When graduating from school, each student thinks about where to get higher education. Education in European countries has always been considered prestigious and high quality. However, not all parents can afford such a pleasure to their child because of the financial situation. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to Cyprus. This island is one of the most popular and budget resorts. In addition to vacationers, thousands of students come here annually. Education in Cyprus is distinguished by its quality and accessibility; upon graduation, an international standard diploma is issued.
Education system
This question does not cause any difficulties. The education system in Cyprus is very similar to the Russian one. The structure consists of three levels: preschool, school and higher. In Cyprus you can find both state and commercial educational institutions.
This system in this country is carefully monitored and regularly maintained. About 7% of the state’s GDP is spent on improving the quality of education. A certain part of the money goes to help private institutions. One of the countries where the education system is debugged is Cyprus. Teaching English to children is very effective, and before entering school, young Cypriots know its basics.
Preschool education
This is the first stage of this system, and it is represented mainly by kindergartens. Such facilities can be visited by children aged 3 to 6 years. In addition to public and private kindergartens in Cyprus, there is a separate view - community. They are funded from a parent association. Children who are not yet 3 years old spend their time in a manger. Commercial kindergartens are paid, the cost of visiting one child costs parents from 100 to 250 euros per month.
In addition, there are preparatory courses in schools for children under 6 years of age. They last about 8-9 months. At the moment, attending these courses is not mandatory, but a bill is being considered that is designed to introduce a year of preschool education.
Primary School
This type of education is compulsory for all children aged 6 to 12 years. To get to school, you need to reach the specified age, this is the only criterion for admission. Teaching children in Cyprus is different in that there is a huge selection of teaching languages. The most popular are English, Turkish and Greek.
In the first three classes, children are taught the basics of reading and writing, this cycle is inevitable. Then, from the 4th to the 6th year, the study of foreign languages, music, physical education is gradually added to the education program. Teaching English in Cyprus can be started from the elementary grades; there are special private schools for this.
After that, the children go to the gymnasium, where they study for three years, until they are 15 years old. Here, students study in depth the necessary subjects, the emphasis is on foreign languages. At this step, compulsory education ends. To enter the gymnasium, you only need to fall into the age limits, you do not need to take special exams.
secondary school
The students' further way is as follows: schoolchildren at the age of 15 enter either high school or lyceum. There is a study of three main categories of subjects: general, specialized and optional. Education in Cyprus is distinguished by its diversity, students are given the right to choose.
However, not all students go to high school or lyceums.This procedure is needed only for those who plan to enter a higher educational institution. After graduating from high school, an international certificate of graduation is issued. The opportunity to choose subjects and disciplines for further study provides training in Cyprus.
Schools of this state, especially private ones, are in high demand. American Academy Junior Schools, The Heritage Private School and English School are especially popular because of their American or English educational system. Pupils of these institutions in most cases continue their education in the USA or other leading countries.
Colleges of Cyprus
These most popular educational institutions occupy an intermediate stage between high school and institute. Colleges in Cyprus are considered quite prestigious, because there, in addition to a diploma, you can get a bachelor's degree. Some of them have specialized courses, after which you can become a master. It can be concluded that colleges are considered higher education institutions in the country.
The best of them are based on the same English and American education systems. After all, for good reason they are considered the best in the world. At prestigious colleges, training is conducted in English, some of them offer a double diploma from institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States.
To enter this educational institution, you must submit a certificate of secondary education and a certificate of knowledge of English. If you do not have enough points, you can take special courses. English training in Cyprus is conducted at the highest level.
Universities
Cyprus is not rich in such higher education institutions. There are 7 universities, 3 of which are state-owned. Among the institutes are the Higher School of Hotel Business, the Cyprus International Institute of Management and the Academy of Public Administration.
Education in Cyprus at universities is based on the European model of education, which consists of many levels. Institutions offer such training programs as undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, etc.
To enter the university, you must pass the entrance exams. Most often, educational programs are conducted in Turkish and Greek. However, teaching English in Cyprus is not accidental, because in the institutes international projects are being developed.
