The new programme, titled YUFE Bachelor in Urban Sustainability Studies, will begin in September and focuses on urban sustainability. It forms part of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) alliance, a network of European universities that includes the University of Cyprus.
Following Cabinet approval, the university has already opened applications for the programme, with submissions accepted until 20 July.
According to information obtained by the newspaper, student intake is expected to be capped at around 30 places, reflecting the programme’s small-scale, international and inter-university character.
Three-year degree with tuition fees
The degree programme will run for three years, with tuition fees set at €5,300 per year, bringing the total cost of study to nearly €16,000.
Applicants must hold a secondary school leaving certificate and demonstrate English-language proficiency at B2 level. Further details are available on the University of Cyprus website.
A key feature of the programme is the collaboration between the 10 European universities participating in the YUFE alliance. During their second and third years, students will have the opportunity to study at partner universities in countries including the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Germany, Finland, Croatia, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium.
The curriculum focuses on sustainability in both urban and rural environments, combining subjects from multiple academic disciplines.
Courses include Human Rights and Reconciliation in Divided Societies, Global Migration and European Identity, and Business and Climate Change.
The programme has already been offered since 2025 at other universities within the YUFE alliance. However, the University of Cyprus had been unable to introduce it until now because legislation governing English-language degree programmes had not yet been approved.
English-language medical degree under consideration
The launch of the university’s first English-language undergraduate programme is being viewed as an initial step towards greater internationalisation.
Discussions are already under way regarding additional programmes, including an undergraduate degree at the Medical School, as well as courses from the School of Economics and Management and other departments.
However, plans remain at an early stage, as the creation of new programmes requires multiple approvals both within the university and from the Education Ministry and Cabinet, in addition to feasibility studies.
Under current legislation, the University of Cyprus may offer up to eight foreign-language undergraduate programmes – equivalent to 20 per cent of its existing programmes taught in the country’s official languages.
The programmes will be self-funded, with tuition fees determined according to actual operating costs and subject to oversight by the Finance Ministry.
