Education system

Primary and secondary education

Primary and secondary education is mandatory in Cyprus. Attendance in the public sector schools is free for all classes from pre-primary (one year before the start of primary school) until high-school graduation, and mandatory from the year before the start of primary school and until the age of 15.

Homeschooling is not permitted in Cyprus.

Attendance in Pre-Primary Education is compulsory for all children residing in Cyprus if, before 1 September of the respective school year, the child is:

  • 2026–2027: 4 years and 4 months old
  • 2027–2028: 4 years and 4 months old
  • 2028–2029: 4 years and 3 months old
  • 2029–2030: 4 years and 2 months old
  • 2030–2031: 4 years and 1 month old
  • 2031–2032 and onwards: 4 years old

The language of instruction is Greek, while English is taught as a second language from first grade. Additional languages are offered in middle and secondary school years. 

There are provisions for free access to state-funded kindergartens, but access to these depends on availability of places and eligibility criteria. There are many privately owned and operated kindergartens all over the island for toddlers and pre-schoolers, which are not free of charge.

There are a number of private primary and secondary schools all over the island, most of which use English as the language of instruction. Many follow the British curriculum, while others follow the international baccalaureate. These schools charge tuition fees.

The Ministry of Education and Culture implements a programme of transitional classes for children with a migrant background – that includes asylum-seeker and refugee children – within specific gymnasiums around the island. This programme offers additional Greek language learning within the school day for children with an A1 Level of Greek language; those children with B1 Level and above are included in the mainstream classes.

See the Ministry of Education’s website for a guide to education in Cyprus in different languages. Click below to view this guide in English and in Arabic:

  • Guide to Education in Cyprus in English
  • Guide to Education in Cyprus in Arabic 
  • Guide to Education in Cyprus in Ukrainian

Contact details can be found at the following links:

Higher education

Higher education can be accessed from the moment a person submits an application for international protection. Cyprus has two state-owned universities, University of Cyprus and Cyprus University of Technology, where tuition is free of charge, however admission is subject to exams and the language of instruction is Greek. There are also numerous private university and colleges in Cyprus where the language of instruction is English. These private universities charge varying fees, depending on the subject of study.

The Council of Recognition of Higher Qualifications (KYSATS) is the competent authority of the Republic of Cyprus for the recognition of higher education qualifications, awarded by recognised institutions of higher education or by evaluated-accredited study programmes by the competent authorities of the country they operate or are offered in.

KYSATS also acts as the Education National Information Centre. It is an independent body funded and administratively supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture. KYSATS recognises qualifications, such as degrees, diplomas or certificates which are issued by recognised Higher Education Institutions, or of programmes that have been educationally evaluated-accredited.

The Cyprus Council of Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (KYSATS)
Corner of Kimonos and Thoukydidou,
1434 Nicosia
Tel: + 357 22 806357
Fax:  + 357 22 800866
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kysats.ac.cy

For more information about KYSATS and the process of recognition of higher education qualifications in Cyprus please see:

For more information about higher education in Cyprus, and the opportunities and scholarships available, visit our section on Integration support > Higher Education.

Adult education programmes

In addition to formal education, the Ministry of Education and Culture also offers adult education programmes (epimorfotika) in the form of afternoon and evening classes in various subjects. These include language courses, vocational skills courses, arts and crafts, cookery and gardening, and many others.

For more information, see here, including the list of available subjects and tuition fees and methods of payment.