6.2.1 Bachelor

Bachelor programmes of study are offered by public and private universities as well as by private institutions of higher education. The expected duration of studies for a Bachelor's degree is four years (eight semesters) except for Medicine. The ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is applied by all institutions of higher education with several at least 240 ECTS required for a student to graduate.
Bachelor programmes are offered within the following study fields: Humanities; Pure and Applied Science; Social Science and Education; Economics and Management; Letters; Engineering and Technology; Health Science; Medicine; Technological Science;  eotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management; Law; Fine and Applied Arts.
Admissions to the undergraduate level of studies at the University of Cyprus and the
Technological University of Cyprus are based on the system of entrance examinations, namely the Pancyprian Examinations, which are set every May/June by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth according to the provisions of the relevant law. To be eligible for the examination, applicants must be Cypriot citizens with at least one Cypriot parent. They must also have a School Leaving Certificate either from a Lyceum, a Technical School or a recognised private secondary school.
A small percentage of the total number of admissions is set on special criteria. These
apply, amongst others, to Cypriot applicants of special categories (e.g. children of
missing persons because of the Turkish invasion, persons with special needs, mature students); Greeks of the diaspora and Cypriots who belong to specific religious or ethnic groups; Turkish Cypriots; and international students.
Admissions to the Open University of Cyprus are based on predetermined criteria.
Prospective students submit their applications online and based on the set criteria they are ranked by an automated system of evaluation. To be eligible to apply to a course at the undergraduate level of studies, prospective students must be graduates of Secondary Education and have a good knowledge of Greek.
Admission criteria to private universities or private institutions of Higher Education include a Secondary School Leaving Certificate or other equivalent qualification and any other qualifications, depending on the Programme and the level of study.
Students from third countries must obtain an entry permit from the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection in order to enter Cyprus. Students can obtain information on the procedure for obtaining a visa/entry permit for Cyprus from the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Cyprus in their country of origin. Information on Cyprus’s diplomatic missions abroad can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus.
Information on all the documents required to obtain a visa/entry permit to study at an institution of Higher Education in Cyprus and the documents required to obtain a residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus can be found on the website of the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection. According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 19/7/2023, the admission of students from Third Countries to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of study at the Higher Education institutions of Cyprus requires specific international English Language Examinations.
Teaching Methods
Teaching methods and materials are decided on by the members of academic staff of departments, either individually or in collaboration. Classes usually take the form of a lecture, tutorial or laboratory work according to the nature and requirements of the programme of study. New technology is widely used and, besides the Open University of Cyprus, other public and private universities offer distance learning courses.
Progression of Students
Student progression from one year/stage of studies to the next is based on the internal regulations of each institution of Higher Education. Students are promoted on the precondition that they have obtained at least the minimum pass mark (usually 50 %) in all prescribed evaluations and have attended at least a minimum required percentage of the programme (ranging from 75 % to 100 % in the different Institutions).
Employability of Higher Education Graduates
Careers Offices operating in Higher Education Institutions provide information on employment and career prospects. Although no official responsibility is taken by the institutions for the employment of their graduates, the guidance and counselling that they offer very often lead to the placement of graduates in appropriate positions in their field in the public or private sectors.
Student Assessment
Every institution of Higher Education has an organised system of student assessment. Students are assessed internally by the teaching staff of the Institution.
Assessment methods include written and/or oral examinations at the mid-term or the end of a semester, continuous assessment focused on the student’s active participation, laboratory exercises, written or practical assignments, projects and dissertations. Written examinations are set by all the institutions.
Certification
Certification is the responsibility of each institution of Higher Education. Upon successful completion of the programme of studies, the Institution awards the Bachelor degree. The award of a Bachelor degree at the University level is subject to the approval of the Board of the Department.

6.2.2 Short-cycle programmes

The public institutions of Higher Education offer short-cycle programmes of study except for the Mediterranean Institute of Management (MIM) that offers postgraduate programmes of studies. Short-cycle programmes of study are also offered by the private institutions of Higher Education. The degree awarded after the completion of these programmes of study can be a Certificate (1 year of study), a Diploma (2 years of study), or a Higher Diploma (3 years of study).
Admission Requirements
As provided in the governing law for Higher Education (Law N. 67(I)/1996), the number of students in each public institution of Higher Education is determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers, upon the recommendation of the responsible minister. A School Leaving Certificate from a Secondary School in Cyprus or an equivalent qualification from abroad is a prerequisite for admission. In addition, all institutions running three-year diploma courses allocate potential students on the basis of the results obtained at the Pancyprian Examinations.
Curriculum
Programmes of study of the public institutions of Higher Education are determined by the Council of Ministers based on the recommendation of the minister responsible for the institution.
Teaching Methods
Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials and practical training. Deciding on the teaching methods to be followed is the responsibility of the teacher.
Progression of Students
Progression of students is based on the relevant regulations of each Institution.
Students are promoted on the precondition that they have obtained at least the minimum pass mark (usually 50 %) in all prescribed evaluations and have attended at least a minimum required percentage of the programme (ranging from 75% to 100% in the different institutions). If a student fails an examination, they are required to resit it. The number of times that a student is permitted to resit an examination differs from one institution to the other. If a student fails all resits, he/she is not permitted to continue his/her studies.
Certification
Certification is the responsibility of each institution of Higher Education. Upon successful completion of the programme of studies, the Institution awards its own diploma. According to Law 68(I)/1996, the diplomas awarded by the public institutions are evaluated by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education.