Being in Cyprus for more than a year and a half now, I believe I have experienced a lot of aspects of Cyprus as an international student.
To be honest, I had different expectations before coming to Cyprus.
After arriving here, only a few percentages of my expectations were met.
But that doesn’t mean, it will be the same for everyone. Some people I know have found Cyprus as one of the best countries in the world, whereas some students are just waiting to go back home, leaving Cyprus forever.
We have taken an interview with a lot of students regarding their lifestyle in Cyprus. Most of them aren’t happy being in Cyprus. You can read the interviews here and decide for yourself.
How is life in Cyprus for International Students?
- Earning is very low.
- Most of the Private Colleges don’t provide a quality of education.
- The weather is good.
- The majority of your own people will try to loot you.
- There is no guarantee of job placement.
- Living in Cyprus is affordable.
Today in this article, I will try to guide you on various topics you should know before applying for a Cyprus student visa.
Can international students work in Cyprus?
Yes, they can. They can’t just start working the next day of their arrival. Students have to wait 6 months to get a work permit from the government. Sometimes it takes more than that.
Can I school and work in Cyprus?
Of course, you can. After you receive your work permit, you are allowed to work for 20 hours a week during the college days and 40 hours during holidays.
Colleges are usually open for 3 days a week and 3 to 5 hours a day.
You have to go to college during the college hour, and in your free time, you can work some part-time jobs.
How much can you earn in Cyprus as a student?
You can earn up to 5 Euros per hour in Cyprus as a student for part-time jobs.
In the beginning, you mightn’t even get that. But after some time, when you get experience, you start getting more than that too.
Normally, 5 Euros is a basic salary for part-time works.
If you are a professional, you can get 20 Euros per hour too. Even more than that. But for that, you have to be extraordinarily experienced.
Read here more: How much can an international student earn in Cyprus?
How expensive is it to live in Cyprus?
The one thing that I like the most about Cyprus is that the cost of living here is very much affordable.
Even with 20 hours per week job, you can easily manage your living.
Room rent is usually from 150 to 500 Euros. If you share a room with your friend, then you can pretty much manage a nice room too.
Transportation is very cheap. With a bus card, you can travel for a whole 1 month just for 20 Euros. Taxi fare is also not that expensive.
Is it cheap to live in Cyprus?
Comparing to other European countries, living in Cyprus is quite cheap. Groceries’ prices are the same as prices in Asian and African countries. There might be a few ups and downs in the prices from city to village; otherwise, the cost of most of the food items is the same all over Cyprus.
Internet and Telephone services are manageable.
Utility bills depend upon how you use them.
To have a detailed understanding of how expensive are things in Cyprus, I suggest you read the following article.
How much does it cost to live in Cyprus?
Is it good to study in Cyprus?
Yes, it is. If you really want to study, then you need to apply to Universities. Private colleges in Cyprus won’t be able to provide you a standard quality of education. Most of them are just money-making factories.
To have a better understanding, read here about the reality of private colleges in Cyprus.
When you decide on not applying for a college but to get admission to Universities, here we have an article on Top 5 Best Universities in Cyprus for you to read. Comparing to Private colleges, all Universities are good.
Is English widely spoken in Cyprus?
Yes, English is widely spoken in Cyprus.
Even though Greek and Turkish are the official languages of Cyprus, you would be surprised to know that majority of the international companies in Cyprus use English as their official language.
Cypriots are educated. English is taught to them from kindergarten.
Be it a supermarket, grocery shop, mall, or even a restaurant, English is spoken in all the sectors.
Are people friendly in Cyprus?
Yes, they are. But it depends upon how you behave to them. Most of the people in Cyprus are racist too.
Those who are educated and have traveled around the world they are always kind and friendly to you.
Those who just sit in their house and don’t know how the world works, they think they are the superiors.
The majority of the Cypriots are kind and generous. If they like someone, then they become good friends with them.
What kinds of jobs can international students do in Cyprus?
The employment of international students is allowed in the following sectors regulated by the Ministry of Labor.
- Food Industry
- Restaurants, Recreational Centres
- Household Activities
- Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fishery
- Trade-Repairs
- Health and Social Care
- Manufacturing
Read here in detail about the jobs allowed to International students in Cyprus.
How is the weather in Cyprus?
Cyprus is mainly warm throughout the year. Summer lasts for around 8 months. Even during the winter, it just rains for 3/4 days. When there is no rain, there is the sun.
June, July, and August are mainly very hot. Temperature can rise up to 43 degrees celsius.
Houses in Cyprus are built with all the required utilities like Air Condition, Water heater, Water Cooler, Refrigerator, Washing machine, and so on.
It basically means, even it’s hot outside, you can stay cool in your room with Air Condition and Fans.
Leisure and Lifestyle
Cyprus offers a relaxed lifestyle and is generally a very safe environment to study, live, and work in.
Traveling distances are short, so unlike many other European countries, your daily commute will usually be very quick, cheap, and easily manageable.
Restaurants and hotels are also affordable.
Even being a student, you can frequently dine in a nice restaurant.
You may also like to read:
Cyprus Student Visa: A Detailed Guide (Everything You Need To Know)
Pros & Cons of Living In Cyprus
Pros and Cons Of Studying In Cyprus For International Students
Can i get permanent residency after 7 years stay in cypurs ?
Yes, you can. The rule says you can, but there is no guarantee.