Study Medicine in Cyprus: English-Taught MD Degrees in the EU
Two private universities in Nicosia teach a 6-year MD in English. Here is what it costs, who gets in, and what to check before you apply.
You can study medicine in Cyprus fully in English at two private universities in Nicosia: the University of Nicosia (UNIC) and European University Cyprus (EUC). Both offer a 6-year, 360 ECTS Doctor of Medicine (MD), with current tuition of €24,000 a year at UNIC and €23,000 a year at EUC.
Cyprus here means the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state. Both MD programs are accredited by the national quality agency CYQAA according to WFME standards, the benchmark that matters for ECFMG certification in the United States. Recognition in your home country is a separate question, and we cover it below.
This page is for applicants from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt and the Gulf who are planning for the next intake. Fees for the next academic year are not published yet, so every price below is from the current price lists.
For the full country overview, see our Study in Cyprus guide.
MBBS in Cyprus or MD: what degree you actually get
Many students from South Asia search for "MBBS in Cyprus". In Cyprus, the undergraduate-entry medical degree is called an MD (Doctor of Medicine). It takes 6 years and 360 ECTS, split into 12 semesters of 30 ECTS each.
- University of Nicosia Medical School. According to the university, it runs the first and largest medical program in Cyprus, with over 500 students from around the world. It was set up in collaboration with St George's, University of London, but the degree is awarded by UNIC. UNIC also offers a 5-year graduate-entry MD (300 ECTS) for applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree.
- European University Cyprus School of Medicine. Opened in 2013. Clinical exposure starts in year 1, with training in hospitals in Cyprus, Greece, Germany, the United States and Tanzania. EUC also runs a separate medical branch in Frankfurt, Germany; the fees and visa rules on this page are for the Nicosia campus only.
If you are also considering dentistry, EUC launched the first dental program in Cyprus in 2017: a 5-year BDS taught in English.
For full profiles, see the University of Nicosia and European University Cyprus pages.
| University of Nicosia (UNIC) | European University Cyprus (EUC) | |
|---|---|---|
Program | MD, 6 years, 360 ECTS | MD, 6 years, 360 ECTS |
Language | English | English |
Campus | Nicosia | Nicosia (separate branch in Frankfurt) |
Tuition, non-EU | €24,000 per year | €23,000 per year |
Application fee | €60 | €200 |
Accreditation | CYQAA, WFME standards; listed in WDOMS | CYQAA, WFME standards |
US pathway | Meets the WFME condition ECFMG applies since 2024 (per UNIC) | Meets ECFMG certification requirements (per EUC) |
Other options | 5-year graduate-entry MD, €25,000 per year | 5-year BDS dentistry, €23,000 per year + €900 lab fee |
Medical program fees in Cyprus
EUR per year for non-EU students, current price lists
- Graduate-entry MD (5 years), UNIC€25,000
- MD (6 years), UNIC€24,000
- MD (6 years), EUC€23,000
- BDS dentistry (5 years), EUC€23,000 + €900 lab fee
Cost of medical school in Cyprus
Tuition is only part of the bill. Both universities charge one-off fees before you arrive and annual insurance or registration fees. All figures below are from the current price lists for non-EU students.
| Cost item | UNIC | EUC |
|---|---|---|
Tuition per year | €24,000 | €23,000 |
Application fee (one-off) | €60 | €200 |
Other one-off payments | Administrative fee €1,500; seat deposit €3,500; visa/registration fee €150 | €3,000 tuition deposit, paid before visa documents are sent |
Refundable guarantee | International Student Guarantee €400 | — |
Recurring fees | Medical insurance €180/year; malpractice insurance €300/year (years 1–4) and €600–1,250/year (years 5–6); accident insurance €50/year | Registration €70 per semester |
Optional clinical training abroad | UK/USA +€6,000/year or Switzerland/Germany +€3,000/year (years 5–6) | USA €6,000/year (years 4–6) |
Financial aid | Up to 20% need-based, after admission and interview | Medicine is excluded from EUC scholarships |
Living costs are the second big line. UNIC estimates the minimum cost of living in Nicosia at €12,000 per academic year. EUC gives rent of €600–1,000 a month near its campus, plus €600–900 a month for other expenses. Budget with these figures, not with tuition alone.
On top of university fees you pay Cyprus state fees and a bank guarantee (see the visa section below). For a full breakdown by city and program type, see cost of studying in Cyprus.
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Entry requirements for the MD
Both schools ask for strong science grades and a recognized English certificate. The bar is similar, but the details differ.
| Requirement | UNIC | EUC |
|---|---|---|
School grades | 90% average, with similar grades in biology and one of chemistry, physics or mathematics | Average of at least 90%, with biology and one of chemistry, mathematics or physics |
Other qualifications | A-levels ABB; IB 32 (HL 16) | Equivalent national scales accepted (e.g. 18/20) |
English | IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.5, other bands at least 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 79 | IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or PTE Academic 66 |
Interview | Online interview, required | Interview for shortlisted applicants |
Other documents | School certificate, passport, English certificate | Academic reference sent directly by the referee; motivation letter in English; volunteering counts |
One detail catches many non-EU applicants. EUC's internal English test is not available to non-EU students who need a visa, so you must have an official IELTS, TOEFL or PTE result before you apply. Book the test early; it is often the item that delays the whole file.
For both schools, admission requirements for other programs are on our universities and admission page.
