Education in Cyprus: school stages, the Pancyprian Examinations and university entry

In short

Education in Cyprus is organised by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. Children go through a pre-primary year, six years of primary school, three years of lower secondary school (the Gymnasium) and three years of upper secondary school (the Lyceum). The main national exam for university entry is the Pancyprian Examinations, which students take at the end of the Lyceum. Their results are used to apply to the public universities of Cyprus and also to universities in Greece. Private universities, vocational courses and study abroad are other routes.

School stages

1. Pre-primary and primary school: Pupils start with a pre-primary year and then study for six years at primary school. They learn Greek, mathematics, science, history, religious education, physical education, the arts and English. Schools are mostly public, and a smaller number are private.
2. Gymnasium: Three years of lower secondary school. Compulsory education covers the pre-primary year, the primary years and the Gymnasium, so most young people stay in school until about the age of fifteen.
3. Lyceum: Three years of upper secondary school for students of about fifteen to eighteen. Students follow a common core and then choose subjects from an orientation group, for example humanities, sciences, economics or other fields. Technical and vocational schools offer a practical alternative with a different set of subjects.

The Pancyprian Examinations and grading

The Pancyprian Examinations are national written exams set by the Ministry. Students sit them in the final year of the Lyceum, normally in late spring and early summer. The exams cover core subjects, such as Modern Greek language and literature, and subjects chosen according to the student's orientation group, such as mathematics, history, physics or economics. Papers are marked centrally, so every candidate is judged by the same standard.

Marks are given on a numerical scale. The school-leaving certificate gives its own grades for the Lyceum years, and the exam marks are combined with those school grades by rules published by the Ministry. The exact weights and the list of subjects can change from year to year, so check the current announcement before planning your preparation. Students who are not satisfied with a result can usually sit the exams again in a later year.

University entry

Public universities in Cyprus include the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology and the Open University of Cyprus. Places on most courses are filled by ranking the candidates according to their combined marks, using the course choices that applicants list in order of preference. Some courses add their own requirements, such as an extra test, a portfolio or a language certificate. Candidates with the Pancyprian results can also apply to Greek universities through the arrangements between the two countries.

Private universities in Cyprus set their own entry rules. Many teach in English and accept the school-leaving certificate, international qualifications and, for some courses, an interview or a test. Fees, scholarships and courses differ between institutions, so the best source is always the page of the university itself.

Vocational and other routes

Technical schools, post-secondary institutes and apprenticeship programmes prepare students for work in trades, tourism, health care, construction and technology. Some of these programmes allow a later move to a degree course. Many Cypriot students also study abroad, most often in Greece and the United Kingdom, and they use their school-leaving certificate and qualifications that the receiving country recognises.

Studying in Cyprus as an international student

Students from other countries normally need a recognised school-leaving qualification and proof of the language of instruction, which is Greek or English depending on the course. Public universities teach many courses in Greek, while private universities offer a wider choice in English. Rules for visas and fees depend on the student's nationality, so always check the official pages of the university and of the government before applying.

Practising on GetMyMockTest

These are practice questions we wrote for study. They are not the official exams, and we do not claim they match an exam's current format. Free practice for Cyprus:

• Pancyprian Examinations: mathematics, Modern Greek language and literature, and the history of Cyprus, with timed tests and flashcards.
• Cypriot general knowledge: history and politics, geography and nature, and science, arts and culture.
• IELTS, Cambridge A-Level and IB Diploma: international exams that many Cypriot students and international applicants also take.