Features of foreign students
Those who wish to study in Cyprus need to familiarize themselves with the rules for admission. In order to get to a higher educational institution, you need to go to the website of this institution and fill out a questionnaire. The following documents must be attached to it:
- A copy of an identity document.
- A copy of the certificate of secondary education, certified by a notary. You must first translate everything into English.
- Documents confirming financial viability. They must also be notarized and presented in English.
This list of documents is required. Studying in Cyprus for Russian students is not an unattainable dream. For admission to specialized universities, you need to attach to the main papers a certificate of knowledge of the English language IELTS, where the total score should not be less than 5.5-6. In addition, a fee of 50 euros is required for applicants.
After the questionnaire has been filled out, a response is sent with further instructions. You can start training from September 1 or December 1.
Scholarships
The Government of Cyprus on its official website publishes information on possible scholarships (discounts) for foreign students. Technical assistance programs can be of two types: short-term and long-term. The second are designed for those students who are studying in a magistracy.
Short-term ones are created for students who take business management courses or study sectors of the economy. Such programs last no more than two months.Training in Cyprus for Kazakhstanis and other representatives of the CIS countries is possible in the short term. These programs are funded by the country's development bank and management institute.
Cost of education
Compared with other European countries, with the USA, studying in Cyprus is not very expensive. For example, in popular and prestigious colleges, institutes of the country, such as The Cyprus Institute of Marketing or American College, a year of study will cost 4,000-8,000 euros. This is, accordingly, the price of the undergraduate program. The master's program costs a little more - 9 500 euros.
As for universities, the cost here is much higher. As you know, training in Northern Cyprus is the highest quality and authoritative. A bachelor's program at the University of Nicosia will cost a student in the amount of 9,000 euros per year, and a master's program - more than 14,000 euros per course.
About 500 euros per year will be spent on training materials, another approximately 250 euros must be paid as an entrance fee. Knowledge of English in Cyprus is very important. Language courses cost from 1,000 euros per month.
Accommodation
Living in a private apartment is quite an expensive pleasure. The cost of an annual stay is more than 2,000 euros (8 months are considered during which training takes place). That is, about 300-400 euros are spent per month. This is subject to a joint lease with other students.
The hostel, of course, is much cheaper than an apartment. The cost of one year of residence ranges from 800 to 1,000 euros. However, not all educational institutions provide housing. But even if there is a hostel, getting there is pretty hard.
The average student spends about 2,000 euros on food for the school year. The cost of the Internet for this period will be no more than 200 euros. Health insurance is compulsory and is paid once a year (350 euros). It is also necessary to undergo a one-time examination worth 120 euros.
Current prospects
It is possible to stay in Cyprus after undergoing training. This state recognizes dual citizenship. To obtain it, you must live on the island for 7 years. To do this, you need to get a job after graduation and get permission from the government. In practice, this is quite difficult.
The fact is that Cyprus is a member of the European Union and cooperates with countries from it. For foreign citizens of other states it will be much more difficult to get a job. To do this, you need to find an employer in advance who is ready to take over. In turn, the employer must then collect the necessary documents and submit them to the government for consideration. After that, the island administration decides on the possibility of employment of a student.
In Cyprus there are educational institutions that help with the search for work after graduation. If possible, you should try to get there, as this will greatly facilitate future life. Currently, there is high competition in Cyprus, as a large number of people want to live and work there.
In the northern part of the island, finding a job is almost impossible, because there is not developed infrastructure and unemployment is booming. In addition, to be employed, you need to know at least English. More than 90% of the population speak it, but there are certain places and specialties for which you need to master the perfect Greek or Turkish language.
Conclusion
Students studying in higher education institutions can attend various continuing education courses. They are organized specifically to raise the general level of student knowledge. The most popular programs are language projects aimed at improving their language skills for foreign citizens. However, part-time work as such is prohibited for people from countries outside the European Union.
In general, getting an education in European countries has always been considered a prestigious affair.In connection with the financial component, training in Cyprus is taking the lead. Reviews of foreign students in 95% of cases are positive. And this is not surprising, because the ratio of the cost and quality of education there is simply cosmic. For a relatively small amount of money, you can gain invaluable knowledge and become a professional in your field.