Admission requirements and process
The selection procedure for candidates, after confirmation by the Department Assembly (DA) of the suggestion of the Steering Committee (SC), is performed by a three-member Selection Committee that consists of the Director of the program, and two (2) faculty members that are involved in the program. The secretariat supplies the Selection Committee all applications and attached material. Candidates are required to file:
- Application (form provided in the programs and Department’s web site).
- A copy of the applicant’s first-degree diploma,. No Postgraduate Diploma is awarded by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to any student whose first-cycle degree from a foreign institution which has not been recognized by D.O.A.T.A.P (the Hellenic National Academic Recognition and Information Center or Hellenic NARIC) according to Law 3328/2005 (A’ 80).
- A transcript of records for all his/her studies.
- A complete curriculum vitae, in English, and a dossier with any published papers or works of the applicant, and6. Certificate that proves knowledge of English or other languages (if there are any).
The documents under points (2) and (3) must be submitted in the original language and, in case they are not issued in Greek for the AUTh, with an official translation in English.
Α. Knowledge of the English language is certified with written exams (translation of a scientific text of general nature) and is graded as Pass (corresponding to a grade of 6 in a 1-10 scale) or Fail (that corresponds to a grade less than 6). Knowledge of English is a requirement for the further evaluation of candidates. Candidates with a C1 or C2 English language certificate, according to the Council of Europe system that are also accepted by the Greek state (Α.Σ.Ε.Π.), are exempted from the examination
Exempted from the English language exams are also those with:
- BS in English language and literature, or BS in Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting or similar
- BS, MS or PhD of an abroad institution recognized by D.O.A.T.A.P
iii. Diploma that corresponds to that of a Greek school of secondary education, if this haw been awarded after regular studies of at least six years abroad. License of competence in teaching of a foreign language does not prove knowledge of a foreign language (Π.Δ. 347/2003). Candidates that have such a license must provide the program with a certified copy and a translation of their certificate of studies based on which the license of competence in teaching of a foreign language has been issued.
Β. The examination in English is done be two faculty members that are appointed by the SC. The names of the candidates are covered by themselves at the examination. Every Examiner covers his grading immediately. The grades are uncovered from the Selection Committee at its meeting. In case of one Pass and one Fail grade, the examination sheet is given for re-grading to a teacher of English with the name of the candidate covered. The resulting grade is final.
- Brief statement (up to 1000 words) where the candidates will state their scientific interests and the reasons of their application, including their aims, the expected benefits/learning outcomes, how the program is connected to their past, the skills that make the candidate appropriate to the program.
- Scientific publications / Certificates of professional or research experience (if there are any)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Copy of police ID.
- A recent photo.
12 A declaration (law 1599/86) where it is stated that all the certificates and paperwork that were submitted are original and prototypes, or a precise photocopy of the original prototypes
- Foreign candidates must submit a certificate of knowledge of the Greek language, or a certificate of level at least B2.
Candidates that do not yet hold a first-cycle degree, a transcripts record will be accepted, and their registration will be finalized after they procure and provide their BS.
Selection criteria and process of evaluation
The selection committee forms a list with all candidates and, after thorough checking of their documents, rejects those who do not meet the minimum criteria that have been set by the Department and notifies the rest of the candidates for the mandatory personal interview.
For candidates to be accepted it is required that their grade of their first-cycle degree is at least six (6.0) in a 1-10 scale. If their degree is from abroad, it is required that it is registered with the National Register of Abroad Recognized Institutions of Higher Education and in the National Record of Titles of Abroad Recognized Institutions of Higher Education or that there is a relevant decision of the Department’s Assembly.
The number of candidates that may be accepted per year is 20 students. The graduate program shall not operate with less than six students.
The program cannot accept students that are simultaneously registered in other MS programs or PhD candidates in any other higher education School of the same or other Departments. Registered students of the program are not allowed until their exit from the program to be simultaneously registered in other MS programs or PhD candidates in any other higher education school.
The evaluation by the Selection Committee of the candidates that have submitted their applications and all required certificates and paperwork within the deadlines, is based on the following criteria and coefficients from which the final Selection grade is calculated (with a total of 100 points):
Ι. Degree grade (max 50 points)
Grade Χ 5 Χ coefficient (five year study ΑΕΙ=1, four year study: UniversityΙ=0.8, Τechnological Institution= 0.6)
ΙΙ. Relevance of studies (max 35 points)
Α) Degree from the Agronomy Department (Auth), division of Hydraulics, Soil science and Agricultural engineering and Department of Natural Resources Development and Agricultural Engineering of the Agricultural University of Athens or other Departments from abroad with the same subject: 35 points.
Β) Degrees from the Agronomy Department (Auth), all other divisions or of other Agricultural Departments: 28 points.
- C) Degrees of non Agricultural Departments of 5year studies: 27 points.
- D) Degress of non Agricultural Departments of 4year studies: 24 points.
Ε) Degrees from Technical Institutions: 18 points.
For every course in the transcripts that is relevant to the program 0.2 points are added and 0.6 for the dissertation, it is relevant to the program.
Maximum grade for degrees of:
Agricultural Departments of other divisions: 29 points.
Non Agricultural Departments of 5year studies: 28 μόρια
Non Agricultural Departments of 4year studies: 25 points.
Technical Institutions: 19 points.
ΙΙΙ. Interview and other qualifications (max 15 points)
Α) Interview (6 points)
Β) The 1000 word max Brief statement (max 3 points)
- C) Research or professional experience within the subject of the program, or knowledge of a second or other foreign language, or a second degree, MS, PhD that are certified (max 4)
- D) The two letters of recommendation (max 2 points: 1 x 2).
The grading system and the coefficients may change with a decision of the DA after suggestion of the SC.
The Selection Committee catalogues all candidates and after checking their files rejects those that do not meet the minimum requirements and invites those who do in an interview.
After the whole process and the evaluation, the Selection Committee classifies the candidates according to their total points on a list, which is submitted to the DA for verification/ The DA verifies the list and declares the acceptance of the candidates to the program. The list is then uploaded in the Department’s and the program’s web site. Objections may be filed within five (5) working days from the announcement of the results.
Accepted are candidates with a total number of points greater or equal to fifty (50). In addition, In case of equal grading in the last selected students, whoever has the highest BS degree to the second decimal, is admitted. In case of a tie, the issue is resolved with a draw. The list of successfoul candidates is certified by the Steering Committee, after the recommendation of the Selection Committee.
The accepted candidates may register with the secretariat within the to be announced deadline. In case of failure to keep the deadline, this will be taken as refusal and the next in the list is notified to proceed in registering.
Selection of Non-Greek Citizen Candidates
Non-Greek Citizen Candidates, with a degree of higher education from abroad, are selected with the same criteria, that is considering the BS degree, the grades in the relevant BS courses and dissertation, knowledge of foreign languages, scientific and professional experience, the quality of the Brief statement, their letters of recommendation.
In addition, non-Greek Citizen candidates must file a Greek language certificate, of at least B2 level. Non-Greek citizens that are graduates of Greek Universities are selected with the same criteria as those for Greek citizen graduates of Greek Universities.