The island country of Cyprus located at Mediterranean Sea is a high income economy and emerging study abroad destination. The strategically paramount position of Cyprus became reason of its occupation by Persians, Assyrians, Romans, British and Egyptians in the past. After gaining independence from the British in 1960, Cyprus come a long way and progressed rapidly in economical, political and social fronts. Being ruled over by different civilizations, the culture of Cyprus is diverse and rich, the archeological traces of ancient civilizations attract a large number of tourists to visit Cyprus. Cyprus spends a major portion of its GDP on development of its education sector which has improved greatly over the years. In this article we have gathered together the reasons supporting to declare Cyprus as one of the best study abroad destinations in Europe:

Cyprus invests equal amount of its GDP on education as Denmark and Sweden. It is a member of European Union and utilized Bologna system of education for quality assurance. The degrees offered by universities of Cyprus are considered parallel to UK and USA but half in cost then why pay extra amount of money for same quality and standards of education?. The universities of Cyprus are running several dual degree programs in collaboration with international institutions of UK, Canada and USA which is indeed highly profitable academically for international students. Cyprus’ institutions are popular for IT, Tourism, Medicine, Computer Science and Business courses which are internationally recognized.

State of the Art Facilities in Universities:

As the Cypriot Government gives pivotal importance to higher education sector of the country, the universities in Cyprus are delivered with needed state of art facilities, technologies, modernly designed classrooms, equipped science laboratories and research labs.

The Teaching Methodology

One of the prime reasons of studying in abroad is experiencing a different education style that has international recognition. You will get an inclusive studying in abroad experience while in Cyprus because the education style in universities there involve seminars, presentations, synchronous and asynchronous sessions and collaborative activities which are student centered focused on nourishing the skills of each student individually and readying them to excel in their profession.

The institutions in Cyprus have quite flexible and easy admission requirements. Normally, if you have done your previous degree in English medium, you probably won’t require IELTS or TOFL Certificate but if it is required the minimum grades accepted would be 5.5 overall. There is no requirement of entry test to prove your academic capabilities and generally if you have passed your previous degrees with good grades the chances of your admission are positive.  (Read Admission Requirements of Universities of Cyprus)

Cyprus is an emerging study abroad destination in Europe which is receiving a rather positive response from international students because of easier student visa attainability and flexible policies. You can attain student visa of Cyprus smoothly by arranging right documentations and proof of sufficient financial resources. Like other European countries, Cyprus allows international students to work 20 hours a week and because the sound economical condition of the country, you can earn 500 to 600 Euros per month by part time work in Cyprus on student visa.

Cyprus has one of the lowest crime rates in European countries. The well heeled economy of Cyprus has facilitated its people with high standards of living and legal justice. No wonder, why Cyprus hosts a large number of tourists in summers to enjoy its secure and clean environment. The traces of oldest civilization in Cyprus ever existed are found to be around 10BC, this small island has great cultural diversity and interracial population. Being ruled by British, Greek, Romans, Persians and Assyrians, there are temples, castles, churches and pre historic archeological sites to be explored in Cyprus. During your studies years in Cyprus, you can have insight into centuries of transition and development of the country right before you and learn through it.

Besides having all other perquisites of study abroad destination, Cyprus also offers aesthetic pleasure to your eyes all along. The naturally beautiful landscape, surrounded by mountains and beaches, mild Mediterranean climate and pure air of Cyprus will suffice your aesthetic urge. You will be living in a popular tourist spot for your studies which would be just like killing two birds with one stone. The relaxing ambience of Cyprus and modern life style will be ensuring personal growth and broaden your outlook about life in general.

The strategic location of Cyprus combines east to west and north to south through sea. Cyprus’s economical condition rapidly progressed and attained stability in just few decades after its independence from the British in 1960. It is host to several multinational companies and business startups consequently the fresh graduates attain jobs in Cyprus almost within 3 months of completing their degrees. Moreover, the universities offer internship and traineeship programmes to students that prepare them for job market, in fact some of the universities in Cyprus aid students in finding jobs after graduation.

Top universties in cyprus....

The years spent in abroad for education boost personal growth and elevate academic capabilities. Deciding a best study abroad destination is of crucial importance to make these years count and gainful ensuring an absolute experience. Cyprus fits the bill as a perfect study abroad destination in Europe as its institutions offer advanced quality of education with worldwide recognized degrees. In just few recent years, Cyprus has emerged as favorite destination for international students because of reasonable tuition fee, flexible visa policies and not so demanding admission requirements. Moreover, Cyprus is a poetically charming country which is often referred as jewel of the Mediterranean; it has ancient heritage sites, castles, churches, beautiful beaches, temperate climate and lofty mountains for you to visit while you study. To make the studying abroad in Cyprus planning possible, we have accumulated the step to step information regarding the general admission requirements in universities of Cyprus for international students in the guide below:

