Regulations

Each cycle (duration) of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) leading to a Postgraduate Diploma (PD) is three semesters of full-time attendance, with the final semester dedicated to the preparation of the master’s thesis.

Attendance of courses is mandatory. The maximum allowable number of absences per course is set at 30%.

Course registration is compulsory for each semester. Failure to meet the registration deadline results in the loss of the right to attend courses during the current semester. In this case, continuation of studies requires a decision by the Program’s Academic Committee of the IPPP, following a recommendation from the Coordinating Committee (C.C.).

A student may be dismissed from the Postgraduate Program following a relevant proposal by the Coordinating Committee, in cases of non-compliance with the following obligations, such as:

• Regular attendance of at least 70% of the delivered lectures each semester.

• Submission of the required assignments for each course within the specified deadlines.

• Participation in examinations.

• Respect for and compliance with the decisions of departmental bodies as well as adherence to academic ethics.

• Non-payment of tuition fees.

Students who have not exceeded the maximum duration of study may, upon submitting a justified request to the Program’s Academic Committee of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM), suspend their studies for a period not exceeding two consecutive semesters. Suspension of studies is granted for serious professional, family, personal, or health-related reasons.

During the suspension period, student status is revoked and all associated student rights are suspended. Student status is automatically reinstated upon the end of the suspension. The suspension period is not counted toward the maximum allowable duration of studies.

Students are not offered the option to complete the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) on a part-time basis.

An extension of studies for up to two (2) academic semesters may be granted, following a justified request by the student and approval by the Assembly. Thus, the maximum allowable duration for the completion of studies is set at five (5) academic semesters for full-time students.

A Postgraduate Student (PS) is considered to have successfully completed their studies and is awarded the Postgraduate Diploma (PD) provided that:

1. They have completed the required semesters of study.

2. They have successfully passed all courses.

3. They have completed their Master’s Thesis.

Each year, the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) publishes a call for applications for the upcoming academic year through announcements in the press, on the website of the Department of Planning and Regional Development (DPRD) of the University of Thessaly (UTH), and on the website of the Department of Economic Sciences (DOE) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

Applications from candidates must be accompanied by the required supporting documents and submitted to the Secretariat of the ERDM during the June–July period (Phase I). This deadline may be extended by decision of the Coordinating Committee of the IPPP (Phase II). Applications not accompanied by the required documentation will not be considered during the candidate selection process.

The required supporting documents accompanying the application for admission to the IPPP are as follows:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV).

2. Clear photocopy of Degree or Diploma.

3. Clear photocopy of official academic transcript.

4. Clear photocopy of English language proficiency certificate. This requirement is waived for holders of undergraduate or postgraduate degrees from English-speaking countries.

The enrollment of successful applicants holding a degree from a foreign institution is finalized only upon the submission (by any legal means) of a certified copy of their Degree.

The maximum number of students admitted each academic year to the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) “Management of the Development of European Regions” is thirty (30). The ERDM cannot operate with fewer than ten (10) students. An exception applies to its first two academic years of operation. Additional admissions may be granted to IKY (State Scholarships Foundation) and other scholarship holders, as well as to foreign scholarship recipients of the Greek state.

The ERDM “Management of the Development of European Regions” accepts graduates of first-cycle study programs from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Greece or equivalent institutions abroad. Priority is given to holders of degrees in Engineering, Geography, Environmental Studies, Computer Science, Economics, Political Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Public Administration.

Applications for admission are excluded if the place of study is certified as within Greek territory, unless the studies were conducted at a public HEI, in accordance with Article 80A of Law 3328/2005.

Final-year undergraduate students may also apply, provided they have obtained their degree or completed their studies before the beginning of the program’s courses, even if their graduation ceremony is still pending. For candidates in this category, the application will be evaluated based on the current average of the submitted academic transcript. A candidate evaluated under this process may not request re-evaluation of their application after submitting their final transcript, if it is submitted after the completion of the first phase of the candidate evaluation process.

Successful candidates will be notified in writing by the Secretariat of the ERDM and will be required to confirm in writing, within fifteen (15) days, whether they accept their admission to the ERDM. Acceptance implies agreement with the program’s regulations and payment of the first installment of tuition fees. Failure to respond or to pay the first installment within the specified period will be considered a rejection, and the Secretariat is authorized to notify the next candidate(s) on the waiting list, in order of ranking.

Any objections regarding the evaluation process must be submitted to the Secretariat of the ERDM within five (5) working days from the date of the announcement of the results. The objections will be reviewed by the Academic Committee of the ERDM.

Student status is acquired upon the individual’s registration in the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM).

The enrollment of new Postgraduate Students (PS) begins following an announcement by the Secretariat of the ERDM, which specifies the enrollment period and the required supporting documents.

Postgraduate students have all the rights and benefits granted to undergraduate students, up to the end of any approved extension of studies, except for the right to receive free teaching textbooks.

Postgraduate students are encouraged to participate in and attend seminars of research groups, bibliographic review discussions, laboratory visits, conferences/workshops related to the academic field of the postgraduate program, lectures, and other scientific events organized by the program, among others.

The institution ensures accessibility to the recommended textbooks and teaching for students with disabilities and/or special educational needs.

