Studying in North Cyprus: Universities & Student Life
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.
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 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. Treat all of these as compiled estimates, and confirm the live picture for your circumstances in the cost of living in 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. Whether to rent for a term or buy a car for the whole degree is weighed in buying versus long-term renting a 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.
Studying in Famagusta and need wheels between campus, the coast and the airport? See live monthly prices · 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.