• Choosing the Best University in Cyprus

• Choosing a Most Appropriate Study Programme

• Admission Requirements in Cyprus

• Language Requirements (Get Details about Upcoming IELTS and TOEFL Test Dates Here)

• Documents Requirements

• Admission deadlines

• Acceptance Letter

Choosing is a university in Cyprus for pursuing your degree is the most important decision because that is the base of your entire studying abroad experience. Cyprus has a well established education system; there are universities which offer double degree programmes in collaboration with institutions of UK and USA. There are plenty of English taught courses being offered by universities there though the higher education sector has progressed gradually but it has become hub of innovation and research in Europe.  There are total eight universities in Cyprus which have gained tremendous development due to keen interest and investment of Cypriot Government in last decade. You don’t need to be concerned about the quality of education and recognitions of degrees as these universities have forged links with international institutes and follow Bologna process of education to provide international standards of education. However you must ascertain few factors while choosing a university in Cyprus.

• Check if the university is situated in your preferred location of Cyprus.

• Compare tuition fee of different universities and select the one whose cost suits your budget.

• Check if the university offers accommodation to international students.

• Check the world ranking of the university.

• Check if the university offers dual degree programmes.

• If the university offers internship and traineeship program as a part of study course.

Cyprus has expertise in Business Management, Tourism, Medical and IT courses and due to ever so increasing interest of international students towards studying in Cyprus, the universities of Cyprus have expanded and there are more departments constructed and faculties introduced. So finding English taught programme of your interest in Cyprus is not difficult. The universities have progressed by initiating partnerships and forging links with established UK and US based institutions offering an internationally acclaimed educational infrastructure and globally recognized degrees. To choose a study programme you have to consider the following key points:

• You must have interest in the set of subjects included in your chosen study programme.

• It must improve your previous set of skills.

• Search about the career scope of your chosen study programme.

• Check if you meet entry requirements of the study programme you choose.

• Its medium of instruction

• Shortlist three study programmes of your choice and finalize one of them according to potential of career success.

The admission requirements in Cyprus are not demanding in fact they are quite flexible and encouraging for Non-EU students. The medical degree courses and IT degree courses would have specific subject wise grades requirements that might differ from university to university but the overall requirements are not competitive. There are no entrance examinations and exclusive interviews required as proof of academic capability for admissions in universities of Cyprus.

For Admissions in Under Graduate Programmes: 

Higher Secondary School Diploma passed with C Grade or more, Mark sheet of Higher Secondary School Diploma and Additional Document Explaining the Grading System of Your Country.

For Admission in Medical and Dental Courses:

Higher Secondary School Diploma with 90% Passing Grades, the Candidates must have passed each subject such as Chemistry, Physics and Biology with 80% Grades on Average, Interviews will be taken online and the candidate will be asked about his/her interest in medical field, personal interests and professional goals. Recommendation letters from candidate’s professors, personal statement of candidate and voluntary work experience (if any) will be required.

For Admissions in Post Graduate (Masters) Courses:

Higher secondary school Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent professional degree) from a recognized institute of your home country with at least over C Grade overall, Recommendation letter from applicant’s professor, work experience and research experience (id applying fir research degree programme), Additional document explaining the grading system of your country with each of your degree.

For Admissions in Post Graduate (PhD) Courses:

Bachelor’s Honor degree of 4 years duration or Masters Degree or equivalent professional degree with good passing grades attained from an accredited institute of your home country. Recommendation letters, research proposal, work experience, letter of intent, interview (if applicable) and Additional documents explaining the grading system of your country with each of your degree.

In Cyprus English Proficiency Test Certificate such as IELTS, TOEFL are not a compulsory requirement to prove command over English language. The applicants who are not native of an English speaking country can either prove their proficiency in English language through IELTS or TOEFL test or take University’s English Placement Test (EPT) after arriving in Cyprus. If in the Cyprus University’s English Placement Test (EPT) the applicant fails to prove proficiency in language or fails to attain required passing grade they will be offered to take an additional course of English language in Cyprus along with their other study programme. The required scores required in IELTS or TOEFL or University’s English Placement Test (EPT) are as follows:

• TOEFL: 213 in computer based TOEFL test and 79 in internet based test, 550 in paper based test.

• IELTS: 6.5 or more overall bands.

• University’s English Placement Test (EPT): Minimum grades must be C or above.

The international students can submit their admission application at their chosen university’s website. The documents required by most of the universities in Cyprus for under graduate and post graduate admissions are as follow:

For Under Graduate Admissions:

• Completed and signed admission application form

• English Proficiency Test Certificate (if any) or the candidate can sit in University’s English Placement Test (EPT) after arriving in Cyprus.

