Lush caverns, sandy beaches and clear ocean water – Cyprus is a place that has such an ethereal aura about it. I could willingly waste all of my time there. I lived there for ten months and they were most definitely the best ten months of my life; it almost feels like a dream. Studying in Cyprus may be an interesting idea to many students, and in addition to its tropical climate, the cost of studying here is very reasonable. The fields they specialise in are also rather diverse: finance, art, music, and medical and paramedic fields. If this sounds interesting to you, join the over twenty-one thousand students for the adventure of a lifetime in the Mediterranean (I am contemplating ditching my plans for Cyprus as I am writing this!).
On the odd chance that you are going to Cyprus in the near future, this post is for you, and if you’re not planning on going, you should be! Here is my nutshell study guide:
-The Education System
The education system in Cyprus offers three degrees: bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. As an international student, you have the option to complete all or part of your education here. The bachelor’s degree programmes run for four years and to study at an undergraduate level, you must have the necessary transcripts and a diploma. Students must surpass 250 credits in this course. The masters degree runs for two years, or four semesters. Should you want to obtain a master’s degree, you must complete your bachelors first. Finally, a doctorate is predominantly done through research and it consists of eight courses and a dissertation.
-Language and Culture
Though it may appear a small island on a map, Cyprus is overflowing with culture and history. The island is split into two sides; the Turkish side and the Greek side. It has been a divided island since 1974 when Turkey invaded the island to support Turkish Cypriots in response to a military coup on the island, backed by the Athens government. As an international, it is best to respect both cultures and embrace the divide, seeing the beauty of both sides. If you do go, take in as much of the culture as possible. Try all the foods, learn the common phrases of either side of the island, and learn and respect its history.
-Housing and Living Costs
One of the most important aspects to consider as a student abroad is the cost to live and your budgets. Housing costs will vary depending on if you are accommodated privately or through the university you apply for. I would suggest renting a dormitory inside of the university because of the high cost of rental home maintenance and things like electricity, water and gas costs. Here are some of the average costs when living in Cyprus (€1 = £0.89):
A meal out is typically €12. Beers and coffee’s are €3-4 on average. Monthly rents are between €400-600 usually and public transport is around €40 per month.
-Cypriot Universities
The higher education sector houses a mix of private and public schools. There are three public universities: The Cyprus University of Technology, Open University of Cyprus, and the University of Cyprus. Six institutions make up the private sector. These include: European University Cyprus, Frederick University, Neapolis University Paphos, Philips University, University of Central Lancashire, University of Nicosia. The academic year is split into two semesters and runs from September to May in public universities.
-Sight-seeing
I cannot stress this enough. When you’re in the Mediterranean, there are sights on every corner. SEE THEM ALL! As a student or an international, all of the sights offer not only natural beauty, but also an educational perspective. My favourite sights in Cyprus are: The Archaeological Site and The Tombs of The Kings, The Church of St Lazarus, Cape Greco (so beautiful – I always got Mamma Mia vibes from the little blue and white building standing over the cavern) and Limassol Castle – a medieval museum. (If you go or have been to Cyprus, take pictures and send them to studentlolablog@gmail.com so I can put them in this blog post!)
In conclusion, Cyprus is so full of history, love, wildlife, education and culture. I actually think I have changed my own mind about university writing this blog post – let’s join the 21,000+ student’s who are already there! And even if you have no idea what to do after school is over, I hope I have opened you up to other options, whether it be studying in Cyprus or in other countries around the globe. The world is quite literally your oyster and I implore you to explore all of your options.
Thank you for reading this blog post! Stay tuned for more to come!
XOXO,
Lola
(P.S. Here’s a pic I took in Cyprus!)
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