Rankings: The 4 best universities in Cyprus for 2025/2026
by Mikhail Nilov
Cyprus is a rising star among international study destinations in Europe, combining Mediterranean charm with a strong focus on education and innovation.
The island offers a wide range of English-taught programmes, particularly at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level, making it an increasingly popular choice for students from across Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. With its warm climate, multicultural atmosphere, and relatively low tuition fees, studying in Cyprus offers both academic value and lifestyle appeal.
Below we highlight the best universities in Cyprus for international students, based on factors such as academic reputation, programme diversity, internationalisation, and student experience.
Top institutions include the University of Cyprus, a leading public research university, Cyprus University of Technology, and several well-regarded private universities like the University of Nicosia and European University Cyprus. Many of these participate in Erasmus+ and international research partnerships, ensuring that students receive a globally relevant education.
Whether you’re interested in fields like medicine, business, engineering, or tourism, universities in Cyprus offer modern campuses, experienced faculty, and a welcoming environment. With cities like Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca offering both urban convenience and seaside relaxation, Cyprus is an ideal place to study, live, and explore.
| University | QS Ranking 2026 | THE Ranking 2025 | ARWU Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cyprus | 452 | 401 | 701 |
| Cyprus University of Technology | 686 | 601 | – |
| University of Nicosia | – | 501 | – |
| European University Cyprus | – | 801 | – |
The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a university’s research is referenced elsewhere).
The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking, or ARWU) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.
Cyprus is a beautiful and sunny Mediterranean island with a growing offering of English-taught Bachelors and Masters, making it an exciting destination for international students.
Read more about studying in Cyprus