• Higher secondary school diploma or equivalent

• Photocopy of birth certificate

• Photocopy of valid passport

• One passport size photograph of applicant recently taken

For Post Graduate Admissions

• Completed and signed admission form

• Copy of Bachelors Degree for Masters and copy of Masters Degree for PhD (must at least be passed with C grade or above)

• Transcript of academic records, diplomas certificates

• Recommendation letters from two of candidate’s professors

• Photocopy of valid passport or identity card

• Letter of intention (written by candidate explaining why he/she has chosen certain study programme and detailing their professional goal)

• English Proficiency Test Certificate (if any) or the candidate can sit in University’s English Placement Test (EPT) after arriving in Cyprus to prove their command in English language necessary for tertiary education in Cyprus.

• Details of work experience (if any)

• Photocopy of Higher secondary school diploma and mark sheet explain the grading system of candidate’s institute.

• Updated CV

• One passport size photograph that must be recently taken

The application form will be accepted only if you pay application fee which will be around 53 Euros. The admission application fee is non-refundable. All the documents you submit must be translated in English language. For online application the universities accept photocopies of your documents and academic transcripts but on arrival in Cyprus the original documents will be submitted at your hosting university’s registrar office.

For summer semester admissions: the applications must be submitted till 15^th of April

For fall semester admissions: the applications must be submitted till 31^st of July

For spring semester admissions: the applications must be submitted till 30^th November.

The university will send you an acceptance if you meet their academic eligibility for admissions. The acceptance letter is an offer from your hosting university inviting you to study in Cyprus in their campus. If you accept the offer and confirm your seat in the university the university will ask you to submit visa documents if you want your university to apply for visa on your behalf. Your hosting will submit student visa request in Cyprus at the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Cyprus Migration Office for approval. If the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Cyprus Migration Office approves the application, a Temporary Student Visa is issued to successful candidate. The students will arrive in Cyprus on Temporary Student Visa and pay tuition fee, registration fee and fulfill other requirements such as documents attestations. After payments and documents attestation you will be issued a Temporary Residence Permit (Pink Slip). Another method of applying student visa of Cyprus is directly through Embassy or Consulate of Cyprus located in your home country. (Read Student Visa Requirements of Cyprus Here)

Every European country has excelled in innovation and research and the education quality there is superior level therefore international students from any part of the world give first preference to European countries for studying in abroad. If your admission is accepted by any of Cyprus’s university it will lead you to a very successful path. Since, the universities in Cyprus are welcoming and encouraging international students, they have set the admission requirements under a lenient criterion. There is no compulsion of IELTS and TOEFL tests, students can take university’s English language test instead. In addition, the Cyprus’s universities offered degrees have acceptance and acclamation in Europe and countries beyond Europe because of high quality providence. If you have chosen to study abroad in Cyprus, this article is written to give you an overview of student visa requirements of Cyprus:

After fulfilling the admission requirements of your chosen university in Cyprus, the admission office of the university approves your application and sends you an acceptance letter. There are two ways of applying for student visa of Cyprus; one through the Migration department in Cyprus by application submitted by your hosting institution and second directly through the Embassy or Consulate of Cyprus located in your country.

Documents required for Pakistani Students if you are submitting Application Directly at Embassy or Consulate of Cyprus in Your Home Country Pakistan

• Completely filled visa application form.

• Recently taken photographs of applicant (4)

• Attested documents of applicant’s academic records (each document i-e higher secondary school diploma, Bachelor’s degree, Masters Degree must be attested granting authority and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Cyprus Consulate with notary stamp)

• English Proficiency Test Certificate (if any)

• Photocopy of applicant’s valid passport (the passport must be valid for at least 2 years duration from the time your study programme commences in Cyprus)

• Original documents of student’s academic records must be carried along by candidate if the Embassy calls for interview

• Clearance letter from police station (validating the good character of applicant and proving that there is no criminal offense registered on applicant’s name. The clearance letter should not be older than 3 months)

• Proof of Finances (stating the applicant has amount of 7000 euro in the account)

• Medical examination certificate (The medical examination must be conducted in government’s approved institute. Proving that the candidate is not suffering from Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and Tuberculosis and HIV. The examination result should not be 4 months old when submitted at the Embassy and it must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Cyprus Consulate)

• Return travel ticket (proving that the applicant will return back after completion iof their studies)

• Visa fee paid receipt

• Original acceptance letter from university

• All documents must be in English language.

Documents required if you are submitting Application at the Migration department in Cyprus

The application submitted at the Migration department in Cyprus is done through your hosting institution in Cyprus. After being granted admission, your hosting institution will ask for following documents to be submitted at least three months before your study programme starts in Cyprus. You will post the documents at your university’s postal address.

• Certified photocopy of academic records

Under Graduate: Higher Secondary School Diploma with grade mark sheet translated in English and certified from granting authorities.

Post Graduate (Masters): Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute of your home country.

