University of Nicosia

• Location: Nicosia, Cyprus,
• Year of foundation: 1980,
• Number of students: about 12,500,
• Language of instruction: English, Greek,
• Type of education: mixed.

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) is one of the leading research universities in the Mediterranean, offering more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.  The institution is the only one in Cyprus that is a member of the European University Association and is accredited for Erasmus exchange programs.

The institution was opened in 1980, all the following years and to date has chosen the path of continuous development and improvement. The university's teaching and research staff excel in many academic disciplines and have been recognized for their contribution and advancement of knowledge and technology to society. Educators teach more than 12,000 students from 100 countries at UNIC's main campus in Nicosia and remotely.

Partnerships with higher education institutions in Spain, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, Croatia and other countries provide students with international learning experiences.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What additional activities and clubs are there for students?

Almost anything! Social, sports clubs and events, excellent studying conditions, hundreds of equally passionate peers who are ready to share your interests and hobbies. Universities on their online portals always post comprehensive information about such communities, at the beginning of the academic year they organize introductory events: come and get to know each group and club personally!

The methodology of the educational process at UNIC differs from other universities and has several pillars:

• "Brain" learning – teaching and learning methods, lesson design, and programs based on the latest scientific research on how the brain learns, including factors such as cognitive characteristics, emotions, and motivation.
• Multimodality – Some studies show that memory improves when more than one sense is stimulated at the same time. When we learn by seeing and listening, we remember 50% of the information after two weeks – but a person remembers 90% of events if he experiences them with the sensations of several senses.  This means that simulations and role-playing games are very effective and help students in mastering the learning material.
• Interactive learning is a more practical, real-world process of communicating information in classrooms. Passive learning is based on listening to a teacher's lectures or rote memorization of information, numbers, or equations. Interactive learning, on the other hand, involves the interaction of students not only with the teacher, but also with each other.  
• Metacognition is another component of the teaching and learning model. Effective learning involves planning and setting goals, monitoring progress, and adapting as needed. All of these activities are metacognitive in nature. 
• Linking relevance to real life – In the UNIC pedagogical model, the term "relevance" refers to a learning experience that is either directly applicable to students' personal aspirations, interests, or cultural experiences (personal significance) or is related in some way to real-world issues, concerns, and contexts. (vital relevance).
• Authentic assessment is an approach to measuring student performance in a direct and relevant way to see if learning goals have been met. Academic and faculty can use tools such as reports, journals, speeches, videos, and interviews with students to assess their understanding of subject material. 

The University of Nicosia has several specialized schools:

• Business
• Education
• Humanities and Social Sciences,
• Right
• Life and Health Sciences,
• Medicine
• Science and Engineering,
• Veterinary medicine.

UNIC student residences are three separate residential complexes: SIX, U and TRIANGLE. They offer students a variety of room options, meal plans, recreational opportunities and activities:

• SIX is a 307-room facility housed in six twelve-story towers,
• U is a state-of-the-art seven-story apartment complex with 399 studios and two-bedroom apartments,
• TRIANGLE - a student building offering 147 rooms, a gym and other amenities.

Most of the rooms provide:

• Fully equipped apartments with private bathroom and kitchenette,
• Air conditioning and heating with individual control,
• Broadband Internet access,
• Double bed,
• Closet with drawer, armchair and side table, desk and chair,
• Kitchenette: Fridge, Cooker, Microwave.

All residences are under 24-hour security, reception is available at any time of the day. On the territory of the residential buildings there is parking for cars and bicycle parking, near the buildings students can find restaurants and cafes, gyms, stores and entertainment centers.

UNIC residences have special apartments designed for students with disabilities; such students are entitled to a discount of up to 5% on the accommodation fee.  

If a student would like to stay off campus, the university staff can help find suitable rental housing: private apartments and houses, hotels and suites are located near the campus.

Cafeterias open during university hours offer a healthy and affordable selection of snacks, salads, sandwiches, coffee and soft drinks, and food for vegetarians. For example, Coffeology is a student lounge with an outdoor bar featuring coffee, snacks and sweets, while in the university's restaurant, The Block, students will discover local and international dishes, sandwiches, rolls, salads and desserts prepared by talented chefs. The lunch menu changes from day to day, offering a wide variety and products to suit all tastes.

Nicosia was recently ranked number one by the Financial Times among European cities of similar size in terms of living standards, ahead of Cambridge, Geneva and Oxford! The city is full of innovative research and technology initiatives, and the startup ecosystem is incredibly active, with entrepreneurial events frequently taking place throughout the city area. Nicosia is a popular venue for many theater, art, music, and film festivals, featuring local and international artists.

Student life at UNIC is filled with many social events. There are many themed clubs open on campus that organize various events, parties, day trips, competitions and other activities: academic, ethnic, recreational and sports. The multicultural environment of the university is supported by many ethnic clubs that bring together students from different backgrounds to share their culture, traditions, history, music and food across borders and differences.

UNIC is an active member of the Cyprus University Sports Federation (CUSF) in soccer, basketball, volleyball, table tennis with men's and women's teams. UNIC dominates competitive university sports, so often students are eligible to participate in the European University Championships organized by the European University Sports Association. Some of the sports coached at UNIC are:

• Handball,
• Swimming,
• Table Tennis,
• Cross-country,
• Beach volleyball,
• Wrestling: Judo, Taekwondo,
• Athletics,
• Soccer,
• Basketball,
• Badminton.

Selections of the top student-athletes are made at the beginning of each semester for each team. Selected players are automatically eligible for athletic scholarships.

UNIC staff offers a number of recreational activities during the academic year, which gives a great chance to meet people with similar interests, explore local attractions and culture of Cyprus: include beach games, hiking, diving, day trips.

