A major journalistic investigation charts the evolution of Cyprus’ higher education sector, focusing primarily on university-level education between 2013 and 2023, and the trends shaping today’s landscape.
Over the course of a decade, the student population at Cypriot universities grew dramatically, approaching a doubling in size. From 26,666 students in the 2013–2014 academic year, numbers surged to 47,213 in 2022–2023, marking an increase of around 77% in ten years. In 2023–2024, student numbers rose further to 48,757, representing an 83% increase compared with eleven years earlier.
This has been a steady, long-term rise, with no years of outright decline. It has not merely expanded the system in size, but has profoundly reshaped the character and orientation of higher education in Cyprus.
What explains this impressive growth, and which students are driving it? Which universities are absorbing most of the expansion, and how large is the international student population? How is the balance between public and private institutions changing? How has distance learning evolved, and what do students who choose Cyprus ultimately study?
Through this mapping exercise, Politis seeks to capture how the higher education field evolved between 2013 and 2023 and to identify the trends defining the current picture.
The analysis is based on official data from the Higher Education Mapping Reports of the Directorate of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, as well as data from the Statistical Service of Cyprus. Overall, the figures point to a system that has nearly doubled its student population, relies heavily on private universities, now has a majority international student body, and has firmly established distance learning as a key pillar of growth.
Nearly 60,000 students across institutions
Including tertiary education schools, during the 2023–2024 academic year Cyprus had 59 educational institutions with a total of 57,889 enrolled students, an increase of 9.4% compared with 2022–2023, when there were 58 institutions and 52,936 students.
Of these students, more than 32,000 were foreign nationals and nearly 25,000 were Cypriots. Around 14,000 students were enrolled in public universities (approximately 11,000 Cypriots and nearly 3,500 foreigners), while 43,000 studied at private universities, including around 14,000 Cypriots and nearly 29,000 foreign students. Colleges and higher education schools enrolled roughly 9,000 students in 2023–2024, about 5,000 of whom were Cypriots.
By comparison, in the 2013–2014 academic year, the total student population stood at just 32,824. Of these, 26,666 attended universities (19,095 Cypriots and 7,571 foreigners) and 6,158 attended colleges (4,086 Cypriots and 2,072 foreigners).
From 21 to 59 institutions
Another notable development is the rapid increase in the number of tertiary education institutions over the same period.
In 2013–2014, Cyprus had eight universities (three public and five private) and just 13 higher education schools, a total of 21 institutions.
By 2023–2024, the number had risen to 59 institutions, comprising 12 universities (three public and nine private) and 47 schools.
A sustained upward trajectory
The growth of the university student population was neither fragmented nor coincidental. The data show a continuous year-on-year increase, with periods of acceleration. From 26,666 students in 2013–2014, numbers rose steadily, surpassing 35,000 in 2016–2017, a year that recorded growth of more than 13% compared with the previous year.
The upward trend continued in subsequent years, reaching 39,203 students in 2019–2020 and 43,217 in 2021–2022, before setting a new historic high in 2022–2023. In 2023–2024, numbers climbed further, approaching 49,000 students.
Foreign students quadruple
Behind the headline figures lies a profound shift in the composition of the student body. Cypriot student numbers have remained relatively stable over time, while overall growth has been driven almost entirely by international students.
The statistics are clear:
-
In 2013–2014, there were around 19,000 Cypriot students and approximately 7,500 foreign students, who accounted for 39% of the total.
-
By 2022–2023, foreign students had quadrupled compared with a decade earlier, exceeding 29,500 and making up about 56% of the total. In 2023–2024, foreign students at universities rose to around 35,000, with the proportion remaining broadly the same.
This shift reflects Cyprus’ gradual transformation into an international education destination, with foreign students now shaping both the scale and the characteristics of the system.
Private universities dominate
The change in student composition becomes even clearer when examining the role of public and private universities. Private universities have consistently absorbed the vast majority of growth and are the primary magnets for foreign students.
In the 2022–2023 academic year, around 30,800 students were enrolled in private universities, accounting for roughly 70% of the total, while about 12,300 students studied at public universities, representing around 30%. The picture in 2023–2024 was broadly similar.
This is partly explained by the fact that, until recently, public universities, notably the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology, were not permitted to offer undergraduate programmes in foreign languages. This is expected to change in the coming years following the adoption of relevant legislation in July 2025, albeit with significant restrictions.
A shift in study level
The dominance of private universities extends beyond student numbers to the level of study. In 2013–2014, undergraduate programmes accounted for about 70% of all students, with postgraduate programmes making up the remaining 30%.
Over time, postgraduate enrolments have increased both proportionally and in absolute terms, particularly at private universities. Doctoral programmes remain a small share of the total, but show steady growth in specific scientific fields.
The distance learning boom
From the 2016–2017 academic year onwards, distance learning emerged as a decisive growth factor.
In 2016–2017, around 12,700 students were enrolled in distance learning programmes. By 2019–2020, this figure had risen to approximately 15,700, approaching 40% of all students in the country.
Distance learning has become a structural feature of the system, with the vast majority of students in this category coming from abroad.
What students study
Fields of study help complete and explain the decade-long expansion. Over time, the largest concentrations are found in business administration and economics, law, education, and medical and paramedical sciences. These areas attract both Cypriot and foreign students, albeit with different motivations and career orientations.
At postgraduate level, education sciences, social sciences, business administration, and health management dominate. Foreign students tend to gravitate towards fields with international demand and professional mobility, closely linked to universities’ internationalisation strategies and the offering of programmes aimed at a broader, cross-border education market.