The 7 Biggest Universities in North Cyprus Compared (2026)
Universities compared
Monthly living cost range
OVERVIEW
Introduction
North Cyprus has 19 universities; this guide compares the 7 largest.
North Cyprus has 19 universities; this guide compares the 7 largest: NEU (~30,000 students, Gönyeli), EMU (20,000+ students, Famagusta), and CIU (known for Dentistry, Pharmacy) are the biggest of them. 1+1 rentals near the universities run £350-650/month.
Northern Cyprus hosts thousands of international students every year across its 19 universities. Choosing the right university is as important as living in the right district. In this guide, we compare TRNC’s 7 largest universities and recommend the best living areas for each.
SIDE BY SIDE
University Comparison Table
The table below compares TRNC’s 7 largest universities by city, student count, strong programs, and average nearby rent.
| University | City | Students | Strong Programs | Avg Rent (Nearby) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near East University (NEU) | Nicosia (Gönyeli) | ~30,000 | Medicine, Law, Engineering | £350-550/mo |
| Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) | Famagusta | ~20,000 | Business, CS, Architecture | £300-450/mo |
| Cyprus International University (CIU) | Nicosia (Haspolat) | ~15,000 | Dentistry, Pharmacy | £350-500/mo |
| Girne American University (GAU) | Kyrenia | ~10,000 | Aviation, Maritime | £450-700/mo |
| European University of Lefke (EUL) | Lefke/Güzelyurt | ~8,000 | Pharmacy, Dentistry | £250-400/mo |
| METU Northern Cyprus | Güzelyurt | ~3,500 | Engineering, CS | £300-450/mo |
| Final International | Kyrenia | ~5,000 | Health, Business | £400-600/mo |
IN DETAIL
University Details
TRNC’s largest campus — hospital, library, stadium
Near East University (NEU)
- Location: Gönyeli, Nicosia
- Best Districts: Gönyeli centre, Küçük Kaymaklı, Yenikent
- Advantage: TRNC’s largest campus — hospital, library, stadium
- Advantage: Its own flight school and maritime programme
- Advantage: Extensive scholarship options
- Drawback: Limited transport beyond campus
- Drawback: Crowded classes in some departments
- Rent Tip: 1+1 furnished flats in Gönyeli run £350-550/month. Favour homes near the NEU shuttle route.
Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU)
- Location: Famagusta centre
- Best Districts: Sakarya, Çanakkale, Yeni Boğaziçi
- Advantage: State university — the lowest tuition fees
- Advantage: International accreditations
- Advantage: Walking distance to the sea
- Drawback: Famagusta is a quieter city
- Drawback: Limited nightlife
- Rent Tip: TRNC’s cheapest rental market. Quality flats run £300-450/month.
Cyprus International University (CIU)
- Location: Haspolat, Nicosia
- Best Districts: Haspolat, Gönyeli, Kumsal
- Advantage: Strong in Dentistry and Pharmacy
- Advantage: Small class sizes
- Advantage: Modern campus
- Drawback: Haspolat sits a mid-distance from the Nicosia and Kyrenia city centres — a car or shuttle is preferable
- Drawback: Social/entertainment options around campus are more limited than at other major campuses
- Rent Tip: 1+1 flats in Haspolat and nearby Gönyeli run £350-500/month. Favour locations near the campus shuttle route.
Girne American University (GAU)
- Location: Karaoğlanoğlu, Kyrenia
- Best Districts: Karaoğlanoğlu, Alsancak, Kyrenia centre
- Advantage: Sea-view campus
- Advantage: Unique aviation and maritime programmes
- Advantage: Close to Kyrenia’s social life
- Drawback: Higher rents (Kyrenia region)
- Drawback: Smaller campus
- Rent Tip: £400-600/month band; prices drop moving away from Kyrenia centre, with the Karaoğlanoğlu line more affordable.
European University of Lefke (EUL)
- Location: Lefke
- Best Districts: Lefke centre, Güzelyurt
- Advantage: TRNC’s lowest-cost-of-living region
- Advantage: Strong Pharmacy and Dentistry programmes
- Advantage: Quiet, academically focused campus environment
- Drawback: Far from the centre of the island
- Drawback: Limited social life and transport options
- Rent Tip: Regional rents are TRNC’s most affordable — 1+1 flats can be found in the £250-400/month band. Homes within walking distance of campus are worth favouring.
METU Northern Cyprus Campus
- Location: Kalkanlı, Güzelyurt
- Best Districts: Kalkanlı, Güzelyurt centre
- Advantage: Same curriculum and diploma as METU in Turkey
- Advantage: Strong Engineering and Computer Science programmes
- Advantage: Easy access to on-campus facilities thanks to the small student body
- Drawback: Campus is far from the city centre
- Drawback: With a small student body, off-campus social life is limited
- Rent Tip: Flats in Kalkanlı run £300-450/month; homes on the campus shuttle route cut transport costs.
Final International University
- Location: Kyrenia
- Best Districts: Kyrenia centre, Karaoğlanoğlu
- Advantage: Health sciences and business programmes stand out
- Advantage: Close to Kyrenia’s social life
- Advantage: Modern campus infrastructure
- Drawback: Rents are high, being the Kyrenia region
- Drawback: Campus is relatively small
- Rent Tip: £400-600/month band; prices drop moving away from Kyrenia centre, with the Karaoğlanoğlu line more affordable.
LIVING COSTS
Monthly Cost Comparison
The table below compares monthly rent, food, transport, and social spending across four university regions.
| Item | Nicosia (NEU/CIU) | Famagusta (EMU) | Kyrenia (GAU) | Güzelyurt (EUL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | £400-550 | £300-450 | £500-700 | £250-400 |
| Food | £150-250 | £120-200 | £170-280 | £100-180 |
| Transport | £30-60 | £20-40 | £40-80 | £20-40 |
| Social | £50-100 | £40-80 | £60-120 | £30-60 |
| TOTAL | £630-960 | £480-770 | £770-1180 | £400-680 |
CHOOSING AN AREA
District Selection Strategy
Budget priority: Famagusta (EMU) or Güzelyurt (EUL/METU)
- Budget priority: Famagusta (EMU) or Güzelyurt (EUL/METU)
- Social life priority: Kyrenia (GAU) or Nicosia (NEU)
- Career focused: NEU or EMU (largest networks)
- Quiet & academic: METU Northern Cyprus or EUL
TIPS
Tips
Stay in dorms first year — get to know the area, then move out
- Stay in dorms first year — get to know the area, then move out
- Find roommates — sharing a 2+1 drops rent per person by 40%
- Stay on shuttle routes — university shuttles more reliable than minibuses
- Annual contracts — 20-30% cheaper than semester-based
- Keep deposit receipts for documentation
Key takeaways
The district nearly doubles the cost
The monthly total in Kyrenia is nearly double Güzelyurt. Your choice of university largely sets this.
The shuttle route sets the rent
Living on the campus shuttle route cuts both transport cost and daily time.
A flatmate is the biggest saving
Sharing a two-bedroom cuts the per-person cost markedly — far cheaper than renting alone.
Annual beats term-time
Term-time letting costs more per month. If you are staying through summer, an annual contract makes sense.