Post Graduate (PhD): Bachelor’s degrees, Masters Degree

• Travel document (Passport must be valid for at least for two years)

• Clearance letter from police station issued not before than 3 months

• Health examination certificate

• Proof of finances

• Visa application fee (non refundable, it will be around 15 to 30 Cyprus pounds)

The students entering in Cyprus should carry their original documents with them as the immigration authorities in Cyprus will only let them enter in the country after checking the documents. After entering Cyprus the candidates must report their hosting institution about their arrival for procedure of their temporary resident permit. Within one week of arrival and on the first working day as they arrive in Cyprus the students must register their name in local police station of Cyprus near their residence. The immigration department will arrange a health examination meeting at local hospital of Cyprus for international students within one week of their arrival as well. The temporary resident permit issued to students is called pink slip which will be issued to you upon your arrival in Cyprus. You will need to submit following documents to attain pink slip:

• Valid passport

• Student letter issued by your hosting university

• Proof of accommodation

• Immigration form completed and signed by applicant

• Amount of 20 Cyprus pounds to be paid as fee

• Three passport size photographs

The documents of student visa must be prepared at least 3 months prior to your study programme starts in Cyprus. Cyprus has an accommodating visa policy for international students but the deadlines of application submission and authenticity of documents are required. The success of study abroad process is entirely dependent on arrangement of documents on time and without mistakes. Since most of the students must be going through this process for the first time and they miss out the arrangement of the documents causing delay of their visa or even cancellation. Therefore, taking guidance from registered study abroad consultants does not only save your time and money but also increase the chances of your visa approval as they are experienced and well known to this process. In fact you can submit your admission application by their aid and follow step by step procedure till your departure from your home country to your study abroad destination. The list of study abroad consultants in various cities of Pakistan is available in this exclusive section of our website. 

In last few years, Cyprus has emerged as one of the top favorite study abroad destinations in Europe because of excelling and superlative education quality and easy admission requirements for international students (Read Admission Requirements of Universities in Cyprus in Detail Here). The historical background of Cyprus is centuries old, it has been occupied by Romans, Persians and British resulted in its present cultural diversity and modern lifestyle. Cypriots enjoy high standards and affordable cost of living, excellent health care facilities and safe and secure environment in their country. The overall amiable and peaceful ambience, moderate climate, beautiful landscape of Cyprus attracts a large number of students to study abroad in Cyprus and enjoy its cultural diversity and scenic beauty along with gaining world recognized degrees. Estimating the study and living cost of a foreign land to where you intend to travel is absolute necessity, the average cost of living and study in Cyprus is explained in this section:

Cyprus gives immense importance to improvement of its higher education sector. After Denmark and Sweden, Cyprus is third country in Europe which spends a huge portion of its GDP on betterment of its education sector. The universities of Cyprus have reached the level of US and UK through continuous efforts and massive investments. There are state of the art facilities and advance teaching methodologies offered by universities of Cyprus. In fact a large number of American students enroll in Cyprus for medical degree courses because of its high quality and affordable fee. The universities have forged partnership programmes and academic collaborative deals to meet international standards and gain worldwide acclamation. Comparing to the quality of education in Cyprus, the tuition fee is reasonable in the universities and admission requirements are undemanding.  The average tuition fees of different courses and at different academic levels in universities of Cyprus are as:

Under Graduate Courses:

In Public Universities

• Arts and Teaching Courses: 3.099 €

• Psychology and Molecular Biology and Genetics (BSc): € 3.099 €

• Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Product Design: 3.099 €

• Economics and Administrative Sciences: 3.099 €

• Pharmacy  : 4.099 €

In Private universities the cost might range from 2800 to 7200 Euros.

Post Graduate (Masters) Courses:

In Public Universities

• Business Administration (MBA): €10.250

• Business Economics (MBE): €10.000

• Engineering:  €8.000

• Psychology: € 5.125

In Private universities the cost range from 7500 to 15000 for Post Graduate study programme.

Post Graduate (PhD) Courses:

Around €1.250 per year (€625 per semester) to maximum €9.000 for entire degree programme. The tuition fees are different in each university and also differ according to the study programme.

The living cost is mostly dependent on one’s spending habits and lifestyle. Cyprus is economically well heeled country and the costs of living are according to incomes of the citizens. Like other European countries, Government of Cyprus sets the minimum wage which is fixed in consideration that everyone can afford accommodation, food and transportation expenditures. But the international students travelling to Cyprus can expect the living cost to be reasonable than many other European countries. Tourism and education are two of the highest earning sectors of Cyprus therefore international students are accommodated so that more enrollments could be encouraged. The accommodation rents vary from location to location but overall they are not expensive. In cities near shopping centers, the accommodation rent is obviously expensive and in more distant location from cities the rents are cheap cost. Cyprus is a popular tourist spot so the accommodation conditions are modern and comfortable and are rented with serviced and not serviced option. Cyprus is a small island though densely populated so the costs of edible goods don’t fluctuate from area to area; they are same all around the country. (Read Student Visa of Cyprus Details Here).

