Cyprus Branch of the University of Athens

*By Dimitris Koutsompolis, Laboratory Teaching Staff at the Department of Communication and Media Studies. ‘The University of Athens’ newspaper, issue 3, distributed with the Greek Sunday newspaper ‘To Vima tis Kyriakis’ on 30 March 2025

The University of Athens’ plans for a branch campus in Cyprus are nearing completion. The Republic of Cyprus’ leadership and the Rectory Authorities of the University of Athens have already met at a high level in Nicosia, Cyprus. During the meeting, President Nikos Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus and Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens, officially expressed their shared desire to see a University of Athens branch operating on the island.

In attendance at the meeting were on one side Athena Michaelidou, the Cypriot Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth, and Irene Piki, the Deputy Minister to the President, and, on the other, a delegation consisting of members of the University of Athens’ Administration Council, Deans, and Chairs of Departments.

As Mr Christodoulides was keen to point out while welcoming the delegation, the University of Athens is the academic Institution that has educated dozens of generations of Cypriots. Regarding the University’s intention to open a branch in Cyprus, he added, ‘We are here to put this into action as soon as possible’.

‘Every city in Cyprus has expressed interest in hosting the University of Athens’ branch campus. That reflects the deep affection the Cypriots have for the oldest school of Hellenism’, stressed Mr Christodoulides.

‘As part of the strategy our Government has developed for the internationalization of Higher Education, and given the long-standing relationship between Cyprus and Greece in academia, we are delighted with the legislation passed by Parliament, which paves the way for the establishment of a branch campus of the University of Athens in Cyprus’, Ms Michaelidou noted for her part, following the meeting.

Subsequently, Ms Michaelidou said that the meeting discussed various aspects related to ‘this large-scale undertaking’ and expressed her wish ‘to see the first faculty (of the University of Athens) established in Cyprus as soon as possible, which will help further advance the development of Higher Education in our country’.

‘Within the branch’s first few years of operation, we aim to provide at least three undergraduate programmes of study alongside additional postgraduate programmes. The courses that can start immediately include Medicine, Nursing, Economics, Classics, Psychology, Business Administration, and Education’, stated Professor Siasos accordingly.

Plans and the Senate’s decision

The University of Athens plans to establish a branch campus in Cyprus as the most internationally acclaimed University in the broader Southeastern European region. It aims to offer high-quality, contemporary education and serve national and historical purposes by providing its scientific resources to Cypriot society, the Cypriot citizens, and Hellenism at large.

On the other hand, Cypriot society appears to view the prospect very positively, as shown by the findings of a public opinion survey conducted by ALCO in Cyprus. With an overwhelmingly positive opinion about establishing a University of Athens branch in Cyprus, 87% of respondents were in favour, versus just 6% who were against it.

This particularly positive opinion was consistent across all demographic groups and throughout the various Districts of the island. Moreover, 85% of respondents associated the University of Athens with its history and reputation, 76% with the high prestige of its degrees, and 72% with the quality of its education—attributes that Cypriot citizens highly value.

The Senate of the University of Athens unanimously approved the opening of a branch campus in Cyprus. One of the country’s major cities may play host to the University’s faculties in purpose-built facilities designed to meet a wide range of educational and operational needs (i.e., buildings complete with lecture theatres, additional classrooms, ancillary spaces, offices, and so on). Moreover, the branch may expand its presence by establishing University Departments in other cities across the island.