European University of Lefke
Lefke Avrupa Üniversitesi
A non-profit university in the small town of Lefke in north-west Cyprus, with students from 77 countries.
- Students
- 12,091
- International
- 59%
- of students
- Tuition
- €675
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1989
About EUL
The European University of Lefke was founded in 1989 by the Cyprus Science Foundation and opened in 1990. It is in Lefke (Lefka in Greek), a small town in the north-west of Cyprus overlooking Morphou Bay, in the northern part of the island, which is administered by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Only Türkiye recognises the TRNC as a state: UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) call on states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus. In practice, travel, visas and degree recognition work differently from the Republic of Cyprus in the south.
EUL describes itself as a non-profit institution. It had 12,091 students in 2024-25, including 7,154 international students from 77 countries, and says it has educated more than 25,000 graduates. It offers 47 undergraduate and 49 graduate programmes across 12 faculties, from Agricultural Sciences and Architecture to Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy, and its programmes are overseen by the TRNC's higher education council (YÖDAK) and, according to EUL's annual report, also monitored by Türkiye's Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
International applicants need English at IELTS 5.5 level (some programmes, marked TR, are taught in Turkish), and fees are low by European standards: EUR 5,750 a year for a standard bachelor's before scholarships, which the university grants widely. EUL suits students who want an affordable degree in a quiet, green town by the sea, and who are comfortable living somewhere with limited direct flights and a status that not every country recognises.
Why students choose EUL
Standard bachelor's tuition is EUR 5,750 a year for 2026-27, and merit scholarships of 50% to 100% cut that to between EUR 2,875 and EUR 675.
Students from low and lower-middle-income countries can receive 100% scholarships, for up to 20% of the international quota in each programme.
Professional degrees in Dentistry, Pharmacy and Medicine are offered alongside engineering, architecture and law.
On-campus dormitories (Dorm III) and a Lefke town-centre dorm are run by the university.
Admissions
Fall 2027 intake (applications March to early September 2027)
Selectivity
EUL states that its admission quota is not fixed in advance and that applicant numbers and the overall acceptance rate are confidential. Minimum entry standards are set by the TRNC higher education regulations for each country's school-leaving certificate.
Typical entry requirements
| IB Diploma | Minimum 24 points |
|---|---|
| A-levels | Minimum two passes at grade E (plus IGCSE/O level at grade C in 5 subjects for some routes) |
| SAT / ACT | SAT minimum 900; ACT minimum 21 |
| National school-leaving certificates | Country-specific minimums, e.g. Bahrain or Bangladesh 60% for bachelor's, Algeria 10/20, Australia (HSC/VCE) 50% |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 65 Minimums for associate and bachelor's programmes: TOEFL iBT 65, IELTS 5.5, or IGCSE/O level English grade C. Applicants without a certificate can sit EUL's English proficiency test on arrival. |
Deadlines
- Fall intake (September 2027) Non-bindingBeginning of September 2027
Applications accepted from March until the beginning of September; later applications roll to the Spring intake.
- Spring intake (February 2028) Non-bindingBeginning of February 2028
Applications accepted from November until the beginning of February.
EUL publishes application windows rather than fixed dates. Admitted students cannot defer to a later semester.
How to apply
Apply online at onlineapply.eul.edu.tr with the application form, passport and ID copies, high school certificate (or proof of expected graduation) and certified English translations. EUL issues a conditional acceptance letter; applicants must be under 25 at the class start date (extended for years already spent at university) and must have graduated from high school by then.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised high school certificate meeting the country-specific minimum grade set by TRNC regulations.
- English at TOEFL iBT 65 or IELTS 5.5, or a pass on EUL's own proficiency test.
- Age under 25 at the start of classes (with extensions for prior university study), as required by TRNC higher education law.
- Accurate and complete application information; EUL can withdraw admission for false or missing details.
Tips for applying to EUL
- 1 Apply early in the March-September window: merit scholarships of 50-100% are decided at admission.
- 2 If you are from a low or lower-middle-income country (World Bank classification), ask about the 100% need-based scholarship quota.
- 3 Plan your travel: Ercan airport, the main airport in the north, only has flights to and from Türkiye, so most students connect through Turkish airports.
