Columbia Global Center Athens is uniquely positioned to enhance student visits to Greece and support students in myriad ways. We look forward to hosting future student groups, providing tailored programs, and creating meaningful academic and cultural experiences.
The center will offer a diverse set of student programs, from immersive study abroad opportunities to internships, both for graduate and undergraduate students. The Center will also develop collaborative field courses involving students and faculty from Columbia University and partner universities in Greece. Through such courses, students will have the opportunity to visit related research centers, governmental and nongovernmental agencies and other relevant institutions. Courses may also begin at Columbia, with site visits to key institutions in New York City.
Undergraduate Programs
We are thrilled to announce our first student program – Columbia Summer Global Core: Athens Experience. This program offers undergraduate students – for the first time ever – the opportunity to get Global Core curriculum credits in an accelerated, three-week course at the Athens Center.
The application deadline has passed. The admissions decision date is March 3.
Beyond the Columbia Summer Global Core course, the Athens Center is hosting a series of courses in 2025:
- GSAPP Advanced Architectural Design Program (Spring 2025): The current GSAPP Architecture students, traveling to Athens for their Advanced Studio work led by Professor Lydia Kallipoliti, will be hosted for a visit to the future building of the Columbia Global Center Athens to learn about the building's history, its ongoing renovation project, and its envisioned future.
- Social Work with Refugees and Displaced Persons (Spring 2025): Students will work directly with agencies serving refugee populations while learning about humanitarian policies and practices.
- SIPA Capstone Workshop (Spring 2025): Partner with the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy to explore multilateral mechanisms for protection and labor pathways in migration management. (School of International and Public Affairs)
- Epigraphy Seminar Study Trip (Summer 2025): Led by faculty member Paraskevi Martzavou, this specialized study trip offers classics students hands-on experience with primary sources.
Student Stories from Greece
What do Columbia students think about visiting Greece?
Check out some recent stories about how they explored Athens, connected with local culture, and immersed themselves in the region’s vibrant history and dynamic energy.
"Being surrounded by individuals who were eager to learn and experience the culture was infectious, so that even I, who was not foreign to it the way others were, discovered a newfound appreciation." - Danae Kosta CC '27
"Not only was I a student of this historical city, frequenting sights from antiquity, but I was an observer of modern Athens, witnessing its graffitied walls, political ephemera, and complicated relationship with tourists." - Olivia Franklin GSAS'25
“In Athens, I formed connections with professors and researchers who have helped shape my applications to research fellowships and edit my graduate school research proposal. I was also able to present at a student research conference and have my work published.” - Alyssa Mendez CC '18