Introduction to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship Program

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is a world-leading international philanthropic organization dedicated to funding institutions and projects that are expected to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact on society at large. The American College of Greece is honored to receive the Foundation's support in the form of a donation that establishes a scholarship program for Parallel Studies at Deree.

Program Description

The donation to Deree is part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation's "Recharging the Youth" initiative, which aims to help create new opportunities for Greece's younger generations. The Parallel Studies Program at Deree offers outstanding students the opportunity to enroll for a minor (i.e., a series of US-accredited and EU-validated courses – typically 6 – in a specific discipline), while concurrently pursuing a Greek public University degree.

Benefits of Becoming an SNF Scholar at Deree

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship Program offers scholars unique academic opportunities and access to a wide range of career-enhancing options:

• Exposure to a US-modeled education system (e.g., active classroom engagement, case studies, group and research projects, state-of-the-art academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular programs and facilities)
• Enhanced proficiency in English (all classes taught in English)
• Access to faculty expertise, collaborative research, and mentorship
• Cross-cultural opportunities:
  • Two-way study abroad: foreign university students are "exchanged" with Greek students
  • Simultaneous "real-time" classes: foreign university students and Greek students experience the same class via distance technology
  • International internships: Greek students gain professional experience for several months in a multi-national company in another part of the world
• Career services:
  • Résumé consulting, interview, graduate school, and career path coaching
  • Participation in career fairs and business-focused events; access to full-time/part-time jobs and internships through Career Services' online platforms and social media
• Access to a network of more than 69,000 successful alumni around the world

Scholarship Requirements

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must:

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at a Greek public University
• Have completed at least one semester at a Greek public University with an academic average of 7.5/10 (or 7/10 for the National Technical University of Athens)
• Have a high school diploma grade of 17/20 and above
• (For continuing students) have completed a maximum of 2 courses at Deree

Candidates for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship Program will also be eligible for an ACG merit scholarship, ranging from 15% to 35% tuition reduction depending on the candidate's high school diploma grade.

Maintaining the Scholarship

In order to maintain the scholarship, the scholar must:

• Maintain a minimum Cumulative Index (CI – Career Totals) of 3.10/4.00 by the end of the first semester/session and a minimum of 3.20/4.00 after the second semester/session. The minimum CI of 3.20/4.00 must be maintained thereafter.
• Successfully complete all EAPP courses if enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes Program (EAPP). If also enrolled in regular courses, meet the CI requirements stated above.
• Register for successive Fall and Spring Semesters with at least one course per semester and maintain this minimum course load throughout each semester.
• Comply with all College policies, including the Student Conduct Code.
• Maintain a minimum Greek University Average Grade of no less than 7.5/10 (or 7/10 for those attending the National Technical University of Athens).

Admission Process

Applicants can apply for a minor (i.e., a series of courses – typically 6 – in a specific discipline) leading to a certificate in one of 64 academic areas.

The following is required for all applicants:

1. Completed application form (Minor's Application Form).
2. Personal written statement explaining the reasons why the candidate is applying for the SNF scholarship and how the candidate expects to improve his/her employability by participating in the SNF Scholarship Program.
3. Official copy of a secondary diploma.
4. Greek public University transcript.
5. Identification card (for Greek citizens), or a valid passport (for non-Greek citizens).
6. Interview with a College representative.
7. Evidence of proficiency in English.

Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Recommended deadlines for the SNF Program are as follows:

• Fall Semester: September 11, 2025
• Fall Intensive Program: October 20, 2025
• Spring Semester: January 12, 2026
• Summer Session I: May 20, 2026
• Summer Session II: June 25, 2026

The Admissions Counselor will guide the candidate through the admission and registration process, after which the student will be assigned an Academic Advisor who will monitor academic progress and assist in the selection of courses. Upon admission to the College and in order to enroll, the candidate must attend an academic advising session to select courses, submit a deposit, and register for the selected courses.

The American College of Greece (ACG) is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational institution founded in 1875 in Smyrna (Izmir), Asia Minor, by missionaries from Boston, Massachusetts. Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the college relocated to Athens in 1923 and has operated there ever since. It is the oldest and largest U.S.-accredited, comprehensive educational institution in Europe, with over 150 years of transformative education and a long-standing role in fostering intellectual and cultural ties between Greece and the United States.

ACG is chartered as a U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity by the State of Colorado, and is governed by an independent board of trustees. Its motto — Non Ministrari, Sed Ministrare ("Not to be Served, but to Serve") — reflects its foundational commitment to education in service of society.

