The cost of earning a university degree in Cyprus can reach €60,000 over four years, even at a public university where no tuition fees are charged, according to estimates presented to the House Education Committee.
Committee chairman Chrysanthos Savvides told lawmakers that accommodation, food and transport costs have made higher education an increasingly heavy financial burden for families.
The issue was discussed in Parliament amid growing calls for a review of student welfare policies, despite recent government measures aimed at increasing financial support.
Housing costs under pressure
Particular attention was given to soaring rental prices.
Kyriakos Nomikos, representing the Pancyprian Federation of University Students (POFEN), said a small apartment in Nicosia now costs between €600 and €700 per month, while rents in Limassol exceed €900.
In Paphos, he said rents for similar properties have risen from around €400 to €600 following the opening of a Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) faculty.
Student accommodation was also raised as a major concern, with POFEN calling for a national strategy to increase bed capacity through the use of state and university-owned land.
Former Auditor General and MP Odysseas Michaelides questioned the effectiveness of rent subsidies, arguing that part of the financial support may ultimately find its way to landlords through higher rental prices. He voiced support for the construction of more student residences instead.
Concerns over eligibility criteria
Beyond housing costs, MPs highlighted concerns about the income and property criteria used to determine eligibility for student grants.
One issue raised was that families exceeding income thresholds by even a single euro may lose their entire grant entitlement.
A proposal under discussion would introduce a proportional reduction in support rather than an automatic cut-off.
POFEN is also proposing:
- Raising the basic income threshold for family grants to €70,000 for households with up to two children, from €64,000 currently.
- Excluding the primary family residence from property calculations when assessing eligibility.
Representatives of large families called for further relaxation of the criteria, arguing that current rules do not reflect their higher living costs.
Government asked for answers
Officials from the Ministry of Finance pointed to recent legislative changes, increases in student allowances and tax relief measures available to families with students.
The discussion also covered support for distance-learning students, delays in grant payments and the creation of additional forms of financial assistance.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Savvides asked the government to provide answers within 15 days on whether it intends to introduce legislation to address what participants described as distortions in the current system.
