terms determined in the decision.

Rights and Obligations of Postgraduate Students

(Article 8 of the Programme Regulation)

Postgraduate students have all the rights, benefits and facilities provided for first-cycle students, except for the right to free textbooks.
Students of the Postgraduate Programme are obliged:
a) To attend without interruption the lectures, workshops and other activities provided for each course. For successful attendance of each course, students must have attended four-fifths (4/5) of the total teaching hours. Otherwise, they must attend the specific course again. For successful completion of the semester, students must have attended four-fifths (4/5) of the total teaching hours of all courses of the semester. Otherwise, they must repeat the semester. In these cases, the duration of studies is automatically extended, which however may not exceed four semesters in total, subject to Article 11 § 4 of the Programme Regulation.
b) To submit the required assignments for each course within the prescribed deadlines.
c) To attend the scheduled examinations.
d) To submit, by the date announced by the Secretariat, the declaration of the elective course or courses they wish to attend each semester.
e) To submit to the Secretariat, before evaluation of their postgraduate dissertation, a solemn declaration that it contains no elements of plagiarism.
f) To respect and comply with the decisions of the Coordinating Committee and academic ethics.
g) Scholarship-holding postgraduate students are additionally obliged, by decision of the Coordinating Committee, to provide the services assigned to them in courses, examination invigilation, laboratories and research for the Postgraduate Programme.
Postgraduate students of the Programme are also obliged at the beginning of each semester to pay tuition fees, the amount of which is set under Article 17 of the Programme Regulation and stated in the Programme Call. If there is a relevant provision in the law, postgraduate students who meet the income criteria set by law are exempted from tuition fees, provided they have not received a corresponding exemption for participation in another Postgraduate Programme. Exempted students may not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total number of students admitted to the Programme. If beneficiaries exceed the above percentage, they are selected by ranking order, starting from those with the lowest income. The application for exemption from tuition fees is submitted by the interested party to the Secretariat of the Programme after completion of the selection procedure for successful candidates.

Obligations of Teaching Staff

(Article 10 of the Programme Regulation)

The person responsible (in the case of co-teaching: the persons responsible) for teaching a course in the Postgraduate Programme is obliged:
a) To adhere faithfully and precisely to the programme and timetable of course lectures.
b) To determine the content of the postgraduate course, within the framework of the material of its specific thematic area, in an academically valid manner.
c) To hold at least two (2) office hours per week, allowing unhindered communication with students on matters relating to their studies and the specific course.
e) To announce at the beginning of the semester the detailed teaching schedule of the course, lasting thirteen (13) weeks.
f) To make up teaching hours that may have been lost for reasons concerning the instructor, on days and times announced in due time.

Evaluation of Postgraduate Students

(Article 11 of the Programme Regulation)

The method of evaluation of postgraduate students for each course is determined by the instructor at the beginning of the semester and communicated to students together with the detailed teaching schedule of the course. The method of examination and grading of students must ensure integrity, objectivity and transparency.
Evaluation of postgraduate students’ performance takes place in the first or second week of February for winter semester courses and within June for spring semester courses. Successful students are graded from six (6) to ten (10), with the possibility of grading in half-unit increments, while unsuccessful students are graded with R (Repeat). Instructors make efforts to issue examination results within ten (10) days from the examination date.
In case of a grade of R, corresponding to a grade below six (6), the student is re-examined only once, in a repeat examination held in September, for both winter and spring semester courses. Instructors are obliged to issue the results of this examination within five (5) days from the examination date.
If the student fails the September repeat examination, he/she has the possibility to repeat the course and be examined in it during the next semester in which its teaching has been scheduled. In that examination, the student is entitled, by a specially reasoned application, to request not to be examined by a specific instructor, but by a three-member committee of other faculty members of the same or related subject, appointed by the Department Assembly.
If the student fails the above examination (under paragraph 4) or does not appear for it, he/she is removed from the Programme by decision of the Department Assembly.
If the student fails the above examination (under paragraph 4), the total duration of studies may not exceed four semesters.

Evaluation of Courses and Teaching Staff

(Article 12 of the Programme Regulation)

Course evaluation is conducted in accordance with the applicable standards of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. After completion of a course and before examinations, postgraduate students evaluate it electronically through the information system of the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of AUTH.
Teaching staff are evaluated on the basis of their knowledge and ability to transmit it to students, their level of preparation, their use of the most up-to-date and internationally established bibliography for high-level postgraduate studies, their willingness to answer questions, timely grading and return of assignments and written examinations, adherence to course teaching hours and office hours, etc.

