Greece is a wonderful place to study abroad. The birthplace of democracy, theatre, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, offers students a wide variety of options as well a beautiful setting and total immersion in the language of the homeland. The sun and sea attract visitors from all over the world in the summer, but Greece has so much more than just gorgeous beaches to delight the spirits and enlighten the minds of students of all ages.
A center of learning for millennia, Greece is the place to be for those interested in study abroad programs. Students of history and medicine can follow in the footsteps of ancient medical students who flocked to Kos to learn from the father of medicine, Hippocrates. For those interested in politics, Athens is ideal since it is the birthplace of democracy.
Drama students can study in the place where Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote their ancient masterpieces and where Thespis, the first principal actor in theatre history stepped in front of the chorus. In mathematics and science there are countless examples to inspire young people, including Pythagoras with his Pythagorean Theorem, Democritus and his atomic theory of the universe, and Archimedes, the greatest mathematician of his time and one of the greatest scientists and engineers of all time for his remarkable achievements, like his method for determining the volume of irregular shapes through displacement of water, among others. For practically every subject there is an ancient root in Greece. With such a rich history, going back thousands of years, Greece is the ideal choice for those studying archeology, classics, and of course the history, literature, and language of Greece.
Byzantine enthusiasts can marvel at treasures that can be found nowhere else in the world. Marine biologists can study aquatic life in the crystal, clear waters of the Aegean. Art students will be dazzled by the light in Greece which has inspired countless artists since the dawn of time.
The liberal arts education is also based on the well-rounded educational system of Greece. The ‘enkyklios paideia’ or ‘education in a circle’ was well-known in classical antiquity, continuing into the Hellenistic Age, and then spread across the Roman Empire. This system of education prepared the student for the future, for active participation in the civic life of the city-state and community.
The study abroad experience is an increasingly important part of education. Like the Grand Tour that completed the education of European gentlemen from about 1660 to the 1840’s when railroads made the trip more accessible to the masses, study abroad teaches valuable lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom. Eventually, young ladies, too, finished their education with a trip abroad, accompanied by a chaperone, like Lucy Honeychurch in E.M. Forster’s 1908 novel ‘A Room with a View’.
Greece is ideal for study abroad especially for those of Greek heritage since they can combine their studies with total immersion in the language and culture of their parents, grandparents, and ancestors. As descendants of the extraordinary and rich Hellenic tradition, students today should take advantage of the many study abroad programs available in Greece and not just based in Athens, either.
There are programs in Thessaloniki, and on the islands of Crete, Paros, and Samos, just to name a few. Make sure to plan ahead, since many programs are extremely popular, especially for summer study abroad programs where students can spend the summer in Greece and earn college credit.
The legendary hospitality of the Greek people will also impress those who have yet to experience it in person, and the food will also entice many culinary enthusiasts with the quality and deliciousness of the ingredients and the cuisine.
It is not only the historical Greece that will inspire students, but the indomitable spirit of the people today and the extraordinary and diverse experience of the culture now. An innovative and entrepreneurial spirit continues to move the country forward in many areas, notably in film and the arts. Students can look forward to making new friends and sharing experiences that will last a lifetime. If nothing else, they will appreciate the homeland in a more well-rounded way than ever before and look forward to visiting as often as possible. For every subject and every student, study abroad in Greece will inspire, educate, and enlighten. As we all know, there is no other place in the world like Greece, and study abroad is a great way for students to truly experience Hellas.
