Cyprus Ranked Third in the EU by Proportion of Foreign Students in Universities

Cyprus has risen to third place among European Union countries in terms of the proportion of foreign students in its universities. According to Eurostat data for 2023, 22.3% of all students in Cyprus are foreigners. This is one of the highest rates in the EU—Cyprus is surpassed only by Luxembourg (52.3%) and Malta (29.6%).

In total, there are 1.76 million foreign students enrolled in universities across the European Union, making up 8.4% of all students in the bloc. In countries where the numbers are lowest, the situation is quite the opposite: Greece — 3%, Croatia — 3.7%, Spain — 4.3%.

An analysis of the origins of foreign students shows that, in most EU countries, the majority come from other European states. For example, in Slovakia, their share among foreign students reaches 91.3%. By contrast, in countries like Ireland, Germany, and Italy, most foreign students are from Asia. France and Portugal more often welcome students from Africa, while in Spain, young people from the Caribbean, Central, and South American countries predominate.

For Cyprus residents, this trend indicates a further internationalization of the university environment and increased competition for admission. The presence of a large number of students from other countries may affect the demand for housing and services, as well as create a multinational educational community, which is important for adaptation and planning studies—for both local and international applicants.

According to previous data from the Ministry of Education, in some municipal schools up to 25% of students are children from foreign families, underscoring Cyprus’s role as an international educational center in the region.