Cyprus is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
There are four types of Institutions within the higher education system in Cyprus:
1. Public Universities: They are funded primarily by the Government of Cyprus but are still autonomous in their functioning. They offer Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees, and conduct academic and research activities in a wide range of disciplines. They are made up of Faculties and Departments, with most courses being taught in either Greek or Turkish. They also teach several continuing education courses for the benefit of first-time adult learners.
2. Private Universities: They are similar to public universities in their function, but they receive no funding from the Government. Therefore, their tuition fees are much higher, on average. Most private universities in Cyprus are local branches of well-known foreign institutions of higher education.
3. Non-university level public institutions are each under a separate Ministry and work to provide training to professionals in different fields. For example, the Military College conducts several education programs for officers to enhance their skills in strategy, planning, and leadership. Their degree of autonomy is much less than that of Public Universities, given that their intake and curriculum are closely defined by the Government department which oversees their functioning.
4. Non-university level private institutions primarily offer vocational training programs leading to one-year certificates, two and three-year Diplomas, and Vocational Bachelor's programs (which last four years on average). In some cases, they may also offer Master's degrees. They have a strong connection with the relevant industry, and students usually join the workforce immediately after their graduation.
There are two kinds of certificate courses offered in Cyprus: short-term, where students sign up for a single course over a 2 or 3-month period and achieve a certificate. This is ideal for busy executives and tourists.
Private non-university institutions offer one-year certificate programs, designed for professionals who wish to enhance their skills but who cannot afford a long-term diploma, or cannot spend multiple years as students. Examples of popular one-year certificate programs are Secretarial Studies, Business Administration, Banking, Hotel Management, and Information Technology.
Both public and private Universities in Cyprus offer Bachelor’s degrees, with non-university level private institutions offering vocational Bachelor’s programs. A unique feature of Cypriot Bachelor’s degrees is that they normally last four years (240 ECTS credits), as compared to three years in most of the rest of Europe (180 ECTS credits). Medical Bachelor’s programs last six years. Bachelor’s programs in Cyprus involve fundamental studies in a broad field of study, with no specialization until the third year.
Bachelor’s programs are offered in many different disciplines, including Engineering, Medicine, Humanities & Social Sciences, Economics, Financial Management, Life Sciences, Law, and Fine Arts.
Master’s programs in Cyprus are offered by public / private universities, as well as non-university level private institutions. They typically last four semesters, though part time postgraduate degrees can last as long as four years. They are offered in the same fields of study as undergraduate degrees; however, each field usually has several fields of specialization. For example, the same Department may offer a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and several Master’s programs in Microelectronics, Power Electronics, and Image Processing. Admissions are highly competitive, and Career Offices work with Master’s students to ensure the best possible placements in industry.
Public Universities in Cyprus offer PhD degrees within all their Faculties and Departments, with private universities offering a small number of doctoral programs. The expected duration of PhD degree programs in Cyprus is three years, with the main part spent on original research under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Students work within a research group to prepare a dissertation by the end of their six semesters. This must be defended before a panel of distinguished professors and external examiners. Most PhD students in Cyprus are able to finance their studies through research contracts, which mandate that they assist their professors in the laboratory and classroom.
The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Cyprus are-
Clinical Psychology | Energy Systems Engineering | Healthcare Management |
Interior Design | Hotel Management | Civil Engineering |
Social Work | Social Media Marketing | Petroleum Engineering |
Management Information Systems | International Finance | Medieval History |
Plant Sciences | Architecture and Design | Shipping Law |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Cyprus.
The Name of the City | No. of Universities |
Nicosia | 13 |
Kyrenia | 4 |
Limassol | 3 |
Famagusta | 3 |
Larnaca | 2 |
Paphos | 1 |
Lefka | 1 |
Tuition fees for Bachelor's programs in Cyprus vary for students from the European Economic Area and other international candidates. Domestic undergraduate students have tuition fees of approximately 3,400 Euros per year, but this is entirely paid by the Government of Cyprus. However, international students are liable to pay Bachelor's program tuition fees of 6,800 Euros per year, and this amount cannot be reduced except through scholarships. Master's tuition fees for international students are much higher, with an average of 10,000 Euros per year for students who are not from the European Economic Area.
PhD students have their tuition fees subsidized by research assistant duties. In addition to receiving a tuition fee waiver, their contract usually entitles them to a living stipend and sometimes accommodation on the University campus.
Accommodation in University dormitories is low cost, with rents of 200 to 300 Euros per month. Private housing is available at approximately twice the price of the dormitories. Utility and internet bills add up to 100 Euros per month, on average. Food costs are lower than in many other EU countries, at approximately 200 Euros per month. Overall, international students in Cyprus can expect to spend between 500 and 600 Euros per month on living costs.
Any international student (from outside the European Union) who has received an offer of full time enrolment from a University in Cyprus needs a long term student visa to enter the country.
After these documents are submitted to the Embassy, the authorities contact the candidate with an interview date. After the visa is issued, students must present themselves at the University office immediately after arriving so that they can begin the process of applying for their Residence Permits.