Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Famagusta: Fees, Admission and Recognition

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU; Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi in Turkish) is the oldest university in the northern part of Cyprus. It has taught in Famagusta since 1979 and describes itself as the only state university in the north. EMU reports about 16,000 students from 110 countries, and most programmes are taught in English. Its 2026/27 fees are published in US dollars: a bachelor's in business, IT or law costs $4,450–6,400 a year depending on the scholarship percentage, and medicine $14,510–18,140 a year. An EMU diploma works in Turkey once YÖK's rules are satisfied; the Republic of Cyprus refuses to recognise it, and every other country applies its own individual review.

Who EMU suits

Students choose EMU for its combination of moderate fees, English-taught programmes and international accreditation of individual faculties: ABET for engineering, FIBAA for business, tourism and the school of computing, MİAK for architecture and AQAS for English language teaching. The campus is large, its dormitories house 11,000 students, and the sea is close by.

The deciding question is the same as for every university in the north: where will you use the degree? If Turkey is the goal, EMU is a logical option, but check that your programme is in the ÖSYS guide. If your plans involve an EU job, a European master's or a medical career at home, get your recognition authority's view first and keep southern options such as UNIC or UCY on your list. Background on the north as a whole: studying in Northern Cyprus; for the whole island, see the Cyprus overview.

Status of an EMU degree

Famagusta is a town in the north of the island, outside the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Only Turkey recognises the local administration (the "TRNC") as a state, so countries approach an EMU degree in different ways.

EMU belongs to the EUA and the IAU, which are professional networks of universities. It does not amount to recognition of the degree in EU countries. For the step-by-step Turkish process, read our denklik FAQ.

Tuition fees for 2026/27

EMU publishes annual fees for upfront payment by newly registered international students. The scholarship percentage is set at admission according to your grades and programme, and it is stated in your admission decision. Fees already include the Student Services Fund, VAT and the registration fee.

The English Preparatory School charges an extra $250 per semester for books and exams.

Awards beyond the standard scholarship.

• All-inclusive scholarship for applicants in the top 1% of school leavers in their country. It covers tuition for the normal length of the programme, a place in a double room and three meals a day. It is available only for the September intake, applications are assessed at the end of January, and late applications are not accepted.
• 100% tuition waiver for students with top results in their home country's university entrance system; at most two students per country each year. It covers tuition only.
• Sibling discount of 25% each for the first two siblings studying at EMU.
• Sports grants and paid student assistant posts for students with a GPA above 2.0.

You can pay by bank transfer to EMU's account at İş Bankası or online. After paying, email the receipt to the international office to receive the confirmation used for visa formalities. Russian payers can find workable options in paying a foreign university from Russia.

School grades and English

EMU publishes minimum averages for each country. Russian, Kazakh, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen and Belarusian certificates all share one set of thresholds:

The university converts grades on five-point scales to percentages by its own method, so ask how your certificate will be assessed before you apply.

English. Without a certificate you take a placement test and then the EMU proficiency exam on arrival: most programmes need 60 out of 100, medicine and translation 70. These certificates give direct exemption from the preparatory school:

Exemption decisions are issued within five working days. Students who fail the exam spend at least one semester in the preparatory school.

Documents for a bachelor's application: a copy of the school certificate and transcript, a photograph, a passport copy and an English certificate if you have one. Anything not in English must be translated.

Medicine at EMU

The Faculty of Medicine opened in 2012/13. The six-year programme is taught in English and delivered jointly with the Faculty of Medicine of Marmara University in Turkey. International students also study Turkish so they can talk to patients in hospitals. The first three years cover basic sciences and problem-based learning, years four and five are clinical, and in the sixth year students take an active role in patient care under supervision. The programme is accredited by the Turkish association TEPDAD, and the faculty appears in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS).

Medicine requires a school average of at least 85%, English at IELTS 6.0 and a budget of $14,510–18,140 a year for six years. Before applying, find out how your country assesses these degrees and which exam or internship it requires for a licence. Medical schools in the south of the island are compared in medicine in Cyprus.

Master's programmes

Master's fees are charged per course. In 2026/27 international students with the 50% scholarship pay $500 per course, $850 per semester for thesis registration and a $400 Student Services Fund each semester. At first enrolment you deposit at least $1,800: one course fee without scholarship plus the two charges. Applications are accepted all year until one month before the semester, and EMU advises applying by the end of December for spring and by the end of August for autumn.

