We regularly updating this page with new programmes. Please check back again for information about the latest programmes. For the most up-to-date details on available courses, we also encourage you to contact the relevant organisations directly.
Learning the Greek language will help you to find employment, and to better interact with the host community in Cyprus. There are various language programmes offered to refugees and asylum-seekers living in different parts of the island by volunteer groups, NGOs, local authorities and by projects funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Funds (AMIF) of the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus. These programmes are offered for free. In addition there are some other programmes offered at minimal costs that anyone living in Cyprus can participate in.
If you are living at the Kofinou Reception Centre, to find out about which programmes are currently running, speak with a social worker on duty.
If you are residing at the Pournara First Reception Centre, to find out about which programmes are currently runnnig, speak with an admistration officer on duty.
Language programmes that are currently running in different locations around Cyprus include the following:
Adult classes
Nicosia
The University of Cyprus School of Modern Greek offers Greek classes online and in person in Nicosia. There are three programmes every year – Summer, Winter and Spring. The course costs €400 and has a €25 registration fee and €40 as a deposit that is returned to the students who successfully pass their exams. Asylum-seekers and International Protection holders are eligible for scholarships.
For further information and to register:
Telephone: +357 22 892028 – Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 14:00.
E-mail: [email protected]
Generation for Change offers free Greek classes online and in person in Nicosia. Contact the team directly for more information and to register for classes.
Limassol
The local charity Agapi offers various activities, including language classes. For more information click here.
Pafos
If you are living in the Pafos area, The Learning Refuge, Caritas and CCIF CY offers various classes taught by volunteers. Contact each organisation directly for more information.
Larnaca
In Larnaca All4Aid offers different levels of English classes taught by volunteers. Contact the organisation directly for more information.
Contact the team directly for more information and to register for classes.
Island-wide
The Ministry of Education and Culture’s adult education classes (Epimorfotika), are held in the afternoons and evenings in various subjects, including language courses, and Greek for beginners. These are offered all over the island at the local community level, for anyone who is interested, and at a low cost of EUR45-55 per year. Applications for the Greek language courses at the State Adult Education Centres can be submitted usually during September or October each year. Registration takes place once a year, and classes run from October to May.
See here, for more information or contact your local Adult Education District Office directly:
- Nicosia District
Ministry of Education and Culture
Block C, 1st Floor
Kimonos and Thoukididou Street
1434 Acropoli, Nicosia
Tel: 22-800800 / 22-800803 / 22-800797
Fax: 22-800802
email: [email protected] - Pafos District
Neofytos Nikolaides Street
New District Offices
8100 Pafos
Tel: 26-804521 / 26-804522
Fax: 26-912163
email: [email protected] - Limassol District
Versallion 53
3012 Limassol
Tel: 25-877524
Fax: 25-306555
email: [email protected] - Larnaca and Famagusta Districts
Eleftherias Avenue 65
Oikonomou Estates, 1st floor
7102 Aradippou, Larnaca
Tel: 24-813264
Fax: 24-304585
email: [email protected]
State Institutes of Further Education (KIE) of the Ministry of Education also offer Greek classes all over Cyprus. The fees are normally EUR250-400 per year, but for GMI beneficiaries the cost is only EUR10 per year.
For more information contact the Ministry of Education and Culture by either calling 22 800803 or by visiting their website.
Children’s classes
Formal Education
Primary and secondary education are mandatory in Cyprus. Attendance in the public sector schools is free for all classes from ages 5 to 18, and mandatory from ages 5 to 15. Home schooling is not permitted in Cyprus, and thus all children must attend schools.
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.
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:
- Primary education
- Secondary education
- Secondary Technical and Vocational Education
- Evening schools
- Apprenticeships (ΣΜΕΕΚ)
State Institutes of Further Education (ΚΙΕ) of the Ministry of Education also offer Greek classes all over Cyprus. The fees are normally EUR250-400 per year, but for GMI beneficiaries the cost is only EUR10 per year. For more information contact the Ministry of Education and Culture by either calling 22 800803 or by visiting their website.
Informal Education
Vela Cyprus is a humanitarian organisation providing daily educational lessons, language support and safe learning spaces for unaccompanied minors at the Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional Foundation. Please visit their website for more information, or call: 99 386903.
DRASE programme – Actions for Scholarly and Social Integration
The DRASE programme supports migrant families to learn Greek and improve their social skills, and to support students and families that are at risk of social exclusion.
DRASE is implemented across 75 schools, including kindergartens, primary schools, gymnasiums, lyceums and technical schools. Within this programme, schools will be offering various courses, including complementary teaching classes and creative activities for students (during the morning or in the afternoons and during the school months), additional psycho-social support from specialists and providing educational and training opportunities for teachers.
