Why IEK @ AKTO

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At AKTO, key components of our educational philosophy are our connection to industry and the market, through collaborations with professionals, academics, as well as art and cultural organizations. The ultimate goal of the Career Office is to provide advisory support to final-year students on finding an Internship, and subsequently on finding employment, building a portfolio, writing a CV or cover letter, interview preparation, guidance on further education, and professional development in general.

After graduating from AKTO, you have the opportunity to become a member of AKTO Alumni, the largest graduate community in Art & Design. Through the alumni community, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other professionals and businesses in the field. AKTO Alumni also includes AKTO’s Careers Office, which dozens of businesses turn to every year looking for collaborators. Every year, the job market places its trust in graduates from an educational institution with the standing, processes, consistency, and history of AKTO. With multiple practical and symbolic benefits, studying at AKTO gives all graduates the prestige of a nationally recognized educational institution synonymous with the arts and design. By choosing AKTO, students join the largest art & design community in Greece and become, after graduation, lifelong members of AKTO Alumni. Graduating from AKTO is a significant competitive advantage when seeking any kind of professional collaboration.

Naturally, employers and future collaborators in general prefer to work with well-trained, up-to-date professionals — something that studying at AKTO guarantees. That’s why, for over 50 years, businesses have been choosing AKTO Alumni members to work with.

Lifelong education and training at AKTO is complemented by activities under the European ERASMUS+ programme. ERASMUS+ is a European Commission programme that offers many opportunities in the field of Vocational Education and Training for transnational mobility, aimed at technical education, training, apprenticeships, and internships with host organizations based in European countries and EU member states participating in the programme.

Study Program

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The Print & Digital Media Graphic Design vocational training programme prepares well-rounded operators of all widely used computer graphic design software. At the same time, it offers aesthetic cultivation and training in the principles of graphic design, which is essential for a well-rounded, creative professional. During their studies, the subjects taught are: Art History, Graphic Design, Drawing-Colour-Sketching, Print & Multimedia Production Technology, Digital Image Processing, Colour for Graphic Arts, Photography, Digital Layout Processing, Digital Page Layout, Website Design-Development, Graphic Design for Multimedia, Cross-Disciplinary Project.

Investing in the academic standing, specialization, and valuable experience of its teaching staff, made up of highly qualified professors in the field, combined with its ideal building and technical infrastructure, AKTO offers the highest quality vocational training studies.

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr so we can send you the Detailed Training Guide.

The structure of the Vocational Training programmes is taught as defined by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth. You can find the detailed study guide for the Vocational Training programme here.

Year 1

Semester A
History of Art
Graphic Design
Drawing – Colour
Print Production Technology
Introduction to the Digital Image
Colour for Graphic Arts
Practical Application in the Specialization

Semester B
History of Art
Graphic Design
Special Graphic Design Applications
Sketch – Composition
Print & Multimedia Production Technology
Digital Layout Processing
Digital Image Processing
Practical Application in the Specialization

Year 2

Semester C
Special Layout Processing Applications
Special Image Processing Applications
Digital Page Layout
Website Design & Development
Graphic Design for Multimedia
Practical Application in the Specialization

Semester D
Special Page Layout Applications
Special Website Development Applications
Special Graphic Design Applications for Multimedia
Practical Application in the Specialization

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr so we can send you the Detailed Training Guide.

The internship for Vocational Training students is carried out as defined by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth.

  1. The six-month Internship or Apprenticeship in workplaces, lasting 960 hours, is mandatory for students of Vocational Training Institutes (V.T.I. / Σ.Α.Ε.Κ.) and is considered a necessary requirement for obtaining the Vocational Training Certificate. Through the Internship, V.T.I. trainees strengthen their knowledge and skills and gain professional experience in fields relevant to their training, in positions offered by public and private sector organizations and businesses. The Internship at public and private organizations may be funded by national and/or EU resources, in accordance with the provisions in force at any given time.
  2. Students who have completed at least 120 working days in the specialization in which they are enrolled are exempted, if they wish, by means of a sworn declaration under Article 8 of Law 1599/1986, from the obligation to attend the Internship semester, and are awarded the Vocational Training Certificate upon completion of the four semesters of theoretical and laboratory training. The Internship has a total duration of 960 hours. V.T.I. students may carry out their Internship with individuals, legal entities under public law, legal entities under private law, and public services, under the responsibility of the V.T.I. they attend. Supervision, coordination, quality assurance, and evaluation of the Internship are carried out under the responsibility of the Director of the V.T.I., or another person designated by them as Internship Coordinator. The Internship Coordinator is responsible for monitoring the trainee’s attendance, ensuring the quality of their working environment, conducting on-site inspections of the business, and maintaining an individual internship file with the relevant monthly progress reports.
  3. The Internship aims to put into practice the knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired by the trainee during their studies, in a professional environment, under guidance and supervision, so that they complete their training and obtain the Vocational Training Certificate (VTC).

