If either parent is Cypriot, children are required to go to school, with no exceptions, until they have passed Year 9, or age 15. Most stay on until they are 18 and gain a high-school diploma, which is required before they can apply for university or a job. All the free schools are Greek-speaking, and very rigid in their curriculum. The Cyprus Government wishes to ensure that children from other EU countries continue their education while they are in Cyprus.
For that reason, children with other native languages who do not speak Greek can receive special lessons in the language so that they can go to a state school. The measures being implemented provide such children with intensive tuition in Greek to facilitate their gradual integration into school and also provide training for teachers to enable them to respond adequately to the teaching of pupils from other language backgrounds. In addition, training courses dealing with the cultures and languages of the countries of origin of the children will be provided in cooperation with those countries.
There are also more than 30 private English-speaking schools, of varying quality. Attendance at these schools costs from £2 000 to £3 000 (EUR 3 500 to EUR 5 250) per year.

Pre-school education is offered by Greek-language state schools and private schools operating in other languages. It is provided for children aged from three years to five years and eight months. Attendance is voluntary. Legislation to make one year of pre school education compulsory is anticipated. Attendance at a private nursery school costs from £70 to £150 (EUR 120-EUR 260) per child per month; the cost at the state schools is lower. There are also private and state baby nurseries for children up to three years of age.
Primary education is provided free of charge at state schools for children aged from five years and eight months to 11 years and eight months. Age is the only criterion for the entry of children into primary education. The school year is divided into three terms of three months, with attendance on five days of the week. The system of afternoon attendance is being extended to primary schools. There are also private English-language primary schools.

Contact the following schools for further information.

American Academy
(Nicosia)
(English)

Foreigners have the opportunity of studying in a college in Cyprus. A High school degree is required. Most of the Colleges are English speaking and they use the American or English Education System. They offer various programs of study. College in Cyprus offer a Diploma Degree (2 years), a Bachelor Degree(4years) and some of them a Master Degree. Contact the following colleges for further information.

Telephone: 00357-24653438
Email: intercol@dial.cylink.com.cy
Web: http://www.intercol.edu

Philips College