Three divisions:

ACG operates across three distinct academic divisions, each serving a different stage of education:

• Pierce: a pre-kindergarten through secondary school offering a Gymnasium, Lyceum and an International Baccalaureate Programme, with campuses in Aghia Paraskevi and a Pierce East Campus in Spata
• Deree: the undergraduate and graduate college, with all instruction delivered entirely in English, located on the main 64-acre campus in Aghia Paraskevi.
• Alba Graduate Business School: a specialized postgraduate business school located in downtown Athens, built on ACG's long-standing legacy of academic excellence.

Accreditation

ACG was first accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in 1981, becoming the first U.S. institution abroad to achieve this distinction. In 2023, The American University of Greece (AUG) — ACG's newly incorporated U.S. affiliate — received full institutional NECHE accreditation, which includes ACG's operations in Greece through a validating agreement. This means Deree graduates hold degrees with the same credentials as graduates of other NECHE institutions, including MIT, Harvard, Brown, Boston College and Amherst.

Deree is also validated by The Open University (UK), providing graduates with an additional internationally recognized award pathway. In 2024, AUG launched a Global Campus offering fully online degree programs rooted in ACG's academic tradition.

Campus

The main campus in Aghia Paraskevi sits on the western slopes of Mount Hymettus, about ten kilometers from central Athens, and was originally designed by the renowned Greek architect Constantine Doxiadis. Its 64 acres include smart classrooms, science and STEM laboratories, fine art studios and exhibition spaces, a Center for the Arts with multiple performance venues including the Pierce Theater, a black box theater and the Irene Bailey Theater, a library, a gym, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a soccer and track complex, a chapel, and student lounges. The campus offers panoramic views of the Athens basin.

Student life

Student life at ACG is active and diverse. Students can join academic societies, a wide range of clubs, and student organizations including the Deree Student Association, the Research Scholars Organization, and the Student Emergency Response Force. Intercollegiate and intramural sports are organized under the Deree Griffins banner. Arts programming is extensive, with music, theater, dance and visual arts performances running throughout the academic year under the Arts at Deree initiative. An International Honors Program is available for high-achieving students, including a Stanford Summer component and a dedicated merit scholarship. Service learning projects connect students to the broader Athens community.

Research and institutes

ACG's research activity spans applied academic research and public policy engagement through four dedicated centers:

• ACG Research Center (ACG-RC): supports interdisciplinary applied research, with active projects including a study on the role of the Greek-American diaspora in bilateral U.S.-Greece relations from 1974 to 2024
• Institute of Global Affairs: hosts research, public events and publications on international policy and geopolitics
• Institute of Public Health: conducts public health research and runs an annual lecture series open to the wider community
• The Demos Center: dedicated to democratic values, civic discourse and public engagement

Sustainability

Sustainability is a core institutional commitment at ACG. The college has been listed among the Princeton Review's most environmentally responsible colleges for seven consecutive years, and is one of only four European institutions to appear on the list for 2025. In 2024, ACG was recognized as a top performer in five categories of the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index — Campus Engagement, Energy, Grounds, Purchasing, and Wellbeing and Work — making it the highest-ranked STARS institution outside the United States and Canada. ACG also received the 2024 EPEAT Purchaser Award for the second consecutive year for sustainable electronics procurement, and was featured in Greece's inaugural Hellenic Impact Report for its integration of sustainability across academics, operations and partnerships. The college currently offers 149 sustainability-focused and sustainability-inclusive courses across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Student support services

• Student Academic Support Services (SASS): learning facilitation, peer tutoring and academic resources
• Career Services: career planning, internship placement, and employer connections including an annual ACG Career Days event
• Student Success Center: holistic advising and student wellbeing support
• Counseling and Health and Wellness Center: mental health services, wellness coaching and medical assistance
• Financial assistance: merit scholarships, grants, work-study, and access to U.S. Federal Loans and Veterans Aid for eligible students
• On-campus and nearby housing for undergraduate and study-abroad students

International reach

1. ACG welcomes study-abroad students from universities worldwide through semester, summer and intensive programs in Athens. Special programs include the Hellenic Studies Summer School, the Heritage Greece program, and a longstanding collaboration with Harvard University's Center for Hellenic Studies. Through its Outbound Study Abroad Programme, Deree students can study at partner institutions in cities including Stanford, New York, Boston, London, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai and Berlin. A parallel studies pathway also allows students enrolled in Greek public universities to earn a Deree degree simultaneously.