A bachelor's degree in Cyprus takes four years (240 ECTS); pharmacy and architecture run for five years as integrated master's degrees. International students study in English at private universities, where a year in 2026/27 costs from $10,190 (€8,970) at Frederick University to $13,420 (€11,820) for architecture at the University of Nicosia. Non-EU students must study full time, 30 ECTS per semester, and may work up to 20 hours a week. One detail is often missed: the right to stay in Cyprus for a year to look for work is given only to master's graduates and above, so plan your bachelor's together with your next step.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 years, 240 ECTS; pharmacy and architecture 5 years, 300 ECTS |
| Language | English at private universities; some EUC programmes and all public bachelor's in Greek |
| Fees 2026/27 | $10,190–13,420 (€8,970–11,820) per year at UNIC, EUC and Frederick; UCLan Cyprus $10,220 (€9,000) |
| Required load for non-EU students | full time, 30 ECTS per semester |
| Semesters | autumn (September–January), spring (February–May), plus a summer session at UNIC |
| Work | up to 20 hours a week in term and 38 in breaks, under an approved contract |
| After graduation | a master's in Cyprus or elsewhere; the one-year job-search permit applies only after a master's |
How the bachelor's degree works
Cypriot bachelor's degrees follow the Bologna model: 60 ECTS a year, two main semesters and exams at the end of each. Private universities charge per ECTS, so the yearly fee in a price list is the cost of 60 credits; taking more or fewer changes the bill proportionally.
Curricula are flexible: besides core courses you choose electives, including from other fields. Credits from another recognised institution can be transferred, but at UNIC you must complete at least half the programme there, 120 of 240 ECTS.
For non-EU students, immigration rules narrow that flexibility. The residence permit is issued for full-time, in-person study, and universities report absences above 30% to the Migration Department. The permit is not renewed if you fail to complete a foundation course, stop attending, or exceed the programme length by more than 50% (six years for a four-year degree).
English or Greek?
Most private bachelor's programmes for international students are in English, but not all. EUC's fee table lists the language of every programme: law (Cypriot and Greek law), nursing, biological sciences, nutrition and several others are taught in Greek, while psychology, pharmacy and physiotherapy run in English or Greek. UNIC also teaches some programmes focused on Cyprus and Greece in Greek. Public universities teach bachelor's degrees in Greek only; see our overview of universities in Cyprus.
Bachelor's fees by subject, 2026/27
Yearly fees (60 ECTS) for new students in 2026/27 from official tables: UNIC's non-EU rates, EUC's international rates and Frederick's discounted rates for new students. Check the teaching language on each Frederick programme page.
| Subject | University of Nicosia | European University Cyprus | Frederick University |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, accounting, marketing | $11,720 (€10,320) | $10,490 (€9,240) | $10,730 (€9,450) |
| Computer science | $12,260 (€10,800) | $10,490 (€9,240) | $10,900 (€9,600) |
| Engineering | $12,260 (€10,800); oil and gas $11,920 (€10,500) | computer engineering $10,490 (€9,240) | $10,900 (€9,600) |
| Psychology | $11,720 (€10,320) | $10,490 (€9,240), English or Greek | $10,560 (€9,300) |
| Law | $13,290 (€11,700) | $12,470 (€10,980), in Greek | $10,190 (€8,970) |
| Biomedical sciences, human biology | $13,290 (€11,700) | $12,470 (€10,980) | $11,450 (€10,080) |
| Pharmacy, 5 years | $12,260 (€10,800) | $10,490 (€9,240), English or Greek | $10,900 (€9,600) |
| Architecture, 5 years | $13,420 (€11,820) | — | $10,900 (€9,600) |
| Nursing | $12,260 (€10,800) | $10,490 (€9,240), in Greek | $10,560 (€9,300) |
UCLan Cyprus charges a flat $11,300 (€9,950) a year, or $10,220 (€9,000) after its bursary. Neapolis University Pafos does not publish fees online. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are priced separately at $23,850–27,250 (€21,000–24,000) a year; see medicine in Cyprus.
Scholarships and discounts
Discounts come from universities; there are no government scholarships for international bachelor's students. Examples from the 2026/27 price lists:
- UNIC gives non-EU students a first-year scholarship based on school grades, with the level depending on the country that issued the certificate. You must submit the certificate with your application, pay the semester in advance and study full time.
- From the second year, UNIC links discounts to GPA: 50% for 4.00, 20% for 3.75–3.99 and 10% for 3.50–3.74. These do not apply to medicine, veterinary medicine, postgraduate or online programmes.
- UCLan Cyprus cuts fees on selected programmes in 2026/27: 40% for Mathematics and Statistics, to $6,780 (€5,970) a year, and 30% for English Language and Literature, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Web Design and Development, and Media Production, to $7,910 (€6,965) a year.
