HIGHER EDUCATION
1. Types of Institutions
The higher education sector in Cyprus is comprised of private and public institutions, which teach in Greek and English (some institutions teach in both languages).
While most institutions focus on preparing their studies for careers in primary/ secondary education and in business administration, there are also opportunities for studying nursing, forestry, engineering and the humanities the second sciences.
(a) University Sector
The only university in Cyprus is the University of Cyprus. The University teaches in Greek. It comprises five faculties and seventeen departments, as follows:
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Education
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Department of Turkish Studies
Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Department of Computer Sciences
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Department of Physics
Faculty of Economics and Management
Department of Economics
Department of Public and Business Administration
Faculty of Letters
Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies
Department of Classics and Philosophy
Department of History and Archaeology
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
(b) Non-University Sector
The non-university sector comprises about thirty public and private institutions of higher learning, offering mostly two-year and four-year courses in a variety of fields (primary and secondary education, business administration, nursing, forestry, engineering, hotel and tourism studies, humanities and social sciences, computer science, and the physical sciences).
A comprehensive list of offerings for each field of study is available at Euroguidance Centre Cyprus, and will be despatched upon request.
2. Entry Requirements
Cypriot candidates must be graduates of a six-year secondary school. Foreign candidates must have an equivalent school-leaving certificate. Students (local and foreign) may also be asked to take specific entrance exams set by the Ministry of Education and Culture, or by the tertiary institutions themselves.
2.2. Language Requirements
Students must be able to demonstrate competence in the language of instruction (Greek or English). Most institutions offer preparatory courses in the institution's language of instruction for students with limited knowledge.
3. Closing Date for Application
These dates are fixed by each institution separately. Students are advised to inquire regarding application procedures and deadlines well in advance (3-4 months prior to their intended date for commencement of studies.
4. Fees and Grants
University of Cyprus
Fees for students from EU countries are Cyprus Pounds 1000 (CYP 1000) per semester (1 Cyprus Pound = Euro 1.75). Fees for students from foreign countries are CYP 2000 per semester.
Fees for Cypriot and Greek students are paid for by the Republic of Cyprus.
Other Institutions
With regard to fees and grants of private institutions, students are advised to inquire directly with the institutions involved.
With regard to public institutions, students may obtain up-to-date information on fees and grants from Euroguidance Centre Cyprus.
5. Visa, Residence and Work Requirements
Upon admission, the Cypriot educational institution will arrange for the issuance of a Student Visa to the admitted student. Student Visas are issued by the Migration Authorities for a period of one year, and they are renewable every year. Upon arrival in Cyprus and prior to the issuance of a Student Visa, the student must be able to present to Immigration officials the following:
certificate of admission,
open-date return flight ticket, and
banker's draft to cover the payment of the balance of the semester's tuition and fees, and living costs for six months.
Students studying in Cyprus on Student Visas are required to maintain full-time student status with their respective institutions. The Migration Authorities also require that upon arrival in Cyprus, all students undergo a medical examination (HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, chest X-ray for tuberculosis).
It is considered illegal for international students to undertake any form of employment during their studies in Cyprus. An exception is made for Hotel/ Hospitality Management students, who are permitted to undertake paid employment during the summer vacation.
6. Health Insurance
Foreign students are entitled to free medical care at public hospitals.
7. Accommodation and Living
Accommodation and living expenses for students studying in Nicosia (the capital of Cyprus) and renting a flat (i.e., not living in student residence halls on campus) are about Cyprus Pounds 400 [1 Cyprus Pound = 1.75 Euro], with about half of this amount allocated for rent and the remainder for food, entertainment, and incidental expenses. Expenses are considerably lower in the other towns of Cyprus (Larnaca and Limassol) where tertiary institutions operate, primarily due to lower rents.
Some private institutions operate student residence facilities on their campuses, and the University of Cyprus will operate such facilities as of September 2003. Foreign students are advised to inquire directly with the institutions in which they are interested on whether they provide residence facilities, and what the costs are.
http://www.pio.gov.cy/mlsi/dl/nrcg/eng/studying.htm
Regulations: Foreign Students
According to the 2001 Regulations approved by the Parliament (??? 498/2001) and the meetings that followed at the Ministries of Interior and Education and Culture on March 20th and 28th respectively, the following will be in effect:
1. The Word “Department Head” refers to the Population Records and Migration Department Head
2. Conditions for the securing of visa by a foreign student
A student visa is issued to any foreign citizen that meets the following conditions:
2.1 Has been admitted to a registered or recognised tertiary education institution to study for a programme of studies leading to:
(i) a Certificate or Diploma or Higher Diploma or
(ii) Degree or
(iii) Postgraduate Diploma or
(iv) Ph.D. qualification or
(v) Diploma or other title following the conclusion of tertiary level studies.