Housing

EMU's own dormitories cost the following in 2026/27, per academic year and excluding summer school:

Electricity, water, internet and cleaning are included, and you can pay in four instalments. Private dormitories on campus cost more, from $2,500 to $9,450 a year paid upfront.

Entry and residence permit

Access is via Turkey to Ercan airport. Visa rules for entering the north are published by the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and most nationalities receive a visa at the border. After registering, students apply for a student residence permit with the help of EMU's Student Services Office. The route through Turkey, Turkish visa rules for CIS citizens and the Republic of Cyprus position on arrivals via Ercan are explained in the Northern Cyprus study guide.

Planning your application

1. Autumn and winter before entry. Choose the programme and language, check it in the ÖSYS guide if Turkey matters, and ask your recognition authority for its view.
2. By the end of January. If you are in the top 1% of school leavers, apply for the all-inclusive scholarship, which is only for the September intake.
3. Spring. Apply online with your school certificate (or current grades), passport and English certificate.
4. After the admission decision. Pay the first instalment, receive the confirmation and book a dormitory.
5. August–September. Fly via Turkey, register, sit the English exam and apply for the residence permit.

Common mistakes

• Relying on old scholarship figures. Different pages of the EMU website mention 50%, 60% and 77%; what counts is the 2026/27 fee table and the percentage in your admission decision.
• Confusing a discount with a scholarship. The standard discount is built into the fee table; the all-inclusive scholarship is rare and competitive.
• Underestimating the medicine threshold. An 85% average and IELTS 6.0 only make you eligible to apply; the admissions committee decides who gets a place.
• Ignoring Turkish in medicine. You will need it to talk to patients during clinical years.
• Treating EUA membership as EU recognition. They are different things.

FAQ

How much does EMU cost in 2026/27?

Most bachelor's programmes cost $4,450–6,400 a year depending on the scholarship percentage (75–60%), and engineering $4,700–6,799. Medicine costs $14,510–18,140 a year and dentistry $10,000–12,400. Fees include VAT, the registration fee and the Student Services Fund.

What school grades do I need?

For certificates from Russia and the CIS, EMU asks for an average of at least 60% for most programmes, 65% for engineering, architecture and health sciences, 75% for pharmacy and 85% for medicine and dentistry.

Can I apply without IELTS?

Yes. Without a certificate you take the EMU exam on arrival and need 60 out of 100, or 70 for medicine. If you score lower, you spend a semester or a year in the English Preparatory School.

What language is medicine taught in?

The medicine programme is taught in English and run jointly with Marmara University. International students also learn Turkish to communicate with patients during clinical training.

Is an EMU degree recognised in Russia and the EU?

Neither happens automatically. Russian recognition of an EMU diploma is a one-off Rosobrnadzor decision, EU countries leave it to their ENIC-NARIC centre or the receiving university, and the Republic of Cyprus refuses degrees from northern universities altogether.

How much is EMU accommodation?

EMU's own dormitories cost $1,420–4,725 per academic year paid upfront, slightly more in instalments, with electricity, water, internet and cleaning included. Private dormitories on campus cost $2,500–9,450 a year.

How can StudyU help with an EMU application?

Assessing your grades against EMU's country thresholds, budgeting the scholarship scenarios, assembling the file and applying are provided under an agreement with StudyU. EMU alone sets your place and scholarship tier, and the residence permit is a matter for the northern immigration office.

Sources

• EMU: 2026/27 undergraduate fees for new international students (PDF), payment page
• EMU: admission criteria by country, undergraduate admission
• EMU: undergraduate scholarships
• EMU: English exemption criteria
• EMU: 2026/27 graduate fees
• EMU: Faculty of Medicine
• EMU: about EMU and accreditations, FAQ, THE 2026 result
• EMU: 2026/27 dormitory fees
• YÖK: recognition of degrees from universities in the north, YÖDAK: list of universities
• Cyprus Ministry of Education: information for citizens on universities operating in the north

EMU publishes all its fees in US dollars, so no conversion is needed.

If you want to check whether your school grades meet the threshold for your chosen EMU programme and which scholarship tiers could apply to you, send us a request.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.