Semester in Europe: Custom

Program Description and Highlights Program Itinerary Why Should I Join This Program? Host Institution Curriculum and Faculty Student Housing Admission Requirements Dates, Costs and Deadlines Host Country & City

Host Country and City

New! Watch a video overview of Nicosia, the host city for our all our Cyprus-based programs!

Since the dawn of recorded history, Cyprus has been one of the most sought-after areas of the region, mainly because of its strategic geographical location, at the crossroads of 3 continents (Europe, Asia and Africa). Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, along with Crusaders, Byzantines, Franks and Ottomans, have left a remarkable legacy for the modern visitor to explore.

Today, Cyprus is still an important trading hub and is quickly becoming a center for education and research in the region, with continuous incoming investment from international organizations and educational institutions.

Diversity on Many Levels

Cyprus is truly an "island for all seasons". With over 300 days of sunlight annually, four distinct seasons and a mild climate, it is an ideal year-round destination. Every year, over 2.5 million tourists choose Cyprus as their vacation destination and many Europeans invest in second homes on the beautiful beaches and mountains of Cyprus.



Cyprus offers a remarkably diverse natural and cultural environment for such a small country. In the same month, you can visit snow-tipped pine forests in the Troodos mountains, drive through fields of olive trees and relax by the clear blue Mediterranean sea.

The cultural heritage of Cyprus mirrors its physical diversity. Ancient Greek temples, Roman amphitheaters, pre-historic settlements, Crusader castles, Venetian fortifications and Byzantine churches can all be found within a day's drive of each other. Today, Cyprus retains a multi-cultural heritage combining Greek, Turkish and British influences in a modern European society.

Nicosia

Students are based in Nicosia, the vibrant and modern capital of the Republic of Cyprus, located in the center of the island. Nicosia is a safe and accessible city of about 270,000 that combines a medieval "Old City" filled with rich Greek, Venetian and Ottoman monuments with a thriving, cosmopolitan "New City", attuned to the latest European business and fashion trends.



Old Nicosia is enclosed within Venetian fortifications, built in the 16th century by the then rulers of the island. Even though Nicosia has grown way beyond its medieval boundaries, these walls still contain the cultural center of the city and the quaint streets are filled with museums, cafés, music bars, restaurants, art galleries and cobbled roads.

New Nicosia that developed outside the walls is the political, economic and educational center of Cyprus and presents many opportunities for site visits and program activities. It also has lively shopping, restaurant and nightlife areas for students to explore.



The standard of living in Nicosia is on par with other prosperous cities in southern European countries and English is widely spoken. Nicosia has a large university community of over ten thousand local and international students and most students blend in and make friends easily.

Finally, the central location of Nicosia is a great base to explore all the fantastic beach and mountain towns of Cyprus, which is something we do on all of our study abroad programs.