Universities in Cyprus for International Students

Below: the full list of Republic-of-Cyprus universities with cities, English availability and fees, how English-medium study actually works here, the entry requirements from African qualifications, and exactly how to apply.

One critical warning up front. This page covers Republic of Cyprus (EU) universities only. Universities in Northern Cyprus (“TRNC”) — such as Near East, Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus International or Girne American — are not recognised by the Republic of Cyprus and appear on the Ministry of Education’s list of non-recognised institutions. Never enrol there expecting an EU-recognised degree.

Choosing a university in Cyprus

There is no single “best” university in Cyprus — the right one depends on your subject, your level, and whether you need to study in English. A few honest pointers before you commit:

• Public vs private decides your language. Cyprus has 3 public universities (University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology, Open University of Cyprus) and 9 licensed private universities. Public bachelor’s degrees are largely or entirely Greek-taught; the private universities teach in English. For most anglophone African students, that points to the privates.
• Rankings are thin. Only the University of Cyprus (QS ~452) and Cyprus University of Technology (QS ~686) appear in the global QS top ranks. Among the privates, UNIC (THE 501–600) and EUC (THE 801–1000) carry the strongest rankings; several are not internationally ranked at all.
• Strongest fields. Business and administration dominate enrolment, followed by engineering, services and health sciences. If you want medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, UNIC and EUC offer them — but at far higher fees (€20,000–24,000/year).
• Mind the stay-back rule. Cyprus grants a 12-month post-study job-search permit only to master’s and PhD graduates. Bachelor’s graduates get no stay-back route — a real factor if your plan is to work in Europe afterwards.

For the full money picture — tuition, living costs, proof of funds and the bank guarantee in your local currency — see our guide to the cost of studying in Cyprus.

Universities in Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus)

These are the recognised universities in the government-controlled Republic of Cyprus. Read the fee column carefully: public master’s fees are quoted as a total for the whole programme (about €5,125), not per year, while bachelor’s fees are per year. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary programmes cost far more than the ranges shown.

The fee rule in one line: public bachelor’s tuition for non-EU students is about €6,834/year but mostly Greek-taught; private bachelor’s tuition runs roughly €9,000–11,500/year and is taught in English. Always confirm the current fee on the university’s own page before applying — these change. (Newer privates — Philips, AUCY, University of Limassol, AUB–Mediterraneo — publish little fee or ranking data; get a written quote before relying on a figure.)

Neapolis (NUP) note: NUP is the one university that publishes no tuition figure on any official page — every link redirects to its Admissions Office. The ~€6,000–9,000 range is a non-official estimate. For a visa file, request a written quote from NUP Admissions before quoting any number to a student.

For the complete cost breakdown — tuition plus living costs and the proof-of-funds requirement, all in your local currency — see our cost of studying in Cyprus guide.

English-taught programs

Unlike Germany — where English study is almost entirely a master’s-level offering — Cyprus has plenty of English-taught bachelor’s AND master’s, but they are concentrated in the private universities. English became the main language of instruction across Cyprus only in 2023/24, when it reached 51% of all programmes (Greek 48.5%), driven by the privates.

The practical split:

• Private universities (UNIC, EUC, Frederick, UCLan, NUP) teach in English at both bachelor’s and master’s level. This is the realistic route for most anglophone African applicants.
• Public universities (UCY, CUT) teach most bachelor’s degrees in Greek. CUT’s bachelor’s programmes are entirely Greek-taught; UCY teaches in English only in specific language departments. Both run some English-taught master’s.

Indicative provision: around 160 English-taught bachelor’s and 190 English-taught master’s are listed for the Republic on study aggregators (the master’s figure includes some online programmes) — treat these as ballpark, not official counts.

For English-taught programs you’ll need to meet the national minimum of IELTS 5.5 (TOEFL iBT 58 / B2 First) that applies to all third-country students, though individual universities set higher bars — UNIC and UCLan ask IELTS 6.0–6.5; EUC asks IELTS 6.5. A Medium-of-Instruction (MOI) waiver is sometimes possible if your previous studies were taught in English — but it is not automatic by nationality, and for visa applicants EUC and UCLan require an official certificate (or their own test), not a placement test. Expect to provide IELTS or an MOI letter.