Accommodation Cost in Cyprus for Pakistani Students:

• One bedroom Apartment within Central City: 582.92 Euros

• One bedroom Apartment outside Central City: 450 Euros

• Three bedrooms Apartment within Central City: 998 Euros

• Three bedrooms Apartment outside Central City: 770 Euros

Food Cost:

The students studying in abroad generally have limited budget of finances therefore eating out is an expensive option. If you cook meals at home affording your monthly food expenses in Cyprus are cheap costs.

• Basic menu meal for one person in an inexpensive restaurant: 12 Euros

• Basic menu meal for two persons in mediocre level restaurant: 40 Euros

• Combo meal in Mc Donalds and Mac Meal (or other equivalent fast food chain) for one person: 6 Euros

• Half liter water bottle: 0.66 Euros

• 1 liter milk bottle: 1.33 Euros

• Loaf of fresh white bread: 1.43 Euros

• 1 kg white rice: 1.44 Euros

• Dozen eggs: 2.59 Euros

• 1 kg local cheese: 7.81 Euros

• 1 kg chicken breast: 6.61 Euros

• 1 kg beef meat: 8.91 Euros

• 1 kg apples: 1.80 Euros

• 1 kg bananas: 1.31 Euros

• 1 kg oranges: 1.25 Euros

• 1 kg tomatoes: 1.84 Euros

• 1 kg potatoes: 0.77 Euros

• 1 kg onions: 0.75 Euros

Transportation:

The transport services of Cyprus include buses, ferries and taxies. Most of the locals utilize public transport for travelling and many own cars. The overall road infrastructure is established even if you purchase a car in Cyprus, travelling can be afforded in the city during semesters and in seasonal holidays you can travel to other cities and explore the historical sites of Cyprus.

• One way ticket in public transport: 1.50 Euros

• Monthly pass of public transport: 40 Euros

• Normal tariff of taxi: 4 Euros

• Tariff of taxi for travel per 1 km: 0.85 Euros

Other Expenditures:

• Utility bills (electricity, gas, water, heating etc): 120 Euros

• Monthly internet connection bill: 40 Euros

• Fitness club membership for one person per month: 50 Euros

• Cinema ticket one seat: 9 Euros

Arranging for an accommodation in a country where you are travelling to stay for a year or two for the first time on academic purpose need be selected with thorough consideration and estimation of cost. When studying in abroad, it is mostly first independent abode for students away from their families and managing their lifestyle according to limited budget. Cyprus invests a considerable amount on education and for providing state of the art facilities to academic institutions; in fact the education sector of Cyprus has emerged to be highly recognized and acclaimed worldwide and continues to improve and establish. There are large numbers of international students from various countries studying abroad in Cyprus so the accommodation facilities are many with best possible facilities. The following guide is written to give you an overview of student accommodation available in Cyprus for international students:

The on campus housing is exceptionally well designed to cater the needs of international students with security, comfort and modern accommodation in Cyprus. As the education sector of Cyprus is its major GDP earner, the on campus accommodation is designed to provide recreational facilities, different housing options and affordable cost. The students can rent single room, double room, people studio apartment and person apartment with two or more rooms in on campus residence. The communal facilities are for everyone but the cost is different according to number of rooms in accommodation. The students can select whichever apartment type of on campus residency suits their budget and choice. To be precise in on campus residence of Cyprus you can find following facilities: (Read Admission Requirements of Cypriot Universities in Article Here)

Facilities:

• Free internet access

• LCD TV in each room

• Book Shelves, Chair, Desk, Wardrobe, Bed, Mini Refrigerator, Land Line Phone

• You can have meals included in your monthly rent but that is an option

• Security cameras

• Equipped kitchen

• Laundry Room in each floor of the residence

• Swimming Pool

• Study Rooms

• Playing Area

• Gym

• Dining area

• Parking area

• Controlled electronic entrance

Types of accommodation in On Campus Residence:

There are studio type accommodation and apartment type accommodation. Each accommodation has different cost and different number of rooms.

Cost:

• Single Room Studio Type Accommodation: €300 a month

• Single Room Apartment Type Accommodation: €400 a month

• Double Room Studio Type Accommodation: €500 a month

• Double Room Apartment Type Accommodation: €550 a month

• The utility bills of on campus residence are usually included in the monthly rent but to be certain you can ask the accommodation department of your university before booking.

Why Live in On Campus Residence:

No other accommodation option can be better than on campus residence for a student in foreign land. Especially when you are travelling to the unknown country for the first time, you don’t need to be concerned about security, cost, travelling and unfamiliarity in on campus residence. You can meet your contemporaries, your fellow students who are going through same adjustment phase and unfamiliarity. You get along well; get to know the new culture of foreign land, without fussing about day to day travel to attend classes as the on campus residences are mostly located quite near to universities. But one must keep in mind the on campus residence is offered on come first get first basis. The universities receive numerous applications and due to limited number of rooms, you must book your preferred accommodation type as soon as you can to save the spot from missing out.

