The Cost of Studying in Cyprus's North: Tuition, Fees and Living Costs
Real current price tables from North Cyprus universities, what the discounts cover, and how to build an honest annual budget.
The cost of studying in Cyprus's north is roughly €3,000–6,500 or $4,500–6,500 a year for most English-taught bachelor's programs after the university's standard discount. Medicine costs far more: from about €11,000 to $18,000 a year, and the big discounts usually do not apply to it.
That puts North Cyprus among the most affordable places to start an English-taught degree. But the price on a university banner is rarely the price you pay. Each university uses its own currency, discount rules and annual fees, and daily life is paid in Turkish lira.
Below are the current official numbers side by side, medicine separately, and a sample annual budget. We also cover what low tuition does not buy: automatic recognition of your degree in the EU.
How North Cyprus tuition fees work: base price, discount, fees
Most private universities in North Cyprus publish a high "base" price and then give international students an automatic scholarship. The usual discount is 50% (Cyprus International University, Near East University, Final International University) and 75% at Cyprus West University. Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), the public university, applies scholarships of 60–75% on most programs.
Three things change the final number:
- Medicine and dentistry. These are usually excluded from the standard discount or get a smaller one. At Near East University there is no 50% discount on medicine and dentistry; at EMU the medicine scholarship is 30–45%.
- Annual fees on top of tuition. Girne American University adds €500 a year, Final International University $890–990, METU Northern Cyprus Campus $500 per semester. EMU's table already includes VAT, registration and the Student Services Fund.
- The price year. Always check which academic year a price belongs to.
So compare "tuition after the standard discount plus annual fees", not base prices.
| University | Currency | Typical bachelor's, per year after standard discount | Extra annual fees | Price year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
USD | $4,450–6,400 (60–75% scholarship, paid annually in advance) | Included in the price | Current | |
USD | $9,450 international quota; $6,300 for eligible categories | $500 per semester registration | Current | |
CIU and NEU figures are approximate; one aggregator puts CIU's real total closer to €3,944. The university's official fee table is the final reference.
Without an IELTS or TOEFL score (GAU asks for IELTS 6.0 or equivalent), budget for a preparatory English year. EMU's prep year costs $3,520–4,613 plus $250 per semester for books and exams, GAU's is €7,700, and FIU adds $100 for textbooks.
Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy: a separate price category
Medical programs are the most expensive rows in any fee table, and the standard discount usually shrinks or disappears. Plan for the full price.
| University | Medicine, per year | Dentistry, per year | Pharmacy, per year | Price year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
EMU | $14,510–18,140 (30–45% scholarship) | $10,000–12,400 | About $5,485–7,629 | Current |
NEU | About €11,380, no 50% discount | No 50% discount; confirm price | Confirm with the university | Current, approximate |
CIU | Base about €15,278; discount terms to confirm | Confirm with the university |
CWU and FIU do not offer medicine at all.
Medicine also has stricter entry grades. EMU, for example, asks for three A-Levels at grade B or higher, including biology and chemistry plus mathematics or physics. WAEC, IB and SAT results are assessed against the university's own minimums; see admission requirements for details.
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Student accommodation in North Cyprus
University dormitories are the easiest housing cost to plan, because the price is fixed for the year and usually includes bills. EMU's current dormitory prices for international students, paid in full for the year, are a good benchmark.
| EMU dormitory room (current prices) | Price per year, paid upfront |
|---|---|
4-person room | $1,420 |
2-person room | $1,850 |
Upgraded 2-person room | $2,150 |
Single room | $2,835–3,600 |
Akdeniz dormitory, 2-person / single | $3,175 / $4,725 |
That works out to roughly $120–400 a month per bed. Electricity, water, internet and cleaning are included; the summer semester is not. Paying in 4 installments costs more: $1,540–5,100 a year depending on the room.
We do not publish a private-rental figure: the public data we checked was too thin and did not separate north from south. If you prefer a private flat, we review listings with you during the consultation.