The DRASE programme supports migrant families to learn Greek and improve their social skills, and to support students and families that are at risk of social exclusion
For more information and registration please contact:
Tel: 22 800780 | Email: [email protected]
Online Language Courses, Apps and Other Learning Opportunities
NOTE: UNHCR bears no responsibility for the accuracy and content of external resources.
Language Learning
Erasmus+ Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees – The European Commission has extended the Erasmus+ Online Linguistic Support (OLS) Platform to benefit refugees interested in following online language courses in Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Croatian, Italian, Hungarian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Finnish and Swedish. The programme aims to support the integration of refugees into Europe’s education and training systems, and ensure their skills development.
The OLS can be used at any time from a computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection. The use of this platform is free of charge.
Access to the platform is given to:
- Refugees
- Organisations supporting refugees
- Erasmus+ beneficiary institutions/organisations
For more information and to request access to the platform contact the Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes or email Stavroula Antoniou [email protected] / Tel: +357 22 448 891.
Duolingo – A free App that can offer a quick, easy and fun way to learn some basics of a language through a smart phone or tablet, as long as there is WiFi access. Choice of many languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Greek and Russian.
Busuu – A computer and mobile app offering choice of a number of languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Turkish.
Internet Polyglot – a computer and mobile App that provides language learning opportunities to a wide variety of language speakers including Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, French and others.
Learn Languages – Free online language courses with an easy-to-use interface.
Mini Lexicons: Useful phrasebooks for basic communication
These phrasebooks have been created for communication support to refugees and asylum-seekers in an English and Greek speaking environment. They are for refugees and asylum-seekers, and for service providers – professionals and volunteers – working with refugees and asylum-seekers. See below for the phrasebooks available for these languages: Arabic, Farsi, French, Kurmanji, Sorani and Urdu.
The Mini Lexicons were developed by the Swiss Embassy and Metadrasi together with UNHCR in Greece. They can be downloaded here for free:
For Refugees and Asylum-Seekers:
Mini Lexicon Arabic-Greek-English | Mini Lexicon Farsi-Greek-English | Mini Lexicon French-Greek-English
Mini Lexicon Kurmanji-Greek-English | Mini Lexicon Sorani -Greek-English | Mini Lexicon Urdu-Greek-English
For Professionals and Volunteers Providing Services to Refugees and Asylum-Seekers:
Mini Lexicon for Professionals Arabic-English-Greek | Mini Lexicon for Professionals Farsi-English-Greek
Mini Lexicon for Professionals French-English-Greek | Mini Lexicon for Professionals Kurmanji-English-Greek
Mini Lexicon for Professionals Sorani-English-Greek | Mini Lexicon for Professionals Urdu-English-Greek
Reading material for children:
Storyweaver – children’s stories in 105 languages, at different language levels, and on a variety of subjects including technology & Engineering, History, Grammar, Environment, developing good habits, vocabulary building for English beginners, exploring feelings. The stories can facilitate mother tongue learning as well as Greek and English as a second language.
Books for Afghanistan – supporting literacy among Afghan school-age children.
Self-learning opportunities for adolescents and adults:
Coursera – computer or mobile app. Provides access to education programs from top universities and organizations. Has hundreds of courses in the areas such as arts and humanities, business, computer science, data science, information technology, life sciences and language learning. Courses are free; there is a fee for certificates.
EDX – online learning, free of charge. Founded by Harvard and MIT. Currently has over 90 global partners. A large variety of learning areas including language, psychology, history, business, chemistry, communication, computer science, energy, science, math and social sciences. Courses are free; there is a fee for certificates. EDX also has advance and professional-level certification options.
Sports for All–AΓΟ
Sports for All (AΓΟ) is a programme initiated by the Cyprus Sports Association and the government for enabling the population – irrespective of gender, ethnic background, age, physical condition, education and financial means – to get involved with sports. The program concentrates on special groups instead of taking a collective approach, individually targeting women, men, children, the elderly as well as people with specific needs.
Registrations take place with the beginning of the school year and programs run from September/October to July. Fees vary, while GMI recipients have access to one course free of charge and subsidised prices to other classes. To be considered for the above benefit and other reduced prices beneficiaries need to have a confirmation from the Social Welfare Services that they are GMI beneficiaries.
A number of municipalities provide some subsidised classes for the residents of their municipalities. See here for more information.
Other Courses
For other courses, you can contact the multifunctional centres in your local municipality for relevant programmes that run throughout the year.
In addition to language courses, Generation for Change offers several other programmes, including employability sessions, CV-writing workshops, computer classes and sewing classes.