Education in Cyprus
The information below is an overview of the education system in Cyprus:
The education system in Cyprus is structured into four main levels and is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. It is divided into public and private sectors, with education being compulsory and free for all children aged 5 to 15 in public schools.
1. Pre-Primary Education (Ages 3–5)
Age Group: 3–5 years
Compulsory: Last year (age 4.8–5.8) is compulsory
Providers: Public, community, and private kindergartens
Focus: Early development, socialization, and preparation for primary school
2. Primary Education (Ages 6–12)
Grades: 1–6
Compulsory: Yes
Curriculum Includes:
Greek language
Mathematics
Science
English (from Grade 1)
Art, Music, Physical Education
Assessment: Continuous assessment; no national exams at this level
3. Secondary Education (Ages 12 -18)
Divided into two stages:
a. Gymnasium (Lower Secondary, Ages 12–15)
Grades: 1–3 (Years 7–9)
Compulsory: Yes
Curriculum: Broad and general education including foreign languages, sciences, humanities
b. Lyceum or Technical/Vocational Schools (Upper Secondary, Ages 15–18)
Grades: 4–6 (Years 10–12)
Compulsory: No (but widely attended)
Options:
Lyceum (general academic track)
Technical/Vocational Education (practical and professional skills)
School-Leaving Certificate: Apolytirion (required for university entry)
4. Tertiary (Higher) Education
Public Institutions:
University of Cyprus
Cyprus University of Technology
Open University of Cyprus
Private Universities:
e.g., European University Cyprus, University of Nicosia, Frederick University
Programmes: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees
Language: Greek and English (especially in private institutions)
Key Features
High literacy rate (over 98%)
Strong emphasis on foreign languages (English, French, German)
Private tuition (“frontistiria”) is common, especially for university entrance prep
Cypriot students frequently study abroad, especially in the UK, Greece, and the US
What are the options?
I think this very much depends on the following:
- Where you choose to live – this will offer more alternatives to the standard education system, e.g. through independent schools
- How old your children are when they move out here – e.g. it’s difficult to place a child into a school where Greek is the first language and they are in the middle of their secondary education
- Whether or not you have the available disposable income to finance an independent school
- Available time, for commuting to and from a school and even the possibility of home schooling.
So, this is a tough one. Younger children tend to adapt to new surroundings and even languages fairly quickly but older children don’t. My daughter moved out here when she was 16 years old. She wasn’t impressed that she would still have to wear a school uniform, she didn’t like her school choices, she didn’t like the school we eventually choose and and she lasted 6 days. Like I said, this is a difficult challenge. In her case, we found a remote course for her that she’s excelled at, and she’ll be off to university back in England next year.
