Higher Education Institutions and Qualifications in Cyprus

Cyprus higher education sector comprises of universities and institutions of tertiary education. Universities in Cyprus offer study programmes at bachelor, master and doctorate level. 

In Cyprus, there are 4 types of higher education institutions:

There are institutions of tertiary education at university and non-university level. These higher education institutions and universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

These universities are funded by the Cyprus government and are multi-faculty higher education institutions that are composed of several departments. These universities are independent and autonomous 

The private universities in Cyprus are founded as per law 109 (I) of 2005. These universities are set up and funded by non-governmental institutions. 

Following are the private universities operating in Cyprus:

The Government of Cyprus manages the public institutions of tertiary education. These institutions are overseen by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, and Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. These institutions offer programmes in professional and technical fields to meet the demands of the labour market. Higher diploma is conferred to students who successfully complete the programme.

Following are the public institutions of tertiary education in Cyprus:

These institutions are registered with the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus. These institutions provide vocational and academic study programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The study levels are:

Fields of study: Social sciences, business studies, arts, hotel and tourism administration, computer science, engineering, graphic design, education, aesthetics, secretarial studies, and culinary.

First cycle programme comprises of short cycle and bachelor degree programmes.

Short-cycle study programmes are provided at the undergraduate level by 3 public and 5 private non-university level institutions of higher education. These programmes are as per the needs of the labour market, and provide practical as well as theoretical education and training.

Following are the short cycle programmes:

Fields of study: Engineering, secretarial studies, hotel management, computers, business administration, accountancy and banking.

The bachelor’s degree programmes are provided by public as well private universities. A few of the private non-university level institutions of higher education also provide bachelor study programmes. 

This degree programme comprises of taught courses and lab work. 

Fields of study: Medicine, social sciences, management, fine and applied arts, health sciences, humanities, technological sciences, engineering and technology, pure and applied sciences, geotechnical sciences, economics, environmental management, education, law, and social science. 

Postgraduate studies comprise of master and doctorate degree programmes.

Public as well as private universities and non-university level private institutions of higher education provide master’s degree programmes.

Students must hold a bachelor’s degree in order to take admission into the Master degree programme. This degree programme requires completion of courses and a thesis. Students are required to defend their thesis in an oral examination. Students can study master degree programme either on a full-time basis or part-time. 

Students must hold a master’s degree in order to take admission into the doctorate programme. Students are required to defend and submit a thesis in order to complete their doctoral studies. The doctorate programmes consist of taught and thesis part.

Branch of study: Management and economics, health sciences, humanities, education, pure and applied sciences, engineering, social science, environment and law.

Certificate awarded: Doctoral title