Greece Winter
Dates
December 26, 2025 – January 6, 2026
Subjects
Classics, English, History, Political Science
Deadlines
Aug. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Sept. 15: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Greece, a country of dramatic natural beauty and rich cultural traditions, provides students a true adventure as they learn about the ancient peoples whose literature, political ideas, philosophy, notions of health and well-being, religion, art and architecture continue to shape our lives. This winter program begins with an exploration of the capital, Athens before flying to the impressive Greek island of Crete. Note: Students should be aware that some excursions may be physically strenuous and involve walking over rocky terrain.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in variable weather, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in late January after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
We begin our adventure in Athens sampling the glorious monuments of the classical city, such as the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaistos, or the Theater of Dionysos, as well as the grand projects of the Romans, such as Hadrian’s Library or the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
In Crete, we stay in the port city of Heraklion, our base for excursions on the island. The Koules Fortress built by the Venetians makes an impressive entrance to the old town built around the harbor and waterfront. The massive walls still stand dotted around the city, a reminder of the Venetian fortification.
We visit the ancient city of Knossos, where the evidence points to inhabitants from the neolithic times. We will have time to discover the extensive Bronze Age Archaeological site and see the site of the Minoan Palace (first built around 1900 B.C.). Is this the labyrinth of Theseus?
What's Included
Program Cost: $3,375 + airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of your textbooks & materials, passport fees ($165), two meals per day + personal expenses (approx. $400, or if you are an avid shopper, you may consider bringing additional funds), and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Group Flight
Estimated Cost: $1,950 – $2,050
The Greece Winter program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from Athens, Greece with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a round-trip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on November 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your own roundtrip airfare.
The flight to Athens, Greece is overnight arriving the following morning. On the return, the flight from Greece to the USA departs and arrives on the same day.Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.
Student Voices
“KIIS really helped me to get out of my comfort zone and made me more confident in myself. I made several new friends on my program that I still talk to, and we hang out still. Getting to see Greece was truly amazing.”
– Danielle, Greece Summer
“The hike is never easy, but the view is always worth it!”
– Allison, Greece
“Acclimating to a culture that isn’t my own is a humbling reminder that His world, this earth, isn’t mine, or anyone’s; we are all in this together, and we all have to take care of each other.”
– Hannah, Greece
“Not only is Greece one of the most historically known places in the world, but arguably the most beautiful.”
– Sabrina, Greece
“When people ask me how my time in Greece was, It is a lot harder to answer than I had originally thought. Greece was so much more than words can even describe, but I try my best; it was life-changing, inspiring, and beautiful. I loved the country and the people that I get to call my friends.”
– Kaelin, Greece
“While listening to my professor lecture about the Greek theater at Epidaurus, a little girl stepped into the middle of the stage. She sang a song in a language that we couldn’t understand, but by the end of the song, our eyes were filled with tears. The spirit of the lecture, theater, and study abroad were captured perfectly in that moment.”
– Maren, Greece
“The study abroad trip to Greece made the learning of ancient Greece and Greeks more personal because I was witnessing the locations and artifacts that we were discussing which made it seem more real. We weren’t talking about events that happened in a far away land but were discussing events that happened on the very ground we were stepping on. To me, it just blew my mind and made me love every minute of my journey.”
-Amanda, Greece
“Greece was… phenomenal to say the least. It truly felt like a home away from home. The food was great (which is saying something because I am a VERY picky eater), but the sights were even better. Being able to walk through a modern city/country and millennia old ruins almost simultaneously is absolutely astounding.”
