The study was prepared by Professor Thanassis Karalis and Dr. Dimitris Sakkoulis with Professor Emeritus Dimitris Vergidis as research design consultant. The report captures the dimensions of the issue at an international and national level, while presenting the results of an ad-hoc survey of students of the University of Patras who have exceeded the prescribed period of study, regarding the reasons that lead to prolonging or abandoning their studies.