Students of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) “Management of the Development of European Regions” are required to attend the lectures conducted within the courses, to submit electronically (and in writing to the Secretariat if requested), within the prescribed deadlines, the required assignments for each course, to participate in the course examinations, to pay tuition fees within the prescribed deadlines, to anonymously complete the evaluation questionnaires of the instructors and courses based on Law 3374/2005, which are distributed after the completion of all lectures of each course and before the examinations, and to respect and comply with the decisions of the governing bodies of the ERDM and the University of Thessaly.

Inappropriate behavior by a student towards any member of the teaching, adjunct, administrative, or technical staff of the ERDM, within the framework of academic ethics, may lead to the student’s expulsion from the program. Expulsion is decided by the Academic Program Committee (APC) following a relevant proposal from the Director of the ERDM.

The evaluation questionnaires distributed to students aim to improve the academic level of the IPPP. The students’ responses are processed by the Secretariat of the ERDM under the supervision and responsibility of the Director. The Director informs the Program Committee of the IPPP and submits relevant recommendations to the Assembly of the Department of Planning and Regional Development at the University of Thessaly. The questionnaires are taken into account when preparing the overall evaluation report of the ERDM.

Course registration is mandatory every semester. Failure to register within the deadline results in loss of the right to attend the respective semester. In such cases, continuation of studies requires a decision by the Coordinating Committee of the ERDM.

Students of the ERDM must comply with the tuition payment deadlines.

Students may be removed from the program if they:

• Exceed the maximum allowed absences,

• Fail the examination(s) of one or more courses and do not successfully complete the program as defined by the Program’s regulations,

• Exceed the maximum allowed duration of studies as set by the current regulations,

• Fail to submit the required assignments within the prescribed deadlines for each course,

• Fail to respect and comply with the decisions of the Department’s governing bodies and academic ethics,

• Violate the applicable disciplinary provisions concerning the handling of disciplinary offenses by the competent disciplinary bodies,

• Do not pay the required tuition fees,

• Submit a voluntary request for withdrawal from the program.

In the event of a student’s removal from the program, upon their request, a certificate can be issued for the courses they have successfully completed.

In cases of definitive failure, and ii) the student accepts the obligations set by each instructor for the teaching and grading management of the courses taught within the ERDM.

The intellectual property rights of the Master’s Theses, as well as rights related to patents or commercial exploitation of the theses, are determined by the relevant decisions of the Ethics Committee of the University of Thessaly.

Any form of plagiarism in course assignments, publications, or the writing of Master’s Theses, fabrication of research data, and unscientific behavior in general, is strictly prohibited. The Ethics Committee is responsible for informing the postgraduate students about these matters and imposing penalties where necessary. Detailed guidelines on this issue will be issued by the Ethics Committee of the University.

No Master’s thesis shall be submitted for defense unless it has been previously checked by the electronic plagiarism prevention service of the University’s Central Library.

The Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program “Management of the Development of European Regions” awards one (1) excellence scholarship based on the academic performance (average grade) in the courses of each semester to one student. The decision to grant the excellence scholarship is made by the Coordinating Committee of the Program.

Students who receive a scholarship from another source are not eligible for the excellence scholarship.

Applications for tuition waiver scholarships at the Program are submitted after the completion of the student admission process and within a time period set by the Program itself. The evaluation of the criteria for tuition fee exemption is conducted by the Program’s Academic Committee, which issues a reasoned decision to accept or reject the application.

If students have already paid registration fees and later qualify for exemption due to income, these fees will be refunded.

The teaching of courses in the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) is conducted entirely via synchronous distance learning methods through the MS TEAMS platform, used by the University of Thessaly. Course examinations will also be conducted remotely using the following methods:

• Written exams, where students submit digital files of their answers through the eClass platform

• Oral exams, where students respond in real-time via MS TEAMS using their camera and microphone to the examiner’s questions

• Oral presentations of course projects in real-time, via MS TEAMS using camera and microphone

The percentage of asynchronous distance learning in this program is 20%.
The percentage of synchronous distance learning in this program is 80%.
The percentage of blended learning in this program is 100%.

The program aims to attract postgraduate students from all over the country. Offering a blended teaching approach will serve as an additional incentive to increase student participation in the program.

The use of synchronous distance education will enhance the program’s effectiveness by utilizing electronic educational tools as described.

Postgraduate students will receive the necessary software free of charge to install on their computers, enabling them to participate under the direct supervision of instructors.

Existing communication and e-learning platforms provided by the University of Thessaly will be used, including Microsoft Teams, Open E-class, and Zoom.

The program commits to adhering to the Joint Ministerial Decision (ΚΥΑ) on distance education as specified in the Government Gazette (FEK B΄1079/28.02.2023), as well as the University’s Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Regulations.

The completion of an internship within the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program (ERDM) “Management of the Development of European Regions” is not mandatory. However, students beginning their thesis semester are given the opportunity to undertake an internship through the Erasmus+ mobility program abroad, in academic departments or research centers, where they can apply the practical part of their thesis work.

Student mobility within the program for study purposes is not implemented. Mobility may only take place for the purpose of completing an internship.