– Sean, Greece
I studied abroad on the Summer 2016 KIIS Greece program because of my University of…
What prompted you to select the KIIS Greece program? I was taking a Greek Mythology…
What prompted you to select the KIIS Greece program? By Fall Semester 2007, I switched…
The days leading up to my Greece program were filled with feelings of dread and…
The Gilman scholarship will have a huge impact on my education and professional life upon…
It’s been 58 days since I’ve returned from Greece at the time I am writing…
Take Your Education Further
Description
Dates
December 26, 2025 – January 6, 2026
Subjects
Classics, English, History, Political Science
Deadlines
Aug. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Sept. 15: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Greece, a country of dramatic natural beauty and rich cultural traditions, provides students a true adventure as they learn about the ancient peoples whose literature, political ideas, philosophy, notions of health and well-being, religion, art and architecture continue to shape our lives. This winter program begins with an exploration of the capital, Athens before flying to the impressive Greek island of Crete. Note: Students should be aware that some excursions may be physically strenuous and involve walking over rocky terrain.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in variable weather, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in late January after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
We begin our adventure in Athens sampling the glorious monuments of the classical city, such as the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaistos, or the Theater of Dionysos, as well as the grand projects of the Romans, such as Hadrian’s Library or the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
In Crete, we stay in the port city of Heraklion, our base for excursions on the island. The Koules Fortress built by the Venetians makes an impressive entrance to the old town built around the harbor and waterfront. The massive walls still stand dotted around the city, a reminder of the Venetian fortification.
We visit the ancient city of Knossos, where the evidence points to inhabitants from the neolithic times. We will have time to discover the extensive Bronze Age Archaeological site and see the site of the Minoan Palace (first built around 1900 B.C.). Is this the labyrinth of Theseus?
What's Included
Program Cost: $3,375 + airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of your textbooks & materials, passport fees ($165), two meals per day + personal expenses (approx. $400, or if you are an avid shopper, you may consider bringing additional funds), and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Group Flight
Estimated Cost: $1,950 – $2,050
The Greece Winter program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from Athens, Greece with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a round-trip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on November 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your own roundtrip airfare.
The flight to Athens, Greece is overnight arriving the following morning. On the return, the flight from Greece to the USA departs and arrives on the same day.Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.
Student Voices
“KIIS really helped me to get out of my comfort zone and made me more confident in myself. I made several new friends on my program that I still talk to, and we hang out still. Getting to see Greece was truly amazing.”
– Danielle, Greece Summer
“The hike is never easy, but the view is always worth it!”
– Allison, Greece
“Acclimating to a culture that isn’t my own is a humbling reminder that His world, this earth, isn’t mine, or anyone’s; we are all in this together, and we all have to take care of each other.”
– Hannah, Greece
“Not only is Greece one of the most historically known places in the world, but arguably the most beautiful.”
– Sabrina, Greece
“When people ask me how my time in Greece was, It is a lot harder to answer than I had originally thought. Greece was so much more than words can even describe, but I try my best; it was life-changing, inspiring, and beautiful. I loved the country and the people that I get to call my friends.”
– Kaelin, Greece
“While listening to my professor lecture about the Greek theater at Epidaurus, a little girl stepped into the middle of the stage. She sang a song in a language that we couldn’t understand, but by the end of the song, our eyes were filled with tears. The spirit of the lecture, theater, and study abroad were captured perfectly in that moment.”
– Maren, Greece
“The study abroad trip to Greece made the learning of ancient Greece and Greeks more personal because I was witnessing the locations and artifacts that we were discussing which made it seem more real. We weren’t talking about events that happened in a far away land but were discussing events that happened on the very ground we were stepping on. To me, it just blew my mind and made me love every minute of my journey.”
-Amanda, Greece
“Greece was… phenomenal to say the least. It truly felt like a home away from home. The food was great (which is saying something because I am a VERY picky eater), but the sights were even better. Being able to walk through a modern city/country and millennia old ruins almost simultaneously is absolutely astounding.”
– Sean, Greece
I studied abroad on the Summer 2016 KIIS Greece program because of my University of…
What prompted you to select the KIIS Greece program? I was taking a Greek Mythology…
What prompted you to select the KIIS Greece program? By Fall Semester 2007, I switched…
The days leading up to my Greece program were filled with feelings of dread and…
The Gilman scholarship will have a huge impact on my education and professional life upon…
It’s been 58 days since I’ve returned from Greece at the time I am writing…
