The Republic of Cyprus has 12 universities: three public and nine private. If you do not speak Greek, your realistic options are the private universities, which teach most bachelor's and master's programmes in English and charged new non-EU bachelor's students between $10,190 and $13,420 (€8,970–11,820) a year in their published 2026/27 fee tables. Public universities teach undergraduate degrees in Greek and admit through the Pancyprian exams or small special-category quotas. On top of the universities, the Ministry of Education registers 41 private institutions of tertiary education, usually called colleges. Check an institution's status on the Ministry's list and each programme in the register of the quality agency CYQAA.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Public universities | University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology, Open University of Cyprus |
| Private universities | 9: UNIC, EUC, Frederick, Neapolis, UCLan Cyprus, University of Limassol, Philips University, AUCY, AUB Mediterraneo |
| Teaching language for international students | private: mostly English; public undergraduate: Greek |
| Private bachelor's fee, 2026/27 | $10,190–13,420 (€8,970–11,820) per year in the Frederick, EUC and UNIC tables |
| Medicine (MD) | $26,120–28,390 (€23,000–25,000) per year at EUC and UNIC |
| Minimum English for non-EU entry | IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 71 or PTE Academic 58 (Council of Ministers decision, 19 July 2023) |
| Quality assurance | CYQAA, the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education |
How many universities Cyprus has and where they are
The Department of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth keeps the official list. All twelve universities are in the government-controlled areas: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.
| University | Type | City | What matters to an international applicant |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cyprus (UCY) | public | Nicosia (Aglantzia) | the largest research university; undergraduate study requires good Greek |
| Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) | public | Limassol | bachelor's only in Greek; a handful of English-taught master's, $5,820 (€5,125) for the whole programme |
| Open University of Cyprus (OUC) | public | Nicosia | distance learning, not a relocation route |
| University of Nicosia (UNIC) | private | Nicosia | medical and veterinary schools, business, law, engineering, architecture |
| European University Cyprus (EUC) | private | Nicosia (Engomi) | medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, computing, business; some programmes in Greek |
| Frederick University | private | Nicosia and Limassol | engineering including automotive and maritime, architecture, pharmacy |
| Neapolis University Pafos | private | Paphos | business, architecture, computer science and AI, real estate, psychology, English law franchised from the University of Reading |
| UCLan Cyprus | private | Pyla (Larnaca district) | awards degrees of the UK's University of Central Lancashire |
| University of Limassol | private | Limassol and Nicosia | check its programmes in the CYQAA register |
| Philips University | private | Nicosia (Strovolos) | check its programmes in the CYQAA register |
| American University of Cyprus (AUCY) | private | Larnaca | check its programmes in the CYQAA register |
| American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo | private | Paphos | Cyprus campus of the American University of Beirut |
StudyU has detailed profiles of European University Cyprus and UCLan Cyprus; profiles of the University of Nicosia and the University of Cyprus are part of the same series.
Public or private: what is actually open to you
Public universities are cheaper but need Greek at undergraduate level. Private universities cost more and admit on school results plus English.
| Criterion | Public (UCY, CUT) | Private universities |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate language | Greek; CUT states that very good Greek is required of all foreign applicants | English for most programmes; a few in Greek |
| Admission | Pancyprian exams; a small quota for international and other special categories | document-based: school certificate, grades, English, sometimes an interview |
| Fees for non-EU citizens | bachelor's $3,880–7,760 (€3,417–6,834) per year; master's $5,820–22,140 (€5,125–19,500) | bachelor's $10,190–13,420 (€8,970–11,820) per year; medicine higher |
| Best for | Greek speakers, or master's applicants who find one of the few English-taught programmes | school leavers and graduates who want to study in English |
The public ranges come from the Eurydice description of Cyprus (last updated 14 June 2026); CUT's own table confirms $7,760 (€6,834) a year for non-EU undergraduates and $5,820 (€5,125) for most master's programmes regardless of nationality.
The Open University of Cyprus is a distance-learning institution. Undergraduates there pay a fee per module rather than tuition, set differently for non-EU citizens. Because a student residence permit is tied to full-time study on campus, OUC does not help with moving to Cyprus.
Private university fees in 2026/27
Private universities publish a yearly fee (60 ECTS) for bachelor's degrees and a total fee for master's degrees. These examples come from the official tables for new students in 2026/27.
| University | Bachelor's, per year | Master's, whole programme (90 ECTS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nicosia | $11,720–13,420 (€10,320–11,820) | $16,450–17,880 (€14,490–15,750) | non-EU table; MD $27,250 (€24,000) per year |
| European University Cyprus | $10,490–12,470 (€9,240–10,980) | $10,120 (€8,910), or $7,080 (€6,237) at the reduced rate in the table | international table; MD $26,120 (€23,000) per year |
| Frederick University | $10,190–11,580 (€8,970–10,200) | $10,220 (€9,000) | discounted per-ECTS rates for new students |
| UCLan Cyprus | $10,220 (€9,000) after a $1,080 (€950) bursary; $6,780–7,910 (€5,970–6,965) on six programmes | $10,790 (€9,500) after a $1,140 (€1,000) bursary | same rate for EU and non-EU students; 30–40% programme scholarships for new 2026/27 students |
| Neapolis University Pafos | not published online | not published online | quoted by the admissions office |
Application, visa-processing and insurance fees and a refundable deposit come on top. At UNIC, the first year of the Accounting bachelor's costs $12,760 (€11,235) in total instead of the $11,720 (€10,320) tuition. Our guide to the cost of studying in Cyprus adds housing and migration fees.
Which university suits which subject
- Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine: UNIC and EUC run six-year English-taught MD programmes; UNIC also has a five-year graduate-entry MD. See medicine in Cyprus.
