NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

I.3. Organisation of course of studies
I.3.1. Non-university higher education
A. Technological educational institutions (TEI)
Teaching is carried out on a semester basis and includes theoretical instruction in the various subjects; practicals, tutorials and
laboratory and field tests, which are aimed at laying the foundations for the application of the theory and the acquisition of
professional skills; seminars, visits to industrial plants and other activities; practising the relevant profession.
Regulation of studies
The academic year commences on 1 September and continues until 31 August of the following year. The teaching year
commences on 1 September and ends on 5 July of the subsequent year; it contains two independent teaching periods, the
didactic semesters, called the winter and spring semesters respectively. The winter semester commences on 1 September; the
spring semester continues until the second half of June.
Each teaching period comprises 15 full weeks of instruction plus two examination periods, each lasting two weeks. In case of
failure, the relevant subjects will be repeated during the next examination period. For every subject, students are required to
attend a minimum of 32 and a maximum of 45 hours’ teaching per week. Attendance is compulsory for all students.
Students in a given department receive their degree when:
they have successfully completed their compulsory and mandatory elective classes, as well as any options, in compliance
with the study and procedural regulations;
their graduation project has been approved;
they have completed their professional placements.
Studies at the TEI last seven or eight semesters, including the compulsory professional placement and the completion of a
graduation project, which is evaluated separately. Studies in all departments result in a degree called Ptychio TEI, which
entitles their holders to practise their respective professions.
Organisation of subjects — Curriculum
Subjects in the curriculum in each department are broken down as follows.
(1) General compulsory subjects: these subjects involve basic topics that are dedicated to the chosen area of specialisation,
and which are compulsory for all students in the department.
(2) Mandatory elective subjects: these subjects cover areas of specialisation which the students must select from among a
limited number. These subjects may be grouped together, and in this case students must follow all the subjects that fall
under a given group.
(3) Optional subjects: these subjects cover areas of general education or provide in-depth treatment of a particular topic; they
may either belong to a particular scientific domain or be interdisciplinary.
Each subject in the department’s curriculum is divided into a number of teaching modules called didaktiki monada (dm). A
teaching module entails one hour of instruction per week. This applies to all the subjects taught in the Department. The
graduation project consists of between 10 and 15 teaching modules. Field trips are not included in teaching
modules.