# Studying in North Cyprus: Universities & Student Life

> Studying in North Cyprus in 2026 — EMU in Famagusta, English-medium degrees, merit scholarships, a €350–687 monthly student budget, and getting around.

- Canonical: https://www.kiprarent.com/en/guide/studying-in-north-cyprus/
- Updated: 2026-06-13
- Language: English
- Publisher: Kipra Rent A Car — https://www.kiprarent.com/

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Studying in North Cyprus, for most international students, means
**Famagusta and Eastern Mediterranean University** — the TRNC's only
state university, **founded in 1979**, **English-medium**, and reporting
roughly **16,000 students from about 110 countries**. The draw is a
genuine international campus at a cost well below UK or EU study: a
compiled student budget lands at **€350–687 a month**, and **merit
scholarships of 25–100%** off tuition are common. This page is the
practical landscape — the universities, the money, and getting around;
the wider settling-in checklist is in the guide to
[moving to North Cyprus](/en/guide/moving-to-north-cyprus/).

## Which university is the main one in North Cyprus?

**Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Famagusta** is the TRNC's
**only state university** and the natural starting point. **Founded in
1979**, it reports its own figures at roughly **16,000 students from
about 110 countries** — one of the more internationally mixed campuses
in the region — and teaches in **English**, with an **English
preparatory school** for students who need to reach the language level
first. Large **private universities also operate**, principally in
**Nicosia** (Near East, Cyprus International) and **Kyrenia** (Girne
American). This page names them as factual options only — **no
rankings, no endorsements** — and keeps its detail on the **Famagusta**
student experience, which is where this guide's focus sits.

## Are degrees taught in English?

Yes — at EMU the medium of instruction is **English**, which is the
single biggest reason its intake is so international. Students who do
not yet meet the required English level start in the **English
preparatory school** before progressing to their degree. For an
international applicant the practical implication is that you can study
a full degree without learning Turkish first — though, as the
[Turkish phrases guide](/en/guide/turkish-phrases-north-cyprus/) notes,
a handful of everyday words still smooths daily life off campus.

## What does student life in Famagusta cost?

A student's all-in monthly budget lands at a compiled **€350–687**,
according to 2025–26 cost compilations — and the low end depends on
**shared housing**. The typical breakdown:

| Monthly line | Amount (2025–26) | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shared accommodation | **€150–300** | Per person in a shared flat |
| Food | **€100–180** | Self-catering + some eating out |
| Transport | **€20–50** | Dolmuş, occasional taxi |
| **Compiled total** | **€350–687** | Estimate, not an official figure |

If you rent your **own** place instead of sharing, a Famagusta **1+1
runs £200–600** a month depending on the area — the full market
structure, deposits and the annual-advance student convention are in the
[apartment rents in Famagusta and İskele guide](/en/guide/apartment-rents-famagusta-iskele/).
Treat all of these as **compiled estimates**, and confirm the live
picture for your circumstances in the
[cost of living in North Cyprus](/en/guide/cost-of-living-north-cyprus/),
which adds electricity, internet and the two-currency budgeting reality.

## Are there scholarships for international students?

Commonly, yes — **most institutions advertise merit scholarships in the
25–100% range** off tuition, with the level tied to your entrance
results. This is a **compilation across institutions**, not a single
official scheme, so the band is indicative rather than a guarantee. The
practical move is to **confirm the current terms and eligibility
directly with the university** you are applying to, since the
percentages, the qualifying results and the renewal conditions vary by
institution and by year.

## How do students get around?

Mostly on foot and by **dolmuş minibus** — and that is the gap a lot of
students underestimate. The campus area is walkable and dolmuşes cover
the main corridors cheaply, but they run thinly and **North Cyprus has
no Uber or Bolt**, so beaches, the airport run and a proper supermarket
shop are all far easier with a car for the stretch you need one. Renting
fits the student case neatly: the **minimum age is 21** (a young-driver
fee applies for **21–24**), there is **no deposit and no credit card
required**, and a rental of **30 days or more** drops to a cheaper
per-day long-term tier — the mechanics are in
[student car rental in Famagusta](/en/guide/student-car-rental-emu-famagusta/).
Whether to rent for a term or buy a car for the whole degree is weighed
in [buying versus long-term renting a car](/en/guide/buying-vs-long-term-renting-car/).

Kipra Rent A Car is a Famagusta-based local rental company with VAT and
third-party insurance included in every displayed price, no deposit and
no credit-card requirement — convenient when your campus is on the east
coast and your licence is from abroad.

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Studying in Famagusta and need wheels between campus, the coast and the
airport? [See live monthly prices](https://app.kiprarent.com/en/book/cars)
· WhatsApp +90 546 996 1004 — English spoken.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Which is the main university in North Cyprus?**

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Famagusta — the TRNC's only state university, founded in 1979. EMU reports roughly 16,000 students from about 110 countries and teaches in English, with a preparatory school for language. Large private universities also operate in Nicosia and Kyrenia.

**Are degrees taught in English?**

At EMU, yes — it is an English-medium university with an English preparatory school for students who need to reach the required level first. This is a large part of why it draws such an international intake.

**What does it cost to live as a student in Famagusta?**

Compiled 2025–26 guides put a student's total at €350–687 a month including shared housing — roughly €150–300 shared accommodation, €100–180 food, €20–50 transport. A Famagusta 1+1 of your own runs £200–600 depending on area. Treat these as compiled estimates.

**Are scholarships available?**

Commonly. Most institutions advertise merit scholarships in the 25–100% range off tuition, with the level tied to your entrance results. These vary by university and year, so confirm the current terms and eligibility directly with the institution.

## Sources

- Eastern Mediterranean University — about / student figures: https://www.emu.edu.tr/en
- Famagusta student cost-of-living compilation (March 2026): https://www.cwu.edu.tr/cost-of-living-in-famagusta-as-a-student/

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Kipra Rent A Car — Famagusta, North Cyprus. No-deposit, no-credit-card car rental; VAT + insurance included.
Rezervasyon / Booking: https://app.kiprarent.com/book/cars · WhatsApp: +90 546 996 1004