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Accreditation and recognition of a Cyprus medical degree
Accreditation in Cyprus is handled by CYQAA, the national quality agency. UNIC's 6-year and 5-year MD programs are accredited by CYQAA under WFME standards, and CYQAA itself holds WFME recognition status. The UNIC program is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and was designed in line with EU Directive 2005/36/EC on professional qualifications.
EUC's MD is also accredited by CYQAA following WFME standards. EUC states that its school meets all requirements for ECFMG certification, the route US-bound graduates need.
What these facts do not settle is licensing in your home country. Neither university publishes a country-by-country list of approvals from bodies such as India's NMC or Pakistan's PMDC. Your home regulator sets its own rules, and they can change. Before you pay a deposit, check your regulator's current requirements for foreign medical graduates and keep a written copy.
For recognition of degrees inside Cyprus, the state body is KYSATS, the national ENIC-NARIC information center.
How to apply and get the student visa
For a medical program, the visa part takes as long as admission itself. The key rule: the university, not the student, applies for your entry permit.
From application to arrival in Nicosia
Take IELTS, TOEFL or PTE and collect school transcripts — the English score and 90% grade average come first.
Apply online and pay the application fee (€60 at UNIC, €200 at EUC) — attach the motivation letter and reference where required.
Attend the interview — online at UNIC, for shortlisted applicants at EUC.
Accept the offer and pay the required deposit — at EUC, non-EU students transfer €3,000 toward tuition before visa documents are sent.
Prepare visa documents — passport, police certificate, medical tests (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, chest X-ray), financial proof, bank guarantee; all officially translated and certified.
The university submits your entry permit application — the official processing time is 1 month with a complete file; you must apply from outside Cyprus, not on a tourist visa.
Arrive and register within 7 days — apply for a temporary residence permit and give biometrics.
Legalization depends on where your documents come from. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain use the apostille. Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are not part of the Apostille Convention, so their documents need consular legalization.
Timing matters too. EUC asks for visa documents at least 3 months before the semester starts. Under its current rules, the non-EU visa deadlines are 31 August for the October intake and 15 January for spring; EUC publishes the next dates closer to the intake. UNIC does not list separate MD deadlines, so confirm the dates with the admissions office. The full visa process is on our Cyprus student visa page.
What to know before you apply to study medicine in Cyprus
This is the Republic of Cyprus, not North Cyprus. UNIC and EUC are in Nicosia, in the EU-member Republic of Cyprus. Universities in the north of the island operate under a different system and different recognition rules. Check the country on every offer letter and payment request.
Financial requirements depend on your nationality. The official bank guarantee is €350 for citizens of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, among others. It is €850 for citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, among others. A university may provide a group guarantee instead. The official list sets no fixed bank balance, but universities do: UNIC wants a statement showing at least the first year's tuition, and EUC asks for at least €7,000 plus €2,000 in cash on arrival. You must also pay at least the first semester before entry.
Public universities teach bachelor's programs mostly in Greek. At the University of Cyprus, international bachelor's students first take a year of Greek to B2 level. That is why most international medical students in Cyprus choose the English-taught private schools. See University of Cyprus and Cyprus University of Technology for their options.
Work is limited and will not cover medical fees. Students may work up to 20 hours a week during semesters and 38 hours in holidays, only in sectors approved by the Ministry of Labour and only after the labor office approves the contract. EUC tells its non-EU students they can work only 6 months after first entry. With a full-time MD schedule, plan to fund your studies without a job.
Post-study stay is not automatic. Graduates can stay up to 12 months to look for work, but only at master's level and above (EQF level 7). Ask the university in writing how your medical degree is classified.
Cyprus is in the EU but not a full Schengen member. A Cyprus student residence permit does not give free travel across the Schengen area. Plan clinical rotations abroad with this in mind.
Nicosia is your budget base. Both medical schools are in Nicosia. Coastal cities such as Limassol are generally more expensive to live in, so do not plan on commuting from there.
Progress is checked every year. The residence permit is issued for up to 1 year and renewed annually, with your transcript checked at each renewal. Failing years puts the permit at risk, not just your grades.
IELTS: the score you need and where you can skip it
Checked thresholds at universities across nine destinations, accepted alternatives, and the cases where no certificate is needed.
- A table of thresholds at 20 universities: bachelor's, master's, medicine
- Where the university's own English exam replaces IELTS
- TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, MUET: what counts
- Five mistakes that force a retake
Other study destinations
The same budget buys a different outcome elsewhere — see the other destinations.
Polandfrom €1,500 a year at private universities; medicine from €12,000
Turkeyfrom $500 a year at public, from $4,000 at private universities
UAEabout AED 60,000–80,000 a year at branch campuses
Malaysiaabout RM 35,000–45,000 a year at private universities
Italyfrom €160 a year at public universities (income-based, ISEE)
Spainabout €1,200–8,200 a year at public universities; private cost more
Hungaryabout €6,000–10,000 a year in English
GeorgiaMD in English: $5,900–6,500 at private, $8,000 at public universities
North Cyprus$4,450–6,400 a year at EMU (public); €2,800–4,500 at private universities after the standard discountNot sure whether your grades, English score and budget fit UNIC or EUC? Book a free consultation with AcademGo. We will assess your chances for the upcoming intake, compare the two MD programs for your situation, and map out your documents, legalization and entry permit timeline. Reach us through the contact form, WhatsApp or Telegram.