The students who opt to live off campus will have many options of accommodation in Cyprus. There are private dormitories, rental apartments, flat shares and home stays accommodation types. The culture and lifestyle of Cyprus is European standard and facilities are same. The rents are expensive in central areas of cities and away from city center the rents are considerably inexpensive.  Living off campus is more challenging than in on campus residence because of many reasons which include higher rents, security factor, and payment of utility bills, maintenance charges, dealing with rental contract and managing your house on your own. Mostly students choose off campus residence after a year of living in on campus residence and getting to know the local culture. The students must have their valid passport, Cypriot residence permit and student card with them to rent an off campus residence. The different types of off campus residence in Cyprus with facilities and costs are as:

Private Dormitories:

After your own university provided residence, the nest best accommodation option is private dormitories. The private dormitories have similar facilities and environment as university handled dormitories except your room mates or dorm mates will be from different universities of Cyprus. Most of the private dormitories are affiliated with universities and the accommodation department of your university can help you book a room or an apartment in private dormitory.

 The facilities include:

• Furnished rooms

• Security cameras surveillance and security guards on duty 24/7

• Vicinity to university campuses, shopping malls, public transport

• Meals included in monthly rents (One can choose to have services of cooked  meals from dormitories or not)

• Parking lot

• Study rooms

• Gym

• Sitting area

• Laundry rooms for self services

Cost:

The cost depends on the type of accommodation and serviced or non serviced option. The rent of single room will be around 300 to 400 Euros per month.

Rental Apartments:

The rental apartments come with various luxuries, sizes and monthly rents. The location of the apartment and proximity to shopping centers and public transport affects the higher or lower rent rate.  There are studio apartments, two bed room flats, three bedroom flats and all kinds of housing that depends on your budget. You can hire real estate agents to find you an apartment according to your choice and preference. It’s rare for a student to rent a two bedroom apartment for themselves only, mostly two or more friends rent an apartment for more private lifestyle and independence. The rental apartments come with furnished and non furnished facilities as well. The utility bills are not included in the rents which generally make it costly to afford and the maintenance and furniture damage responsibility is upon the tenant.

Cost:

Studio apartment with one bedroom, a small kitchen, living room and laundry room is almost 600 to 700 Euros per month in which the utility bills are not included. Two bedrooms apartment will be around 800 Euros per month rent (in central city area).

Flat Shares:

Flat shares are common all over European countries including Cyprus. Since, a large number of international students stay in Cyprus for their study programmes, so they live in outside cities or in main cities. Flat share is basically a very affordable accommodation as by sharing living space with students you can cut half your living expenses and enjoy facilities and privacy with no restrictions like in on campus residence. Flat shares can be availed through real estate agents or through your university friends. Generally two or more friends rent an apartment together and invite other university fellows for flat share if there are more rooms in the apartment. But for flat sharing, knowing your room mates first is absolute necessity because there can be scams and you might not get along with other person’s life style. Coming up with house rules and dividing rent in equal proportion in justly manner is required if you intend to live in flat share for long duration. Involving a third party such as real estate agents is wise and you must sign a contract before moving in so that there are no troubles after you have paid amount.

Cost:

The rent of three bedrooms apartment in central city in Cyprus is around 1000 Euros and outside city center is around 770 Euros per month. The utility bills and other maintenance charges are not included in the rent. The apartments have furnished or non-furnished options. The rent of non furnished apartments will be less costly.

Home Stay:

Home stay accommodation is living with local family of Cyprus in their house. They will offer a furnished room in their house with option of meals and free Wi-Fi. The first and most important benefit of living in a home stay accommodation is learning local culture and language. Cyprus is an island; every area is near to beach therefore you can get sea facing room with a balcony. Mostly home stay accommodation providers and house owners allow students to access the parking space and garden of house if there is. Before checking in you must ensure what are the demands of owners from their tenants, best is to sign a rental contract so that every term and condition is present on written record and ascertain in agreement that your hosting family respects your privacy as they will expect the same from you.

Cost:

The cost of home stay might vary from location to location and according to offered facilities. The rent may be around 15 Euros per night, if you intend to pay on monthly basis it will be 450 to 500 Euros per month.

Working while you study is almost mandatory when you are studying in abroad as a foreign student. Not only you can support your living expenses but also save some amount for the tuition fee payment. Cyprus is a European Union member, the economy there is stable and booming with many start up businesses and established firms. Through universities, the students can get a chance to do internship and traineeship programmes in established firms and paid according to their working hours as well as get work experience and professional exposure. Cyprus allows third country nationals to do 20 hours a week part time work if they are enrolled in a full time study programme in an accredited university of Cyprus. The international students are only permitted to work at certain areas if they are not doing internships organized by their university. The part time work permission and procedure in Cyprus as a third country national is explained in this section:

International students were not allowed to work part time in Cyprus before it became part of European Union. Since, it is now a European Union member, Cyprus follows its directives which allow all international students to work part time in restricted hours. But they are conditions and terms imposed on students which they have to follow to be employed as a paid worker in Cyprus.