Read the detailed internship guide for the Vocational Training programmes

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr with any questions about the internship.

At AKTO, distinguished Greek graphic designers, visual artists, and art theorists teach, recognized for both their academic and artistic work. Specialized professors and PhD holders, together with research staff, pass on innovative and in-depth knowledge to students, responsive to the changing needs of society, technology, and the market. AKTO’s academic team helps students express themselves through a free and bold spirit of inquiry and research, aiming for social benefit both domestically and internationally.

Meet the members of AKTO’s Graphic Design Academic Team

Tuition Fees & Registrations

For AKTO IEK’s two-year Vocational Training programmes, the academic year has two (2) intake periods. The first period is in October, followed by the second period in February or March.

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for more information about intake periods.

Read here for information about tuition.

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for further clarification about tuition and payment methods.

Candidates for AKTO IEK’s two-year Vocational Training programmes must hold a Lyceum Leaving Certificate (or an equivalent secondary education qualification from abroad).

Read information about the enrollment requirements at AKTO

Applications for transfers to IEK institutions are announced by the relevant authorities with clear timelines and are set according to the legal framework in effect at the time. The process includes an interview and a presentation of a portfolio from the candidate’s previous academic path. Interested applicants can be admitted to an advanced semester or year of study and complete their studies through AKTO’s programmes.

Read information about the transfer process to AKTO

AKTO subsidizes students with scholarships, tuition discounts, or even full subsidies, depending on the enrollment period, available places, and social criteria.

Read detailed information about:

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for more information.

Facilities & Services

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AKTO, recognizing the pedagogical challenges and contemporary demands of education, offers its students a range of benefits to help them, both with their studies and with their social life. These benefits include:

Read in detail about all the benefits AKTO offers

Studies at AKTO are supported by modern, high-aesthetic building facilities, forming a contemporary environment ideal for learning and creation, across two state-of-the-art Campuses, the Athens Campus and the Thessaloniki Campus.

At AKTO’s two Campuses, we give students access to state-of-the-art, specialized equipment in the fields of art and design, through:

AKTO uses the most popular and up-to-date platform for synchronous and asynchronous learning, in partnership with Microsoft: MS Teams. Students can install the application either from the Play Store / App Store on mobile phones, or from the website on computers. Teams can also be used from all modern browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox), with Chrome and Edge recommended.

Learn more about the Technical Specifications and the Technical Support Office

Career Prospects & Academic Progression

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Final-year students of the programme can easily connect with businesses in order to complete their Internship. The Careers Office helps them make these connections and complete the process, while its ultimate purpose is to provide advisory support to AKTO Alumni on finding employment, building a portfolio, writing a CV or cover letter, interview preparation, guidance on further education, and professional development in general, while also connecting them with market demand.

With the successful completion of the two-year cycle of studies, graduates obtain the Vocational Training Certificate (V.T.C. AKTO IIEK), which entitles them to take the certification exams conducted by E.O.P.P.E.P., leading to the State Vocational Training Diploma. By obtaining the recognized diploma, the graduate is able to take part in ASEP competitions. Graduates of all IEK institutions in the country, public and private, take part in the E.O.P.P.E.P. exams on equal terms, being examined in both theoretical and practical components. The Vocational Training Certificates (V.T.C.) awarded by Private IEKs are fully equivalent to those of Public IEKs. The State Diploma at IEK level is recognized throughout the European Union (level 5 – European Qualifications Framework), as well as in dozens of other countries, on the basis of international recognition agreements with the EU and Greece.

Read more about the Recognition and Certification of AKTO’s Vocational Training Studies

Graduates of the Vocational Training programmes are fully equipped to join, through qualifying exams, the corresponding Undergraduate Programme of study. As graduates of AKTO IIEK, and members of our alumni community, they receive the AKTO Alumni tuition subsidy if they choose to continue their studies in AKTO’s study programmes, in collaboration with Middlesex University, to obtain the university degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours). They can also take qualifying exams for admission via qualifying exams to public Higher Education Institutions (AEI) in Greece.

Read more about the Academic Progression of AKTO’s Vocational Training graduates