2.2 Readable copy of a valid passport, with all the information (particularly the date of birth- day, month, year) fully completed. The passport should be valid more than a year from the student’s expected arrival date in Cyprus.
2.3 Non-criminal record certification by the student’s national authorities.
2.4 Certification by a banking institution, in the student’s country, confirming that the student is able to pay the required fees and living expenses. In case the student was awarded a scholarship, the necessary documents should be submitted.
2.5 Academic qualifications records confirmed by the issuing institution. In addition to the formal certificate, an analytical transcript – indicating individual marks – should be provided. When English is not the official language, a translation of the above documents should also be submitted (including the name of the translator, clearly written, and his/her phone number and fax number and electronic address (if available)).
2.6 Institutions should provide the lists of candidates (along with all the aforementioned documents) to the Ministry of Education at least one month before the official commencement of the Courses. The Ministry of Education will then forward them to the Migration Department which will provide each institution with the Department’s final relevant decision.
3. Entry Requirements upon arrival
The student candidate should:
3.1 Possess a passport valid until the following year.
3.2 Possess a copy of the visa issued.
3.3 Possess $3.000 in foreign currency.
3.4 If tuition fees have been paid, the student should possess at least $1.500 and receipt for the payment of the fees (remittance of foreign currency).
4. Conditions for the granting of temporary residence permit in Cyprus to foreign students
Within 15 days from the date of arrival on the island, every student is required to present himself/ herself to the District Migration Office of their area of residence and submit the following documents in order to secure a temporary residence permit:
4.1 A completed application form (M61).
4.2 Copy of the passport.
4.3 (i) A letter of confirmation that the student is registered onto a programme of studies offered by a tertiary institution in Cyprus which leads to the award of a degree or title or diploma. The letter should make reference to the time required for the acquiring of the relevant diploma.
(ii) In case of registration to acquire a postgraduate or Ph.D. title, the student should submit the first degree level title. In case the student will have to improve his/her English language skills before attending the postgraduate programme, the student will not be permitted to transfer to another institution during or after the completion of the language course. It is stressed that transfer is permitted only once between the first and second semester of the normal postgraduate programme.
4.4 If, before registration, the student is required to take a one-year preparatory course to learn the Greek, Turkish or other language, the applicant should submit a registration certification issued by a registered school offering relevant language courses.
4.5 Certificate issued by a banking institution in Cyprus, showing the amount of currency available to the student.
4.6 Copy of health insurance or other formal document proving that the student has coverage for hospitalisation and medical expenses.
4.7 Copy of rental agreement, certified by an authorised government officer, or certificate issued by the director of a student housing unit or certificate that he/she is staying in a hotel or being hosted in a private home.
4.8 Certificate by a private or state hospital doctor that he/she is not infected by an infectious disease, as well as a chest x-ray.
4.9 Two passport size photos.
The Department Head considers the application and decides if a relevant student residence permit is issued.
5.Renewal of a foreign student’s temporary residence permit in Cyprus is provided as follows:
5.1 For 1 to 3 year studies in public or private institutions, permit is given for the minimum study time required in order to receive the diploma, increased by one semester in case studies were not concluded by then.
5.2 For degree level studies, permit is given for the duration of the studies increased by one year in case these were not concluded.
5.3 For postgraduate studies, permit is given for a maximum period of 3 years.
5.4 For Ph.D. level qualifications, permit is given for a maximum period of 5 years.
The time periods mentioned in (5) above, do not include the time used to learn the language which cannot be longer than 1 year.
6. Transfer of students
6.1 Transfer of a student to another course or another institution, is permitted only once between the first and second semester for pre-degree or foundation programmes, provided that the student informs the Department Head, and provided that all the conditions specified in section (4) still apply, as well as the time restrictions mentioned in section (5) apply for the new institution or course or specialisation.
6.2 It is stressed that transfer of a student from one course to another relevant course or another institution of the same or higher level is permitted only once.
A foreigner who concludes or interrupts his/her studies, or exhausts the total time provided in section (5), is required to leave the country.
6.3 A foreigner, studying or being trained in Cyprus, is not permitted to exercise any profession as self employed or as employee, unless he/she has special work permit as part of practical exercise provided by the programme of studies attended.
http://www.pacollege.ac.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=47
More info:
Useful information from the University of Cyprus (PDF)
Links:
Univercity of Cyprus (Nicosia)
Intercollege (Nicosia - Limassol - Larnaca)
Cyprus College (Nicosia)
Frederik (Nicosia - Limassol)
Americanos College (Nicosia)
PA College (Larnaca)
CIIM for MBA (Nicosia)