Entry requirements for African students

What you need depends on your level and your home certificate:

For a bachelor’s: a recognised secondary-school leaving certificate (WASSCE/NECO, KCSE, NSC or equivalent) plus a secured place, with programme-specific extras per prospectus. Private universities generally accept African school certificates directly for their English-taught degrees. At the public universities, expect to need good Greek for most bachelor’s programmes — the binding barrier for anglophone applicants, not the certificate itself.

For a master’s: a recognised bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. UCLan, for example, asks for at least a Lower Second (2:2) or equivalent. The University of Cyprus accepts a degree only if it is from an accredited institution or has been evaluated as equivalent by KYSATS, so allow time for that step if you target UCY postgraduate study.

There is no “APS” for Cyprus. APS is a Germany-only credential certificate. Cyprus credential recognition is handled by KYSATS (the Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, which is also the country’s ENIC/NARIC centre). KYSATS recognition is generally needed for employment, the public sector or further study — and specifically as an admission gate for UCY postgraduate applications — rather than as a blanket admission requirement at the private universities. The evaluation fee is about €85.43 per application.

Don’t pay anyone for an “APS certificate” for Cyprus — it doesn’t exist.

Tuition and fees

The headline numbers:

• Public universities (UCY, CUT): non-EU bachelor’s tuition is about €6,834/year, but mostly Greek-taught. Standard master’s programmes are about €5,125 for the whole programme (a total, not per year).
• Private universities: English-taught bachelor’s tuition runs roughly €9,000–11,500/year; many master’s are quoted as a programme total of €8,910–9,500.
• Medicine, dentistry and veterinary at UNIC and EUC are far higher — €20,000–24,000/year.

On top of tuition, non-EU students face extras: a non-refundable application fee (about €55 at UNIC, €80 at EUC), a credential-evaluation fee where KYSATS is required, mandatory private health insurance, and at some universities a refundable deposit (UCLan asks a €5,000 non-EU deposit).

For the complete first-year breakdown — tuition, living costs (roughly €700–1,000/month), proof of funds (the University of Cyprus benchmark is a €7,000 bank balance) and the country-dependent repatriation bank guarantee, all in your local currency — see our cost of studying in Cyprus guide. The visa side is covered on our Cyprus student visa page.

How to apply

There is no central UCAS-style portal in Cyprus — you apply directly to each university, online. Here is the route, step by step:

1. Shortlist by language and subject. For English-taught study, focus on the private universities (and any English-taught public master’s). Confirm the programme is taught in English and check its entry requirements.
2. Prepare your documents. Secondary-school certificate (bachelor’s) or degree and transcripts (master’s), passport, an English certificate or MOI letter, and — for UCY postgraduate or for later employment — a KYSATS evaluation.
3. Apply online to each university and pay the application fee (≈€55 UNIC, €80 EUC; non-refundable). Conditional offers on your latest mark sheets are often possible.
4. Accept your offer and pay the deposit/tuition the university requires to issue the documents for your entry permit.
5. The university files your entry-permit application with the Civil Registry & Migration Department while you are still abroad — you cannot apply from inside Cyprus on a tourist visa. The entry permit is examined within about a month.
6. Collect your entry visa at a Cyprus consulate, travel, then within 7 days of arrival register and apply for your residence permit (biometrics + a medical check are required).

Key deadlines vary by university: UCY bachelor’s close around 31 May and master’s around 31 March (Fall) / 31 October (Spring); EUC master’s close 15 September / 15 January; the privates are largely rolling but you should apply early because the entry permit must be obtained before you travel. Note that the study entry visa itself is free of charge.

A note on agents. You submit your own application directly to each Cyprus university — there is no special channel to “buy”. Be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed place or a shortcut. We help you do it cleanly, with real fees and honest timelines.

How we help

World Study helps African students shortlist the right Republic-of-Cyprus university (English-taught, recognised — never a TRNC institution), prepare a clean application, sort the KYSATS check where needed, and get the student visa — honestly, with real costs and no inflated promises. Our core guidance is free; you only pay if you choose our optional premium visa-and-relocation support.

Talk to a World Study advisor on WhatsApp or take the free 2-minute eligibility check → to see which universities in Cyprus you qualify for. For funding options, see our scholarships for African students.