The working permission to foreign students in Cyprus is issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance. Only students enrolled in a full time study programme in Cyprus at a recognized university can work part in the certain sectors allowed by the Government. In addition, before starting part time work, the students need to provide evidence that they have completed at least spent 6 months in Cyprus.

According to the Cypriot law, the international students working in Cyprus have similar rights as natives of the country. They are entitled to minimum wage law and labor rights. The Ministry of labor has designed a special employment contract for international students mentioning all the terms that should be followed by employers and employees. This employment contract is available at the District Labor Offices for use.

As per the law and directives of Ministry of Labor Cyprus, the international students are allowed to work in the following sectors only:

• petrol-station attendants

• car-wash attendants

• care givers in homes or for old people

• workers or helpers in agriculture, farming, fishing  field and at local bakeries

• fast-food delivery drivers

The part time work permission is not allowed to foreign students by default in their student visa, they will have to apply for the permission and arrange the following documents:

• Valid Resident Permit of Cyprus (the Ministry of Labor will check if the student has spent 6 months in Cyprus before applying for job)

• Employment Contract that can be received from District Labor Offices. (It must be signed by employer and employee)

• Time table of university classes (proving that your part time working hours are not colliding with your university hours)

The students will get a student permit from immigration office firstly, then they will sign the employment contract and their employer will sign the same contract- both parties agreeing the terms and conditions that they will follow rules and pay each other their due rights. The employment contract along with other above mentioned documents will be submitted at a District Employment Office. The District Employment Office will review the application and approve it or disapprove it (based on their criteria. If they approve it, the foreign student can proceed to work as mentioned in the contract. Any kind of violation of contract or law, the student can get deported or face the consequences (fine or imprisonment).

Post graduation work permits are not easily attainable in Cyprus but possible. The students have to exit Cyprus within 60 days of completion of their study programme in Cyprus at any case. If they have attained an employment contract from Cyprus based firm, they can re enter the country with work permit. The work permit is submitted in Cyprus by employer who will fulfill the requirements of inviting the foreign employee according to Cypriot law and then send an invitation letter to intended employee. The intended employee will apply for work permit at the Cyprus’s Embassy located in their home country and submit required documents for approval. If approved, the candidate can enter Cyprus on the work permit visa and will be issued a temporary residence permit which will be valid for 1 year duration initially and can be renewed every year. After 5 years of living in Cyprus on temporary resident, the candidate can apply for permanent residency visa of Cyprus. The graduates entering in Cyprus on employment based will apply for Category E visa. The following documents are required to apply for Category E visa: (Details about Other Types of Work Permits of Cyprus are Explained in This Article)

• Signed visa application form

• Photocopy of valid passport

• Police clearance letter stating the applicant is of good character and that he has not committed any criminal offence (the letter should not be older than 3 months)

• Medical examination certificate (stating the applicant is free from HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis)

• Bank statement or Credit Card Statement (200 to 300 Cypriot pounds amount must be present at the applicant’s bank account and the statement present at the Embassy must not be older more than 6 months duration)

• Passport size photographs (3)

• Employment contract from Cyprus’s based company ( the contract must be stamped by the Department of Labor of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance and it also has to be revenue stamped by the Revenue Stamps Registrar)

• The visa application will be accepted with fee of 20 pounds.

The work permit process will take 2 to 3 months for approval. On arrival the applicant has to register their name at local police station and in case they change their residence, it must be notified to immigration department.

Working in abroad is certainly a challenging step for an individual who is travelling to certain country for the first time, the unfamiliarity and uncertainty frightens even the experienced professionals. But for students who have studied in abroad in certain country for several years, it is a different story. In fact majority of students prefer to settle down in the country they have studied after completion of their degrees successfully. Especially in charming and beautiful country like Cyprus where the economy is developing rapidly, it has EU membership, centuries’ old history and diverse culture and awesome climate. The universities in Cyprus are offering high standards of education with state of the art facilities. The route to permanent residency of Cyprus for international students is through employment opportunity in Cyprus. There are other types of temporary residents permits as well that allow foreign citizens to stay in Cyprus through investments and business startups. The pathway to permanent residency and types of work permits in Cyprus are explained I the following guide:

Category A:

Category A work permit is granted to natives from Non-EU countries, if the foreign national has intention to undertake self employment in Cyprus related to field of agriculture, cattle breeding and bird breeding or fish culture. They will have to prove they have adequate resources to purchase land and amount of CY 250,000 to make this investment. They will also have to prove their self employment business will cause no negative affects to Cyprus’s economy.

Category B:

Category B work permit is granted to Non-EU native who have intention to be self employed in Cyprus’s mining enterprises. They will seek permit of self employment from Cyprus’s Labor and Immigration Department, Prove they have capital amount of CY 200,000 and their business will not have negative influence on Cyprus’s economy.

