Low tuition fees and the great location make Cyprus a popular destination for foreign students, of whom roughly 10,000 come every year. The lingering British influence means that many courses are taught in English.
The island has a rich past, visible in its preserved tombs, ancient mosaics and a whole town designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Modern Cyprus is equally fascinating; the former British colony sits at the crossroads of east and west (the capital, Nicosia, is closer to Beirut than it is to Athens), and although the island has had its share of strife, today the Coptic Christian, Islamic, ancient Greek and British colonial influences come together to create a unique culture.
If you want to study for a degree in Cyprus, take a look at the best universities based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 to choose the institution that is right for you.
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1. Cyprus University of Technology
The Cyprus University of Technology is a public university in Limassol, the island’s second city, which is on the south coast. A new university, it was established in 2003, and its first students began classes in the 2007-08 academic year.
The research-focused university was established in an attempt to offer subjects that were not being covered at Cyprus’ other large public university, the University of Cyprus. The university is undergoing a period of growth and expansion.
The main schools of the university are in the old city centre in renovated former government buildings. There are six faculties – geotechnical sciences and environmental management, management and economics, communication and media studies, health sciences, fine and applied arts, and engineering and technology – and a language centre.
Forging links with foreign universities is a key focus at CUT, and one of its stated aims is “the development of international cooperation with academic and scientific institutions”. The university is part of the European Erasmus scheme as well as several international partnerships with leading universities.
Student experience in Cyprus
Cyprus University of Technology is one of the best small universities in the world
Cyprus University is one of the best young universities in the world
2. University of Cyprus
The University of Cyprus is a public institution founded in the island’s capital, Nicosia, in 1989. It admitted its first class of 486 students in 1992. Since that time, the student body has grown and the university has expanded its curriculum.
The university has 22 departments split between eight faculties: humanities, pure and applied sciences, social sciences and education, economics and management, engineering, letters, the medical school and graduate studies.
As well as teaching, many faculties house research institutes undertaking postgraduate-level research in a range of fields, from oceanography to gender studies to nanotechnology. The university is gaining a reputation for quality research in some fields, and Christopher Pissarides, a professor at the university, was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in economics in 2010.
The main campus is located in the capital, giving students all the advantages of life in a busy, modern city while still being close to rugged mountains and beautiful beaches. The main campus houses the university library, which holds 620,000 books.
Top universities in Cyprus 2021
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2021 results
| Cyprus Rank 2021 | World University Rank 2021 | University | City |
| 1 | 301-350 | Cyprus University of Technology | Limassol |
| 2 | 501-600 | University of Cyprus | Nicosia |
| 3 | 801-1000 | University of Nicosia | Nicosia |
Read more: Best universities in Europe
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