Postgraduate Dissertation

(Article 13 of the Programme Regulation)

The postgraduate student may enter the process of preparing (writing) his/her dissertation, provided that he/she has been successfully examined in all courses of the first and second semesters of the Postgraduate Programme, subject to Articles 8 § 2 and 11 § 4 of the Programme Regulation.
For this purpose, he/she must prepare a preliminary research outline and select a supervising professor from among the instructors of the Programme, with the latter’s consent. The research outline must specify the topic to be analysed, the methodology of its scientific approach and the bibliography to be used. Acceptance of the postgraduate student’s research proposal by the supervisor is based on the criteria of relevance of the topic to the subject matter of the Programme and its scientific adequacy and substantiation.
The Coordinating Committee appoints the supervisor and the three-member committee for supervision and evaluation of the postgraduate dissertation. The supervising professor participates in the committee. The other two (2) members must have the same or a related scientific specialization to the field of the dissertation.
The topic of the postgraduate dissertation is entered in a special register of postgraduate studies kept by the Secretariat of the Programme. This register necessarily includes the full names of the candidate and the supervisor, the date of approval of the topic by the Coordinating Committee and the date of completion of the procedure, either by acceptance or rejection.
Depending on the progress of the dissertation, the postgraduate student informs the supervising professor, who monitors, by means of a progress log, whether the objectives and specifications of the research are being met. The text of the dissertation is recommended to have a length of 1,000 to 20,000 words.
The dissertation must be completed within the time provided for it, namely within one semester.
When drafting of the postgraduate dissertation is completed, it is submitted in three (3) copies to the Secretariat of the Programme, with the consent of the supervising professor that it meets the requirements to be submitted for evaluation.
Presentations of postgraduate dissertations take place on dates set by the Coordinating Committee, no later than forty (40) days from their submission. The invitation and announcement for the presentation of dissertations is addressed by the Director of the Programme.
During the presentation, the postgraduate student presents to the Committee the main points of his/her dissertation and its conclusions. The presentation is recommended not to exceed twenty (20) minutes. Subsequently, the members of the Committee ask questions to the student, the total duration of which is recommended not to exceed forty (40) minutes.
Immediately after completion of the public presentation, the Three-Member Examination Committee submits to the Secretariat of the Programme the examination report of the student and the grade of the postgraduate dissertation, on a grading scale from zero (0) to ten (10).
Changing the topic of the postgraduate dissertation is not possible except by decision of the Coordinating Committee, following a reasoned recommendation of the supervising professor. A change of dissertation topic does not in any case constitute grounds for extension of the above deadlines.

Plagiarism / Exclusion from Examinations / Removal

(Article 15 of the Programme Regulation)

The postgraduate dissertation, as well as any assignment submitted within the framework of courses, must constitute the work of the student submitting it. Plagiarism constitutes a serious academic offence.
Plagiarism consists in particular of copying, in whole or in part, the work of another person, verbatim or by paraphrase, published or unpublished, in printed or electronic form, without precise and clear reference to the source. The submission by a student of an assignment written by another person, with or without payment, is also considered a form of plagiarism.
In cases of confirmed plagiarism, the Department Assembly, following a reasoned recommendation of the Coordinating Committee, decides the removal of the postgraduate student. If plagiarism is discovered after the awarding of the postgraduate diploma, the awarded title is revoked by a specially reasoned decision of the Department Assembly.
A postgraduate student caught copying in a written examination for the first time is excluded from the examination of the corresponding course and must attend the course again the next period in which it is taught. In this case, the duration of studies is automatically extended, which however may not exceed four semesters in total. A second instance of being caught copying during studies entails permanent removal from the Programme, by decision of the Department Assembly.
The Department Assembly also decides the removal of a postgraduate student from the Programme when he/she:
a) has exceeded the maximum time for completion of studies, in accordance with the provisions of the present Regulation;
b) has failed the examination of a course after the repeat examination provided for in Article 11 paragraph 4 of the Programme Regulation; or
c) has demonstrated criminally punishable or extremely offensive conduct towards a member of the academic community of AUTH.