University of Cyprus

The University of Cyprus (UCY), based in the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, is a dynamic, public, research-intensive institution established only in 1989. Striving the last three decades for excellence in education, research and innovation, has rendered it one of the leading institutions in Europe, evidenced by its continuously elevated rankings (ranked #601-700 in Shanghai List 2019 and #351-400 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019). Aspiring to function as a beacon of science and creativity, UCY envisions a future as a leading institution in the greater Euro- Mediterranean area.
With around 7.000 students, 113 laboratories and 800 faculty and staff members, UCY is a rapidly expanding university and the biggest employer in Cyprus for young researchers. Moreover, it currently employs about 700 young scientists using external research funds. Its 8 faculties and 22 departments offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, whilst its numerous, highly cited researchers give UCY a cutting edge. All programmes of academic study function under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), furthermore awarding the Diploma Supplement with DS Label.
International Outlook
UCY is globally networked and actively contributes to European and international scientific developments. Its international outlook has ranked it #67 in the Top 200 World Universities under 50 years old Category of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.
UCY:
Maintains strategic cooperation with top international institutions through Bilateral Agreements of Cooperation
Is an active member in 67 international university networks/associations
Participates in the university alliance YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe) with 7 other European universities. YUFE is one of the 17 alliances of European universities selected by the European Commission in 2019, to develop and implement the first models for a unified European University.
Participates in the ERASMUS+ Programme since 1998. Until now, more than 2500 UCY students have spent 1 or 2 semesters at European universities, and more than 2100 incoming students have spent 1 or two semesters at UCY. At the moment, UCY has about 750 Erasmus agreements with universities in Europe. The Programme also provides opportunities to students for mobility for Traineeship. UCY also participates in the Erasmus+ International Programme that supports cooperation for mobility with third countries.
Has become a EURES partner, a cooperation network designed to facilitate the free movement of workers within the EU 28 countries plus Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Research
UCY is considered the leading university and the most active research institution in Cyprus. So far, it has implemented a large number of research projects funded by the European Commission, the national Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) and several public and private Research Organizations.
In H2020 UCY:
ranked 1st in securing funding from all organizations from the 27 WIDENING countries, with 94 research projects with total funding of € 41.8 million
ranked 1st in Cyprus with 95 research projects and with a total funding of over €56 million from January 2014 until September 2019.
ranked 167th in the EU in securing funding among the nearly 31,000 organizations and 107th among all the academic institutions involved.
secured 2 Teaming in Excellence projects (for the development of independent research centres aiming at becoming Centres of Research Excellence) as a Host Organization with funding of €15 million each.
secured €15.2 million from the Excellence pillar with 7 grants from the European Research Council, 34 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Projects, 2 Future and Emerging Technologies Projects (FETs) and 2 Research Infrastructure projects.
Secured 23 projects in the pillar “Societal Challenges”, 12 of which were in the field of Energy, 5 in the field of Health, 4 in Social Sciences, 1 in Digital Security and 1 in Marine Biology.
secured 7 projects under the “Industrial Development” axis with 5 projects in Information and Communication Technologies, 1 project in Space Action and 1 in Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, as well as 1 project under the EURATOM initiative and 2 projects in the horizontal priority “Science with and for the Society”.
Currently, UCY implements 21 Marie Skłodowska-Curie projects. Apart from Individual Fellowships, it participates in ITN and RISE Actions. UCY has successfully implemented 52 Marie Skłodowska-Curie projects.
From the beginning of 2017 until August 2019, UCY secured over 116 research projects with total funding of over €20 million under the “RESTART 2016-2020 Programme for Research, Technological Development and Innovation” Cyprus (RIF).
12 Research Centres/Units:
Archaeological Research Unit
KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence
FOSS Research Centre for Sustainable Energy
Nireas International Water Research Center
Electronics, Microwaves, Photonics and Sensor Research Center (EMPHASIS)
Center for Applied Neuroscience
Research Centre for Gender Studies
Molecular Medicine Research Center
Oceanography Centre
Economics Research Centre
Center for Banking and Financial Research
Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (BERC)