- Engineering: Frederick offers civil, computer, electrical, mechanical and automotive engineering plus maritime studies; UNIC offers civil and environmental, computer, electrical, mechanical, and oil and gas engineering.
- Business and computing: every large private university has business, accounting and computer science; Neapolis has a separate computer science and AI degree.
- A UK degree: UCLan Cyprus awards University of Central Lancashire degrees; Neapolis runs an English law LLB franchised from the University of Reading.
- Law: EUC's law degree is taught in Greek (Cypriot and Greek law). English-taught law is available at UNIC and in the UK-linked programmes at UCLan and Neapolis.
- Architecture: five-year integrated programmes at UNIC, Frederick and Neapolis.
- Psychology, pharmacy, nursing: several universities offer them, but some EUC versions are in Greek, so check the language column of the fee table.
Registration and accreditation: what to check
Quality is controlled at two levels, and you need both.
- The institution. A university or college must be on the Department of Higher Education list. The Migration Department only accepts student applications submitted by institutions registered with the Ministry of Education.
- The programme. Every programme at a private university or college is evaluated and accredited by CYQAA (ΔΙΠΑΕ in Greek), whose register is public.
The 41 colleges operate under the 1996 tertiary education law and award certificates (one year), diplomas (two years) and higher diplomas (three years); some also run bachelor's and master's degrees. A college award and a university degree are treated differently when you apply for a master's elsewhere or seek recognition at home, so confirm exactly which qualification you will receive before paying. Foreign degrees delivered in Cyprus under franchise agreements appear on a separate Department of Higher Education list.
For Russian citizens there is an extra point: the Russia–Cyprus intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition of education, qualifications and academic degrees (Moscow, 21 October 2016) is on the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education list of recognition treaties. Rosobrnadzor explains that documents covered by such a treaty are recognised under its terms, and a separate recognition procedure (state fee 6,500 roubles) applies only when a document falls outside it. Regulated professions such as medicine still need separate steps.
Universities in the north of the island are a separate route
Institutions in the northern part of Cyprus are outside the Republic of Cyprus higher education system, and the Republic's Ministry of Education does not recognise them or their qualifications. Entry, residence and recognition rules differ, so they are covered in our guide to studying in Northern Cyprus.
Common mistakes when choosing a university in Cyprus
- Assuming a public university is the affordable option. Without fluent Greek it is not available for a bachelor's degree.
- Relying on old "eight universities" lists. Newer private universities have been added since.
- Treating a college diploma as a university degree.
- Skipping the language column: neighbouring programmes at one university may be taught in English and in Greek.
- Comparing tuition only. Fees, insurance, the refundable deposit and housing add a noticeable amount to year one.
- Treating a northern university as "cheap Europe". It is a different legal framework, and recognition works differently.
How StudyU helps
University shortlisting, status and programme checks, document preparation and applications are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission and the Migration Department decides on the entry permit. For the step-by-step process see applying to Cypriot universities; for study levels see bachelor's and master's in Cyprus; for the country overview see study in Cyprus.
FAQ
The Republic of Cyprus has 12: the University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology and the Open University of Cyprus are public, and nine are private. The Ministry of Education also registers 41 private institutions of tertiary education, commonly called colleges.
Hardly at bachelor's level: CUT says all its bachelor's programmes are in Greek, and public undergraduate admission requires good Greek. Master's options are wider; CUT, for example, teaches a few programmes in English and charges $5,820 (€5,125) for the whole degree regardless of nationality.
Among standard 2026/27 rates, Frederick University starts lowest at $10,190 (€8,970) a year for a bachelor's degree. UCLan Cyprus charges $10,220 (€9,000) after its bursary, but new 2026/27 students on six programmes (mathematics and statistics, English, computer and electrical engineering, web development, media production) pay $6,780–7,910 (€5,970–6,965). EUC starts at $10,490 (€9,240). Compare fees for your specific programme.
Most bachelor's programmes have no separate exam: universities assess your school certificate, grades and English. Medicine and related programmes add an interview and expect grades of about 90% of the maximum, and creative programmes may ask for a portfolio.
Degrees from the Republic of Cyprus are part of the European Higher Education Area, and Russia and Cyprus have a 2016 mutual recognition agreement. If a diploma falls under that agreement, no separate recognition procedure is needed in Russia; regulated professions such as medicine or law still need separate procedures in the country where you want to work.
No. The Ministry of Education list covers only institutions in the government-controlled areas. The Republic of Cyprus does not recognise institutions in the northern part of the island, so they are discussed separately.
Sources
- Cyprus Department of Higher Education: public and private universities and private institutions of tertiary education, checked 29 September 2026
- Department of Higher Education: English requirements for third-country students
- Eurydice: higher education funding in Cyprus, updated 14 June 2026 and first-cycle programmes
- Cyprus University of Technology: bachelor's admissions, tuition fees and master's FAQ
- University of Nicosia: non-EU tuition and fees 2026/27 (PDF)
- European University Cyprus: international tuition fees 2026/27 (PDF)
- Frederick University: tuition fees for new students 2026/27
- UCLan Cyprus: fees and scholarships 2026/27
- Open University of Cyprus: tuition and fees
- CYQAA: register of evaluated and accredited programmes
- Cyprus Migration Department: students
- Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education: recognition agreements
- ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10.
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Next steps
- Bachelor's Degrees in Cyprus: English-Taught Programmes, Fees by Subject and What Comes Next
- 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
- Studying in Northern Cyprus: Universities, Fees and Degree Recognition
- Studying in Cyprus for international applicants
- European University Cyprus (EUC)