- 4 Check how your home country treats degrees from Northern Cyprus before you enrol, especially for regulated professions such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Merit-based admission scholarships of 50% to 100% for international students, and 25% to 100% for Turkish students placed through ÖSYM. Students from low or lower-middle-income countries can receive 100% scholarships (up to 20% of the international quota per programme), and students in the bottom 20% of household incomes can get 75-100% waivers covering tuition, accommodation and basic living costs. Continuing students with a semester GPA of 3.50 and CGPA of 3.00 can have their scholarship increased.
- EUR 2,875 a year
- Bachelor's tuition with 50% scholarship (2026-27)
- EUR 675 a year (fees and VAT)
- Bachelor's tuition with 100% scholarship (2026-27)
- 100% scholarship, up to 20% of international places per programme
- Need-based quota for low/lower-middle-income countries
- EUR 1,500 (triple) to EUR 4,200 (single), accommodation only; EUR 300 deposit (the fee table does not state the period covered)
- On-campus Dorm III, fall 2026-27 new students
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: Fall (from September) and Spring (from February)
Dentistry (DDS, 5 years)
EUR 13,750 a year before scholarships in 2026-27; the dentistry programme has its own faculty.
Pharmacy (MPharm 5 years / PharmD 6 years)
EUR 7,750 a year standard, with scholarships down to EUR 875.
Medicine (MD, 6 years)
The university's most expensive programme at EUR 16,000 a year, with only a 25% scholarship tier.
Agricultural Sciences and Technologies
A dedicated faculty in Lefke, a town known for its citrus orchards.
Architecture
Its own faculty, alongside engineering programmes.
Research
- 368 of the 447 academic staff held a PhD in 2024-25.
- EUL reports a 401-600 band in THE's Sustainability Impact Ratings.
- Programme accreditations listed by EUL include FIBAA for Business Administration and International Relations (2017-2029) and MÜDEK for Computer, Electronics and Civil Engineering (2016-2027).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Communication Sciences
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
- Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Pharmacy
EUL reports a first-year retention rate above 90% for 2024-25 but does not publish an exact figure or graduate employment rate.
Student life
Life at EUL centres on a green hillside campus above Lefke, with palm-lined roads, lawns and views to the sea. With 59% of students international and 77 nationalities, the community is very mixed, and about 65% of students (64.71%) are first-generation learners according to EUL's Annual General Report 2025. The town itself is small and quiet, known for citrus orchards and its old mining history, so campus events, clubs and sports teams matter, including the university's women's volleyball team. EUL also runs its own TV channel, LAÜ TV.
- Students from 77 countries; 7,154 international students in 2024-25.
- An International Support Centre helps international students settle in.
- University TV channel LAÜ TV.
- Women's volleyball team (LAÜ) whose players have competed internationally.
Housing. EUL runs on-campus Dorm III (EUR 1,500-4,200 for new students in fall 2026-27, accommodation only), a Lefke Center Dorm (EUR 1,800-3,500) and Tüfekçi apartments (EUR 4,200-5,800), plus a EUR 300 security deposit (2026-27 fall table for new students; the table does not state the period covered).
Location
Lefke is a small town in north-west Cyprus near Morphou Bay, historically a mining and citrus-growing centre. It lies in the north of the island, which is administered by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Only Türkiye recognises the TRNC; UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) call on states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus. Ercan airport, about an hour away, only has flights to and from Türkiye.
Nearest airport: Ercan International Airport (ECN), flights to and from Türkiye only
Notable alumni
- MÇ Merve ÇelebiBeach and snow volleyball player representing Türkiye; attended EUL and played for its women's volleyball team
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at the European University of Lefke?
For 2026-27 a standard bachelor's costs EUR 5,750 a year including fees and VAT, reduced to EUR 675-4,325 with 25-100% scholarships. Medicine is EUR 16,000 a year and Dentistry EUR 13,750 before scholarships.
What IELTS or TOEFL score does EUL require?
IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 65 for bachelor's programmes. Without a certificate you can take EUL's English proficiency test on arrival.
Is there an age limit for EUL?
Yes. Under TRNC higher education law, undergraduate applicants must be under 25 at the class start date, with the limit extended by years already spent at university.
Is Northern Cyprus recognised internationally?
Only Türkiye recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as a state; UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) call on states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus. EUL's programmes are overseen by the TRNC's YÖDAK and, according to EUL's annual report, monitored by Türkiye's YÖK, so check how your own country treats degrees and visas before enrolling.
When can I apply to EUL?
For the Fall (September) intake, from March until the beginning of September; for Spring (February), from November until the beginning of February.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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