• University of Nicosia is one of the three top universities in Cyprus.
• 9 out of 10 teachers of UNIC are doctors of sciences (PhD), most of them have experience of successful business, teaching in higher educational institutions of England, America.
• The University of Nicosia is honored by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, an award from the European Business Ethics Association, UN Global 500 for its contribution to environmental protection, the highest degree of the European Foundation for Quality Control.
• University professors - professors from English-speaking universities, the vast majority of courses are taught in English, which is important for continuing a career in America, England, Canada, the European labor market
• The teaching is conducted according to the American system: the students themselves choose the number, the composition of the courses, the level of workload. Such a system allows you to quickly dial the number of hours for practical and theoretical studies in the last courses.
• Students have the opportunity to study in any European university participating in the exchange partner program.
• UNIC demonstrates loyalty to new students, the main requirement - knowledge of English at a level sufficient for academic purposes.
• A special unit, Career office, helps graduates with employment. Job fairs are held annually, in which companies from America, Europe and Cyprus take part.
• The scholarships offered by the University of Nicosia reach 50% of the course cost, including for foreign students (the basis is high marks, recommendations from a previous place of study).
• Since 2013, UNIC has been the first among the universities of the world to accept bitcoins as a tuition fee. The university not only operates with cryptocurrencies, but also studies them in a special online course.

UNIC's modern campus consists of 20 buildings located amidst the urban landscape in the lively suburb of Engomi in Nicosia. Over the past few years, the institution's management has invested more than €100 million in the infrastructure and equipment of the study area.

In addition to classrooms, the campus provides students with a full range of amenities and support services. Students can walk to almost any building on campus within 15 minutes, and a large free parking lot has been prepared in the center of the campus for students living off campus.

A few other special places on campus:

• UNIC is home to a large number of amphitheaters and classrooms located throughout the campus, many also used as spaces for local and international conferences, seminars, workshops and events,
• The newly renovated Library and Information Center provides an impressive collection of printed books and thousands of electronic resources,
• A multi-faith prayer room designed for meditation and prayer of all faiths.

In the neighborhood of the University of Nicosia's educational site there are more than 70 restaurants, cafes and bars: popular food chains McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks and others. The combination of nightclubs, parties, movie theaters, excursions and other adventures is a great way to meet people, find new hobbies or get involved in community societies and initiatives, gaining valuable skills and experience along the way. Thanks to excellent transportation links, students of the institution can reach any point in Nicosia in 10-20 minutes.

There are two semesters and two summer sessions in the academic year:

• Fall: September-January,
• Spring: February-June,
• Summer sessions: June-August.

During the academic year there are winter, spring and summer vacations, as well as vacations on national and international vacations. The academic week consists of five days - classes are held from Monday to Friday.

Additional costs:

• Entrance fee,
• Visa fee,
• Registration fee,
• Health Insurance,
• Technology Fee,
• Student Activity Fees,
• International Student Guarantee,
• Transcript fees,
• Room and board,
• Public transportation,
• Leisure and Personal Expenses.

The admission procedure consists of the following stages:

• Filling out the registration application and providing documents,
• Payment of entrance and registration fees,
• Arrival at the campus for an interview and entrance examinations. This stage is available in an online format,
• Payment of tuition fees,
• Booking accommodation and additional services,
• The beginning of education.

It is better to apply on the following dates:

• Autumn: until the end of June,
• Spring: until the end of October,
• Summer: until the end of February.

The UNIC alumni community has more than 100,000 professionals who have created careers around the world. Alumni represent the university in many private and public institutions, contributing to shaping the future in business, humanities, medicine, engineering, and the arts.

General requirements

English language: applicants pass the test test, analogue TOEFL. The required level is IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 500. If the language level is insufficient, students learn English in extra classes, in parallel with the basic education.

Requirements for admission to undergraduate

• Certificate of secondary education
• Additional Certificates Providing Bonus Points / Credits
• Interview, audition, portfolio for admission to the creative profession.

Requirements for admission to the magistracy

• Bachelor’s / Master’s degree
• Two letters of recommendation (from employers or teachers)
• Academic certificate - when transferring from another university indicating the grades and points for the disciplines studied

Requirements for entering the medical school

• Bachelor's degree of the 2nd level in the specialty related to medicine (chemistry, biology, etc.)
• Volunteer experience in related areas
  GAMSAT 55 points / MCAT 498 points
• English level IELTS 7.0 / 6.5 in other tests
• Interviews with representatives of St George’s University of London in the form of a video conference lasting 40 minutes: the applicant answers 8 questions. The Commission assesses the applicant's communication skills, the ability to sympathize with patients, and adherence to medicine.

Qualifying tests for a doctoral degree

• Master of Medicine diploma with a rate of 90%
• English level IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 550
• Motivation letter.
• Passing an interview with representatives of St George's University of London in a video conference format.

UNIC provides students with funding based on their merit and need. For example, for those who are particularly successful in their studies, UNIC provides an academic scholarship that covers part of the cost of the program during the year. UNIC also has academic family scholarships that are awarded to graduates applying for a second degree: provided that the candidate's brothers or sisters are already studying at UNIC, the applicant receives a 10% discount.

Sports scholarships are aimed at supporting students who are members of the university's national team and defend its honor at interuniversity competitions.

Financial assistance can be obtained in the following cases:

• If the student comes from a dysfunctional family,
• If there are more than four children in the student's family,
• If the student comes from a country that is considered economically unsustainable.

There is a work-study program on campus, which allows you to combine attending classes and internships. By working part-time in educational buildings, the student reduces the cost of his education.

UNIC also offers discounts for early payment of the program - payment of the full cost of tuition and fees, for which a discount of 4% is provided.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision