BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL

  • Make sure you have your unconditional offer letter from your University along with scans of your passport, your air ticket and invitation letter for the accompanying person if there is a family member comig with you to Cyprus.
  • Sheets, pillows and blankets are not provided by the university dormitories; you can either bring them with yourself or buy from local supermarkets.
  •  It is not compulsory to have travel insurance in North Cyprus; however for your own comfort and security you are advised to take out insurance cover in your own country prior to departure. Medical insurance for you will be provided by your university once you register for your course.
  • It is advised to have minimum 6 passport size photographs with you as they will be necessary for your registration.
  • Make sure your flight is conducted via Turkey to Ercan Airport, North Cyprus (ECN).
  • Check from the nearest Turkish Embasy if the transit visa is necessary or not as you will be travelling as a transit passenger via Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Plug sockets in Northern Cyprus are usually 3-pin (UK style); you may wish to bring with you a 3 pin to 2-pin travel adaptor, therefore.
  • The currency in Northern Cyprus is the Turkish lira; dollars, euros, and UK pounds are widely accepted and easily exchanged.
  •  Soap, shampoo, toothpaste are not supplied in the dorms; you can bring such items with you, or purchase locally if you prefer.
  •  You can easily get pay-as-you-go SIM cards of local mobile providers upon arrival at North Cyprus Ercan Airport; both Wi-Fi and 3G are available.

 

APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION

Although each university have slightly different application and registration procedures, the general steps you take during the application procedure and registration period are as follows:

  • Apply with sending your documents for evaluation and once the eligibility is confirmed you receive your Conditional Acceptance Letter (CAL).
  • Once you pay the initial amount stated on your CAL and fulfill the other conditions stated on your CAL (if any) you receive your Unconditional Acceptance Letter (UAL).
  • Make sure you inform the University about your flight details 3 working days before the arrival for your airport pick up. Once you arrive at North Cyprus Ercan Airport get picked up by university personnel.
  • Register the very  next day after you arrive in North Cyprus, get your student ID, start selecting your courses, and register at accommodation halls if you are staying on campus.
  • Orientation week will inform you about everything you need about North Cyprus and your university.

 

FINDING ACCOMODATION

Most students prefer to stay on-campus especially during first couple years of their studies in North Cyprus. The benefits of staying on-campus goes beyond safety and easy access to lecture halls that are only minutes walk away; residence halls provide the perfect opportunity to meet friends from over sixty different cultures all around the world, easy access to many restaurants across the campus, some of which are open till early hours of the morning, and indoor and outdoor sport facilities, which are present in most of the North Cyprus universities. Residents can also conveniently participate in the activities of one or more of the many student clubs, have easy access to the library facilities of just have fun at the student centers. Travel will also be one less thing to worry about with regular shuttle services that are available in all Cyprus universities.

Despite all the advantages, some students wish to stay off-campus. For those who prefer to stay out of campus, many private dorms and rental flats are available in all major cities such as Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia and Morphou. Prices for rental flats and private dorms vary greatly depending on location and luxury of the place; however, overall, accomodation is quite affordable in North Cyprus.

 

LIVING EXPENSES

North Cyprus Universities offer affordable tuition and fees as well as accommodation charges, whilst North Cyprus offers moderate living expenses. Estimated average living expenses for international students are 350-600 USD per month.

Food and drinks bought from shops instead of eating out in restaurants can significantly be cheaper. An individual gets to spend around 100 USD every week for grocery items and beverages. All other shopping items as well as services are also very affordable in North Cyprus. Just to give you a broad idea, a haircut costs around 5 USD for men and 10 USD for women; a can of coke costs less than 1 USD and a Burger King meal costs around 5 USD. All in all, North Cyprus offer very affordable living conditions for students and this is among the top reasons why Cyprus is fast becoming a student hub for students from many different countries and cultures.

 

JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS

Students could find part time jobs while studying  such as in bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, or even in their universities. After they graduate, they could find full-time jobs in Hotels, Banks, international companies if they have a good knowledge of Turkish and English.

North Cyprus is currently in need of more lawyers, real estate experts and agents, marketers and business investors. The recent discovery of petrol and oil in the coastline of the island has spurred the need for more working hands as well. The economy still runs on a free market structure and there is a need of a more delineated structure between private and government sectors. Therefore, it seems like more and more international graduates will be looking to stay and work in North Cyprus after they complete their studies.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

Emergencies

  • First Aid / Ambulance For all districts — Tel: 112
  • Forest Fires For all districts — Tel: 177
  • Police Nicosia — Tel: 228 3311
  • Police Kyrenia — Tel: 815 2014
  • Police Famagusta — Tel: 366 5310
  • Police Guzelyurt — Tel: 714 2140
  • Police Karpaz — Tel: 381 2325

 

Medical Services and Hospitals

The Central State Hospitals is in Nicosia and there are other smaller hospitals in Kyrenia, Famagusta, Guzelyurt and Lefke. There are also clinics in smaller towns and some villages.

 

Postal Services

The postal service in Northern Cyprus is reasonably fast and efficient. Please remember that to receive mail from abroad letters must be addressed ” Mersin 10-Turkey”

 

Public Holidays

  • 1 January – New Year`s Day
  • 23 April – Children`s Day
  • 1 May – Labour Day
  • 19 May – Youth and Sports Day
  • 20 July – Peace and Freedom Day
  • 30 August – Victory Day
  • 29 October – Turkish Republic Day
  • 15 November – Northern Cyprus Republic Day

There are also several religious holidays or “Bayrams” which, like the Christian festival of Easter, change every year.

Telephone

The code for England is 00 44 followed by the local number but omitting the first number (0). From abroad the code is 00 90 392 followed by the local Cypriot number. Public telephone booths are available and telephone cards can be purchased from the Telecommunications Office. Mobile operating systems are available in North Cyprus and you can get pay-as-you-go cards for mobile and 3G usage.

Foreign Affairs in Northern Cyprus

  • Australian Representative — Tel: 2277332
  • French Cultural Association — Tel: 2283328
  • German Representative — Tel: 2275161
  • Turkish Embassy — Tel: 2272314 – Fax: 2282209
  • UK Representative — Tel: 2283861 – Fax: 2287054
  • USA Representative — Tel: 2252440 – Fax: 2252442

Business / Shopping Hours

In the winter:

Shops open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 a.m.

In the summer:

The working hours are between 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and again from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Cinema

There are six very good cinemas in Lefkosa, two in Girne and two in Gazi Magusa. They show recently released films mainly from the West. Films are usually changed every week and are shown with their original soundtracks and Turkish subtitles.

Conference Facilities

These facilities can be found at all universities, major hotels and at the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Nicosia.

Mass Media

There is one state TV and radio channel and a handful of private ones also some English channels. There are numerous daily newspapers one of which is weekly and in English.

Airports

Northern Cyprus has two international airports. The larger of the two is Ercan near Lefkosa (Nicosia), the othe is Geitkale near Famagusta. Most international flights arrive at Ercan Airport (ECN).

Boats (Ferries)

There are regular ferry services from Kyrenia and Famagusta to towns on the Southern coast of Turkey, namely Mersin, Antalya and Tasucu. From Mersin, it is possible to sail to Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

Marinas

There are yacht mooring facilities in Kyrenia and Famagusta.

Ports

The main industrial port in Northern Cyprus is in Famagusta and Kyrenia.

Car rental

This service is available in all major towns and some hotels. A British or international drivers licence is required. Rental cars have red number plates.

Public transport

A good inexpensive network of buses and mini-buses operates between all the main towns, in addition there are Dolmush (shared taxis) operating on the same routes. Taxis are widely available but do not carry a meter. However, there are standard journey charges

Traffic information

Please drive on the left. Traffic and road signs are international. Maximum speed is 100 km/hr. Vehicles entering Northern Cyprus must be insured upon arrival. Seat belts must be worn. Drivers are prohibited to drive under the influence of alcohol. The limit is 50mgr.

 

AFTER GRADUATION

Students who graduate from North Cyprus universities could get a working permit and work in many corporate companies such as banks, hotels, department stores, etc. if they have finished at least their undergraduate studies.

Graduates need to have an offer from an employer before they can apply for a permanent work and residence permit. In most cases, the employer applies on the worker’s behalf to get the necessary permits from the government before the worker starts to actually work in that employer’s company.

Most universities have special units that help graduates find suitable jobs to stay and work in North Cyprus. This is one of the many reasons why a good number of graduates from North Cypriot universities get employed in Cyprus within 3 months of their graduation.

 

BANKING

Currency is the Turkish Lira in North Cyprus. Euro, Sterling, Dollars and other major currencies are also routinely used and exchanged throughout North Cyprus.

Banking in North Cyprus has developed out of Turkish system. Besides Turkish-based and local Turkish-Cypriot banks, in North Cyprus operate affiliate branches of international banks. Most of the banks in Northern Cyprus are private and these have many international ties. The Central Bank of the TRNC takes responsibility for monetary, credit and exchange policy, and acts as banker to the government. North Cyprus banks are generally open from Monday to Friday, except public holidays, between 08.00-12.00 and 14.00-16.00.

