University of Cyprus
Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου
A young public research university in Nicosia that teaches mainly in Greek, with EU tuition paid by the state.
- Tuition
- €6,834
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1989
- QS World Ranking
- #525
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Suburban
About UCY
The University of Cyprus was established by law in 1989 and admitted its first students in 1992. About 1,500 students are admitted each year and there are around 5,300 undergraduates. Its main campus is in Aglantzia on the edge of Nicosia, with further buildings in the walled old city and around the capital. It is organised into six faculties (Humanities; Pure and Applied Sciences; Social Sciences and Education; Economics and Management; Engineering; and Letters), plus a Medical School and a Graduate School.
Teaching is mainly in Greek. The Departments of English Studies, French and European Studies, and Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies teach in English, French and Turkish respectively. Most Cypriot students enter through the national entrance examinations run by the Ministry of Education; international applicants are admitted on GCE A-levels, the IB or equivalent qualifications and usually also need good Greek.
UCY is a strong research university for its size, with centres of excellence such as the KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence and the PHAETHON Centre of Excellence, and it is ranked in nine ShanghaiRanking subjects in 2026. Nobel laureate economist Christopher Pissarides is a professor of European Studies here. It suits students who speak Greek, or study English, French or Turkish, and want a research-led education in a Mediterranean capital.
Why students choose UCY
Cypriot and other EU students pay no tuition, because the Republic of Cyprus pays their €3,417 annual fee; non-EU students pay €6,834 a year.
Research strength in engineering: UCY is ranked 76–100 in the world for Automation & Control in ShanghaiRanking's 2026 subject rankings.
The Department of English Studies teaches its degree in English, and the French and Turkish departments teach in French and Turkish.
The campus library, the Stelios Ioannou Learning Resource Centre, was designed by architect Jean Nouvel.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry
Selectivity
UCY publishes no overall admission rate. Most students are admitted through the Pancyprian entrance examinations run by the Ministry of Education; for overseas applicants each department sets minimum A-level or IB grades, and places are limited.
Typical entry requirements
| GCE A-levels (overseas students, 2026 criteria) | Department-specific, e.g. Law: A-level Modern Greek A plus A, B, B in three other subjects; Computer Science: B in A-level Mathematics and Computer Science plus one more B and Greek at B; Psychology: A, A, B plus Greek at B; Medical School: three A grades in sciences plus Greek at A* |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | 31 to 35 points depending on department, e.g. English Studies 32, Computer Science 33, Law 34, Medical School 35 (with Modern Greek HL 6 for Medicine) |
| Cypriot Apolytirio | Admission through the Pancyprian examinations organised by the Ministry of Education |
| English language | Most undergraduate teaching is in Greek, and non-EU applicants need a certificate of good knowledge of Greek. English Studies requires an A-level in English Language at grade B or higher, or English HL 6 in the IB. The School of Modern Greek offers intensive Greek courses. |
Deadlines
- Turkish Cypriot students Non-binding Next deadline · In ~8 months31 May 2027
Applications to the Undergraduate Studies Office by 31 May each year; may include an interview and a written or oral exam.
- Overseas students (fall 2027 entry) Non-bindingApril 2027 (application period)
The university states that the application period is in April each year; exact 2027 dates were not published as of September 2026.
UCY publishes a standing annual pattern: overseas applications in April and Turkish Cypriot applications by 31 May. Cypriot applicants follow the Ministry of Education's Pancyprian examination timetable.
How to apply
Cypriot students apply through the national entrance examination system. Overseas students apply to the university with their secondary-school certificate, GCE/IGCSE or IB results, a Greek language certificate, proof of citizenship and a passport copy; the application period is in April each year. Non-EU students then need a visa or entry permit from the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary-school certificate recognised by the education authority in your country.
- Grades that meet the department's published minimum A-level or IB requirements, often including specific subjects such as Mathematics or Physics.
- Good knowledge of Greek, since most programmes are taught in Greek.
- For Turkish Cypriot applicants, a six-year high school leaving certificate and, at the department's discretion, an interview or exam.
Tips for applying to UCY
- 1 Check the department-by-department criteria PDF for overseas students: requirements range from BCC at A-level for some humanities to three A grades plus A* Greek for Medicine.
- 2 Start Greek early: many departments require IGCSE or A-level Modern Greek at grade B or above, and the School of Modern Greek runs intensive courses.
- 3 If you want to study in English, look at the Department of English Studies, which teaches in English.
- 4 Apply for the Student Halls early: the 208 single rooms on the new campus are limited, and first-year and international students are given type B rooms.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Cypriot and other EU undergraduates pay no tuition themselves: the €3,417 annual fee is paid by the Republic of Cyprus. Registered students need the university's attendance certificate to claim the state's annual education grant, paid by the Ministry of Finance in the spring semester. Non-EU students pay €6,834 a year. The university also distributes donor scholarships, such as 20 scholarships worth €20,000 in total from the Sievert Larsson Scholarship Foundation announced in September 2026.