- UNIC and UCLan Cyprus offer athletic scholarships, and UNIC reviews financial hardship cases individually.
A discount counts only once it appears in the financial statement attached to your acceptance letter. For wider options see scholarships abroad in 2026.
If your English is not there yet
The Council of Ministers minimum for bachelor's admission is IELTS 5.0 or equivalent; universities often ask for more, such as IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72 at UNIC. With at least IELTS 4.0 you can join an accredited two-semester English Language Foundation programme, and your residence permit is issued for it. Failing to complete the foundation programme is a ground for not renewing the permit.
Working during your bachelor's
Under Migration Department rules, non-EU students may work outside study hours:
- up to 20 hours a week during term and 38 hours a week during breaks;
- only in occupations and sectors listed in the Labour Minister's order;
- only after the District Labour Office approves the employment contract, submitted with your timetable;
- occasional domestic work in private households is allowed with a special record form listing dates, hours and pay.
Part-time work helps with living costs but will not cover tuition, and proof of funds is required before arrival.
After the bachelor's degree
Cyprus lets graduates stay for up to 12 months to look for work or start a business only if they have completed a level 7 qualification — a master's or higher. Bachelor's graduates have no such right: they leave, find an employer who obtains a work permit for them, or continue studying.
That is why a bachelor's plan should include the master's step: stay at the same university (Cypriot master's degrees take 1.5–2 years; see master's in Cyprus), apply elsewhere in the EU, or return home. During your studies you can also spend a semester or a year at another EU university through exchange programmes or inter-university agreements under EU student mobility rules.
Five questions before choosing a programme
- What language is this specific programme taught in?
- What is the cost of the full degree, including a fifth year and fees?
- Is the programme accredited by CYQAA, and under what title?
- Does your future profession need a licence where you plan to work — law, pharmacy, psychology, architecture?
- What comes after graduation: a master's in Cyprus, in the EU, or at home?
Common mistakes
- Treating a bachelor's as a direct path to a job in Cyprus; the job-search year comes only after a master's.
- Missing that a programme is taught in Greek.
- Budgeting with a discount that is not in your financial statement.
- Taking a part-time load; non-EU students need 30 ECTS per semester.
- Choosing a regulated profession without checking licensing rules at home.
How StudyU helps
Programme selection by grades and budget, language and accreditation checks, document preparation, applications and support with the entry permit stage are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Universities decide on admission and discounts; the Migration Department decides on entry and residence. See applying to Cypriot universities, the cost of studying in Cyprus and the study in Cyprus overview.
FAQ
Four years and 240 ECTS. Pharmacy and architecture at UNIC and Frederick are five-year integrated master's programmes of 300 ECTS. An English foundation programme adds one more year.
In 2026/27 private universities charge $10,190–13,420 (€8,970–11,820) a year: the lowest rates are at Frederick and UCLan Cyprus, the highest for architecture, law and biomedical sciences at UNIC. Fees, insurance and housing come on top.
Not as a non-EU citizen. Even at public universities, where bachelor's degrees are in Greek, non-EU students pay tuition: $7,760 (€6,834) a year at the Cyprus University of Technology. University scholarships for grades or sport can reduce the bill.
Not automatically. The 12-month job-search permit is only for master's graduates and above. Bachelor's graduates stay if an employer obtains a work permit for them or if they enrol in a master's.
Yes, up to 20 hours a week in term and 38 in breaks, only in sectors allowed by the Labour Minister's order and only after the District Labour Office approves your contract.
Business, accounting, computer science, engineering, architecture, psychology, pharmacy and medical programmes are available in English at several private universities. English-taught law is offered by UNIC, UCLan Cyprus and Neapolis, while EUC teaches law, nursing and some other programmes in Greek.
Sources
- Cyprus Migration Department: students — work, mobility, post-study stay, checked 29 September 2026
- Cyprus Department of Higher Education: residence permit renewal rules, attendance, English
- University of Nicosia: fees, scholarships and payment rules 2026/27 (PDF) and admission requirements
- European University Cyprus: fees and teaching languages 2026/27 (PDF)
- Frederick University: per-ECTS rates for new students 2026/27
- UCLan Cyprus: fees and programme scholarships 2026/27
- Cyprus University of Technology: tuition fees
- ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10.
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Next steps
- Master's Degrees in Cyprus: English-Taught Programmes, 2026/27 Fees and Staying After Graduation
- Studying Medicine in Cyprus: English-Taught MD Programmes, 2026/27 Fees and Admission
- Applying to Cypriot Universities: Requirements, Documents and Deadlines for School Leavers
- Cost of Studying in Cyprus in 2026/27: Tuition, Fees and Living Costs
- Scholarships abroad 2026: where international students study for free
- Studying in Cyprus for international applicants