Currency: invoices in EUR or USD, daily life in Turkish lira
North Cyprus has no currency of its own. It uses the Turkish lira (TRY, TL), and all government fees, including the residence permit, are set in lira. Universities, however, invoice tuition in euros or US dollars: EMU and METU NCC in USD, GAU, CIU, NEU and CWU in EUR.
You can usually pay the university in TL, USD, EUR or GBP by bank transfer or online. Food, transport and other everyday costs are paid in lira, and lira prices rise quickly. The net minimum wage went from 52,738 TL in January 2026 to 61,677 TL from July 2026, about 17% in six months, according to local media.
The practical rule: plan your budget in EUR or USD, and expect lira prices to change during your studies.
Sample annual budget: what the cost of studying in Cyprus's north adds up to
This example uses EMU, because its current tuition and dorm prices are official and in one currency. It covers first-year fixed costs.
| Item (first year, EMU) | Most bachelor's programs | Medicine |
|---|---|---|
Tuition, paid annually, incl. VAT and registration | $4,450–6,400 | $14,510–18,140 |
4-person dorm room, paid upfront, bills included | $1,420 | $1,420 |
Fixed university costs, total | $5,870–7,820 | $15,930–19,560 |
Student residence permit, 6–12 months | 1,015 TL + 38.70 TL stamp duty | 1,015 TL + 38.70 TL stamp duty |
Health Fund contribution (paid with the permit) |
Residence permit fees, per the Immigration Department (Muhaceret Dairesi): 690 TL for up to 6 months, 1,015 TL for 6–12 months, 2,025 TL for 12–24 months, plus stamp duty. The process is on our student visa and residence page.
We do not give a monthly living-cost figure because we have not found a reliable source. We estimate it with you for your city and housing.
Do not plan to cover costs with a local part-time job. A student residence permit alone does not give the right to work. Working for an employer in North Cyprus requires a separate work permit arranged by the employer; working without one can lead to a fine and deportation.
How to check the real price before you pay
Find the university's official fee table and note the academic year and currency.
Check that the standard discount applies to your program; medicine and dentistry are often excluded.
Add all annual fees: registration, service fund, VAT, books.
Ask the university in writing what conditions you must meet to keep the scholarship in later years.
Add the prep year if you have no IELTS or TOEFL score.
Add housing, the residence permit and living costs, and keep a reserve for lira inflation.
Fixed first-year costs at EMU
USD per year, tuition and dorm, current prices
- Bachelor's tuition, paid annually$4,450–6,400
- Medicine tuition, paid annually$14,510–18,140
- 4-person dorm room, paid upfront$1,420
- Total: bachelor's + dorm$5,870–7,820
- Total: medicine + dorm$15,930–19,560
What to know before you apply
Low tuition comes with limits you should understand before paying a deposit. Other agencies often skip them; we lay them out upfront.
- Recognition. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is recognized only by Turkey. Degrees from its universities are not automatically recognized in the EU, and the Republic of Cyprus does not recognize them at all. North Cyprus is not part of the Bologna Process, so recognition in other EU countries is decided case by case.
- The working path. Universities are licensed and accredited by the local regulator YÖDAK. Turkey recognizes TRNC universities under an intergovernmental agreement, through its Council of Higher Education, YÖK. An international graduate who wants to use the degree in Turkey applies to YÖK for an equivalence certificate (denklik). Bachelor's programs that are not listed in Turkey's ÖSYS directory are not considered for denklik, so check your program before you enroll. Details are on our degree recognition page.
Documents and legalisation: a checklist for nine destinations
Where an apostille is enough, where consular legalisation is required, and what separate recognition step each destination asks for — with the order of steps and timings.
- The basic document pack needed everywhere
- Apostille or consular legalisation — a table by destination
- Denklik, homologación, CIMEA, NCEQE: what they are and how long they take
- Three mistakes that cost applicants a year
Send us your program, grades and budget, and we will prepare an annual cost estimate for 2–3 North Cyprus universities: tuition after discount, fees, prep year, housing and permit. The first consultation is free. Write to us through the form, WhatsApp or Telegram on our contacts page, or start with the North Cyprus overview.