- €3,417 per year
- EU tuition paid by the state
- €12
- Student card
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: Fall (September to December) and Spring (January to May)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Linked to the KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence; UCY ranks 76–100 worldwide in Automation & Control (ShanghaiRanking 2026).
English Studies
Taught in English; overseas applicants need an A-level in English Language at B or better, or 32 IB points with English HL 6.
Law
One of UCY's most demanding programmes for overseas applicants: A-level Greek at A plus A, B, B, or 34 IB points.
Medicine (Medical School)
The most selective entry for overseas students: three science A-levels at A plus Greek at A*, or 35 IB points.
Psychology
Ranked 201–300 in ShanghaiRanking's 2026 subject rankings; requires A, A, B at A-level including a science or Mathematics.
Architecture
Taught in the Faculty of Engineering; overseas applicants need A-level Mathematics and Physics at B plus a third subject such as Art and Design.
Research
- KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, PHAETHON Centre of Excellence and the Centre of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research.
- Research centres including the FOSS Research Centre for Sustainable Energy, the Nireas International Water Research Centre and the Oceanography Centre.
- Ranked in nine ShanghaiRanking 2026 subjects, from Automation & Control (76–100) to Clinical Medicine (401–500).
- Nobel laureate Christopher Pissarides is Professor of European Studies at UCY.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Education
- Faculty of Economics and Management
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Letters
- Medical School
- Graduate School
Student life
Most of UCY's teaching now happens on the new campus in Aglantzia, on the edge of Nicosia, where the Student Halls, the Jean Nouvel-designed library and many faculty buildings are. Other units are in the former Pedagogical Academy, the Shacolas Educational Centre for Clinical Medicine and buildings in Nicosia's walled city. Student life includes a university Cultural Centre, which runs an annual cultural festival, sports facilities and student clubs that can book university spaces for events. UCY is also part of YUFE, the Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance.
- The 29th Cultural Festival of the University of Cyprus ran in 2026.
- Student Halls on the new campus offer 208 single rooms with air conditioning and shared kitchens.
- UCY is a member of the YUFE European University alliance.
- The Stelios Ioannou Learning Resource Centre (library) was designed by Jean Nouvel.
Housing. The university can house a limited number of students in 208 single, self-catering rooms in the Student Halls on the new campus and in some private apartments off campus; first-year and international students are given type B rooms.
Location
Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus, an inland city with a historic walled centre. UCY's main campus is in the suburb of Aglantzia on the edge of the city, and some departments are housed in buildings inside the walled city. Students live in the campus Student Halls or in private flats around Nicosia.
Nearest airport: Larnaca International Airport (LCA)
Notable alumni
- AD Annita DemetriouPresident of the House of Representatives of Cyprus; social and political science graduate (2007)
- AT Anna TheologouEconomist and member of the Cypriot House of Representatives; studied economics and did postgraduate study in monetary economics and finance at UCY
- DN Demetrios NicolaidesCanadian politician and Alberta cabinet minister (education portfolios); PhD in political science from UCY
- DD Doğuş DeryaTurkish Cypriot activist and member of the Assembly of the Republic in Northern Cyprus; PhD from UCY's Department of Middle Eastern Studies
- ME Maria Elena KyriakouSinger, winner of The Voice of Greece and Greece's 2015 Eurovision entrant; completed her studies at UCY
- NY Neşe YaşınTurkish Cypriot poet and author; graduated from UCY after a sociology degree at METU
Frequently asked questions
How much are tuition fees at the University of Cyprus?
Non-EU undergraduates pay €6,834 per academic year. Cypriot and other EU students pay nothing themselves: their €3,417 annual fee is paid by the Republic of Cyprus.
Is the University of Cyprus taught in English?
Mostly no. Undergraduate teaching is mainly in Greek, but the Department of English Studies teaches in English, and the French and European Studies and Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies departments teach in French and Turkish.
Do I need to speak Greek to study at the University of Cyprus?
Usually yes. Non-EU applicants need a certificate of good knowledge of Greek, and most departments require IGCSE or A-level Modern Greek, typically at grade B or higher.
What IB score do I need for the University of Cyprus?
Between 31 and 35 points depending on department, for example 32 for English Studies, 33 for Computer Science, 34 for Law and 35 for the Medical School.
When do international students apply to the University of Cyprus?
The application period for overseas students is in April each year for entry the following September. Turkish Cypriot applicants apply to the Undergraduate Studies Office by 31 May.
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.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- University of Cyprus: Brief history (staff data and rankings)
- University of Cyprus: ShanghaiRanking 2026 subject results (18 September 2026)
- University of Cyprus: Undergraduate studies for international students (fees, requirements)
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