Study in Cyprus

About Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus is a sunny EU island in the eastern Mediterranean with English widely spoken. Limassol and Nicosia have a growing business, shipping, accounting and tech sector. Tuition and living costs are among the lowest in the EU. The main intakes are September and February. The currency is the euro (EUR).

Why study in Cyprus

• Affordable EU degrees: private tuition of about €7,000–€12,500 a year
• English-taught programs
• Low living costs: about €500–€900 a month
• Simple admission, often without IELTS
• Close to India (about 7–9 hours with one stop)

Popular fields of study

Hospitality and tourism management, business and MBA, accounting and finance, shipping and maritime, IT and computer science, and medicine. Universities include the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology, the University of Nicosia, the European University Cyprus and the University of Limassol.

Student visa, step by step

Student visa: entry permit.

1. Get admission from an accredited institution in the Republic of Cyprus.
2. Pay the tuition deposit your college asks for.
3. Show at least €7,000 in a bank account (a certified bank letter plus statements).
4. Provide your police clearance, medical certificate and academic documents.
5. Your college submits your file to the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia.
6. Receive your entry permit and fly to Cyprus.

After you get your visa

• Take the medical tests, open a local bank account and apply for your temporary residence permit (pink slip).
• Work only after the first 6 months: up to 20 hours a week in term, and up to 38 hours a week in holidays, in approved sectors only (mainly hospitality and retail).
• Renew your permit every year.

Work and staying on

Working while you study

Work only after the first 6 months: up to 20 hours a week in term, and up to 38 hours a week in holidays, in approved sectors only (mainly hospitality and retail).

After you graduate

No long post-study visa Cyprus has no long post-study work visa. Some graduates can get a short extension to look for work, but most need a job offer and must switch to an employment-based residence permit to stay.

Settling long term

Employment residence permit: with a job offer from a Cypriot employer. Highly skilled or EU Blue Card route: for qualified, higher-paid roles, mainly with international companies. Long-term residence: generally after 5 years of legal residence.

Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.

Visa expenses

Average salary

Graduates typically start at about €18,000–€25,000 a year (approximate). Accounting, shipping and tech in Limassol pay more.

Good to know

• Only choose institutions in the Republic of Cyprus. Degrees from Northern Cyprus are not EU-recognised.
• Cyprus is not yet a full Schengen member, so check travel rules.