Most universities accommodate branches of major banks on their campuses so that students can easily manage their finances and receive the funds that are sent by their sponsors.

 

SPORT ACTIVITIES

There are many fitness centers and closed swimming pools on university campuses or city centers, where you can exercise and train routinely. Many students choose to spend their free times at university sports complexes and enjoy some sort of sports activities with their friends. Apart from leisure-based activities, there is an inter-university sports league in North Cyprus, whereby university teams compete in many different sports ranging from football to tennis, from basketball to handball and from swimming to athletics.

Several beaches in Kyrenia and Famagusta offer a variety of water sports ranging from water skiing, scuba diving, windsurfing and jet skiing. Boat tours are available throughout the summer from Kyrenia Harbor, tours are either East or West cost of Kyrenia. It is a great fun to try also go-karting; North Cyprus has the many professional race tracks in line with European Standards.

 

HEALTH CARE

If you need medical treatment due to a sickness or injury during your studies, there is no need to worry, as Northern Cyprus is well equipped with three state hospitals and numerous private hospitals and clinics.

Every student has a health insurance that cover their medical charges (except dentistry, plastic surgery and pregnancy-related conditions) in the state hospitals, and the insurance fee is included in their university’S fees. With this health insurance, students can get routine check-ups or visit emergency room in the public hospitals and Clinic’s, and they could also have surgeries done for free at these institutions.

In state and private hospitals, English is widely spoken and all staff is fully trained in their line of work. The private hospitals generally have the same facilities as the state hospitals but the patients can stay in private room with en-suite bathrooms. The cost of private health care is affordable and the treatment is excellent.

For minor problems, health centers at university campuses and the local pharmacies (locally known as Eczane) can deal with most complaints and can dispense most medication over the counter.

 

SHOPPING

In North Cyprus, we have many brands which you can shop from.  The visitors to North Cyprus can find a wide range of consumer goods and services. Many of the popular imported brand names are readily available and can be found in local supermarkets.

Fresh local produce can be purchased from a variety of markets and small stores at very low costs. VAT (KDV) is levied on most goods and services with rates ranging from 20% down to 2%. There are many provider chains of food supermarkets in North Cyprus. Best selection of shops can be found in Famagusta, Kyrenia and Nicosia.

 

DINING

The culture of a place is always reflected in its kitchen, and Northern Cyprus is no exception. North Cyprus cuisine embodies influences from north (South-Eastern Europe), east (Western Asia), south (northern Africa), and west (Mediterranean) resulting in excellent choices from pasta dishes made of dough, raw and cooked vegetables, different types of seafood and meat kebabs, and finally mouth-watering deserts.

Eating out is popular amongst locals and the choice of cuisine reflects this. In larger towns, a range of international restaurants also offers dishes from around the world.

 

TRANSPORTATION

For those who do not own a vehicle, there are shuttle buses that travel all over the city (both public and private buses in addition to the university shuttle services). Apart from buses, there are several ways you can get around in North Cyprus such as car rental, taxi and minibuses.

Driving in Northern Cyprus is the most advisable form of transport as there are infrequent bus services to many of the more remote areas of the country; and bus services cease to operate after 5:00 p.m. Driving is on the left in North Cyprus similar to most other former British colonies. Traffic and road signs follow the international guidelines. Maximum speed is 100 km/hr on motorways and 30-75 km/hr elsewhere.

Vehicles entering North Cyprus must be insured upon arrival. Road surfaces between major towns and villages are reasonably good, but some mountain and village roads are still unsurfaced, so care should be taken especially in wet weather. Visitors wishing to bring their own car from abroad may do so for a period of up to 3 months provided the vehicle has a valid registration license from its country of origin.

Visitors in Cyprus can drive using a valid international driving license or a valid driving license from their country of origin. Visitors bringing their own cars from abroad will need to purchase insurance upon entry to Northern Cyprus. Most petrol stations are open from 7:00 a.m. and close around 8:00 p.m. Some however, stay open later and there is an increasing number of stations which operate 24 hours a day. Free municipal parking is available in all major towns.

 

SAFETY

Due to its small population, there are less crimes that take place in North Cyprus compared to more populated and metropolitan countries such as UK, USA, Australia or Malaysia. Cyprus has an excellent reputation for being a safe and friendly place. You can help us keep it that way. A few basic precautions can be enough to protect your belongings.

Crime against students and tourists is not common, but you should keep passports, money and other valuables in a safe place. As regards discrimination, there are no racism and discriminatory actions in North Cyprus; the Cypriots are quite warm and welcoming people to everyone regardless of their cultural, ethnic or religious background.