National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Ranks 6th in the EU and 1st in Eastern Euro
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has earned international recognition, ranking 6th among 893 research universities in the European Union and 1st among 796 universities in Eastern Europe, according to the Transparent Ranking of Universities by Citations (January 2025), published by the Cybermetrics Lab of Spain’s Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).
Excellence within the European Union
Based on verified Google Scholar citation data, NKUA now ranks among the top 1% of EU universities, with 4.86 million academic citations. This figure places it ahead of leading institutions in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Austria.
Remarkably, it also surpasses nearly all German universities—trailing only the Technical University of Munich by about one percent (46,900 citations).
A leader in Eastern Europe
NKUA’s performance crowns Greece as the research leader of Eastern Europe, with five Greek universities among the top six institutions in the region. These include the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Patras, the National Technical University of Athens, and the University of Crete.
By contrast, the leading Russian institution, the Higher School of Economics, has fewer than 1.24 million citations, while Turkey’s top university, Hacettepe University, records about 1.25 million.
The ranking defines Eastern Europe broadly, covering 27 countries from the Urals to the Czech Republic and from the Baltic to Cyprus — a region larger than the European Union, home to 335 million people.
Symbols of academic resilience
“This achievement belongs to our researchers and academic community, who keep NKUA at the forefront of global scholarship,” said NKUA Rector Gerasimos Siasos in a statement to Alfavita.gr.
He noted that the university is now expanding interdisciplinary programs and aiming to attract more international students.
NKUA’s distinction reflects long-term investment in research, digital visibility, and global collaboration with world-leading institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Exeter, California, and the Sorbonne.
Despite a decade of austerity and economic hardship, Greece’s universities have demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining international competitiveness and excellence in research. Collectively, the top five institutions are increasingly referred to as Greece’s “Ivy League,” with NKUA leading the way.
A point of pride for the diaspora
For the Greek diaspora, particularly in countries like Australia where many have strong academic and professional ties, NKUA’s achievement is a symbol of global Hellenic excellence.
It strengthens the appeal of academic exchanges and partnerships between Australian and Greek universities—particularly in areas such as classics, philosophy, engineering, and medical research, where both countries excel.
The growing recognition of Greek higher education also inspires younger members of the diaspora to reconnect with Greece through research collaborations, and cultural exchanges.
Greece as an academic bridge
Currently RMIT University in Victoria and Neos Kosmos is hosting Professor Liza Tsaliki from the Kapodistrian University of Athens, who deliver a provocative public lecture, Still Seen, Still Desired: Women Over 45 in Western Society and the Role of Media and Culture. The public lecture is on November 6 at 6:30 pm and booking are through this link.
This mission echoes the Byzantine legacy, when Hellenism served as a vital link between Europe and Asia for over a millennium.
Today, Greece is once again asserting that role—combining intellectual tradition, innovation, and international cooperation to advance shared global values.
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