Category C:

Category C is for individuals interested to be self employed in a trade or profession in Cyprus. The permit for their self employment will be granted by Labor and Immigration Department of Republic of Cyprus. They must have capital amount of CY 150, 000 and they will need to prove their self employment will not cause any negative influence on economy of Cyprus.

Category D:

Category D is for individuals intended to be self employed in a profession or science in Cyprus. The candidate will have to prove they have related experience, qualification and skill, they will prove adequate financial resources and the profession they want to be involved in must be in demand in the labor market of Republic of Cyprus.

Category E:

Category E is for individuals who have attained a permanent employment contract from Cyprus based company. The employer will be responsible of employee’s visa documentations and permit from Labor and immigration department of Cyprus. Then the visa invitation letter will be send to employee in his home country from employer to join company in Cyprus.

Category F:

Category F is for individuals who have an annual income of CY 5,600 absolutely on their own disposal without needing to be involved in any profession or trade or business in Cyprus. The immigrants who enter into this category are generally pensioners and retired professionals. The immigration department might demand the candidate to prove possession of more amount as security.

The international students have to exit Cyprus within 60 days after completion of their degree starting from their graduation ceremony day in Cyprus.(Read Admission Requirements in Universities of Cyprus in Article Here).  If they have attained an employment contract they fall into Category E work permit. Their intended employer will fulfill visa details in Cyprus on their behalf and send them official employment contract and visa invitation letter in their home country. The candidates will apply for visa using these documents from their country. Additional documents required for work permit on the basis of employment contract from Cyprus are as follows:

• Completed and signed visa application form

• Photocopy of Valid Passport

• Clearance letter from police station stating the applicant has good character and proving he has no criminal case against him

• Medical examination certificate (prove the applicant is not suffering from HIOV, Hepatitis C, B, Tuberculosis, or other infectious diseases).

• Bank Statement (There must be at least 200 to 500 Cyprus Pounds present in applicant’s bank account, the bank statement or credit card statement should not be older than 6 months)

• Employment contract from Cyprus’s based company ( the contract must be stamped by the Department of Labor of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance and it also has to be revenue stamped by the Revenue Stamps Registrar)

• The visa application fee must be paid along with submission of application and documents. The fee will be not refundable. The fee is around 20 Cyprus Pounds in general, but it can be more or less according to your country.

• 3 Passport size photographs

• The permit is initially allowed for one year duration and it can be renewed for maximum of 5 years depending on job contract duration.

• On arrival the work permit holder will register their name at the District Aliens and Immigration Branch of the Police. You will submit work permit renewal application in the same department. For each renewal 20 pounds fee, valid passport and recent photographs would be required.

After residing in Cyprus for 5 years on temporary resident permit or work permit the immigrants can apply for permanent residency visa of Cyprus. The application for permanent residency is submitted at the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior. The residence permit has 5 years duration validity when issued on employment basis and 5 years to the dependents of the permanent resident which can be extended if the employment conditions and residence does not change. The rules and regulations alter and new policies are introduced almost every year, so the applicants can take all the required information firsthand from Cypriot Embassy. The permanent resident holders of Cyprus have similar rights as citizens except voting right. They can change their job and live anywhere in Cyprus, travel outside the country and re enter whenever they want, have paid holidays and protection against unlawful dismissal of job. They have right to avail public health care facilities and pensions after retiring from jobs. The following documents are required when applying for permanent residency visa of Cyprus:

• Passport of candidate that should be valid for at least 6 months duration.

• Completed application form of visa

• Two recent passport size photographs

• Proof of employment

• Proof of accommodation

• Medical insurance coverage

• Clean criminal record

• Proof that the applicant had held temporary resident for their entire duration of stay of 5 years

• Visa application fee per person 20 Euros

• The applicant and his dependents had appear in the immigration office before the officials for biometric fingerprints procedure

• The permanent residency visa must be applied at least 3 months before your temporary resident visa or work permit expires

• The permanent residency visa is granted in 2 weeks to 2 months duration

Non EU citizens can attain citizenship of Cyprus either through investment or through neutralization. For Cyprus’s citizenship by neutralization, a third world country national must have stayed for 7 years in Cyprus on legal basis. The individuals who have Cypriot nationals children (in this duration their children were born in Cyprus) can apply for citizenship after 5 years of stay. The Cyprus’s citizenship can also be attained if the individual has married a Cypriot national, in this case citizenship can be applied after 3 years of residing in Cyprus. Cyprus allows foreign nationals to keep dual citizenship as well. To get citizenship of Cyprus, the candidates have to submit the following mentioned documents below:

• Photocopy of Passport

• Two recent passport sized photographs

• Updated CV of applicant

• Clean criminal record

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate (if any)

• Proof of sufficient means of sustenance

• Proof of accommodation