With the exception of major European capitals, such as London, Amsterdam and Paris, the cost of accommodation and food for a student in many Western European countries does not differ significantly and, more specifically, €12,000-€20,000 is required annually, while the corresponding amount in many countries of the former Eastern Bloc amounts to €9,000-€15,000, according to what the Chairman of the Cyprus Association of Educational Consultants (CAEC), Dr. Adonis Americanos.
In an interview with InBusinessNews, he points out the increased interest in studying Medicine and the decreased interest in studying Nursing and Midwifery, while noting that "interest in studying in Britain has waned greatly."
He also makes special mention of the great interest of Cypriot students in studying in English-language Medical programmes at public universities in Greece.
How is the interest of Cypriot students in studying abroad shaping up this year compared to previous years?
The interest in studying abroad remains, I would say, the same compared to last year. From there, each family should consider whether the goal of studying at higher education institutions abroad is feasible in relation to many factors.
For example, the cost of living, tuition fees and admission criteria are the main factors that I would say influence the number of our students who go to study abroad each year. In general, it is common for each academic year to start with a higher percentage of students interested in studying abroad and end towards the end of the year with a lower and more realistic percentage.
Of those interested in studying abroad, the vast majority of our students show a preference for English-language study programmes and public universities in European Union countries, apart from, of course, those who will study in Greece.
Interest in studying in Britain, as is to be expected due to the increase in tuition fees, has decreased considerably in recent years, although there is a small portion of students who still choose this country for their studies.
Of course, Cyprus continues to be at the top of study preferences, primarily at its public universities and secondarily in private ones.
The fields of study with increased interest
Are there new trends in the study programmes that Cypriots are choosing?
We do not observe any new trends in relation to the study programmes chosen by our students. There is certainly an increased interest in studying Medicine, both within and outside Cyprus. I would say that the interest in studying Pharmacy, Psychology, Biomedicine, as well as other paramedical programmes, such as Physiotherapy and Speech Therapy, is also stable. The reduced interest in studying Nursing and Midwifery continues to exist, resulting in the continuing clear shortages in manpower in our hospitals.
Beyond that, there is a slightly reduced demand for Law studies, as well as a clear decrease in demand for Accounting studies. Regarding Accounting, it is expected to record a decrease in interest in studies, due to Brexit. Britain has traditionally attracted a large percentage of our graduates, due to its better support for studies in these disciplines, thanks to exemptions regarding the professional titles ACCA and ACA and British law degrees.
Consequently, the choice of study programmes has been reduced, considering that many students are unable to study in Britain due to high tuition fees and the admittedly limited English-speaking options in the EU in these disciplines.
Interest in studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields continues to be high. Interest in, among others, the fields of Economics and Business Administration is also stable.
What is the profile of Cypriot students who choose to study in the United Kingdom? Is there interest in the top British universities in the Russell Group category?
As I have already mentioned, interest in studying in Britain has waned considerably. Nevertheless, Britain, with its renowned universities and traditionally good relations with Commonwealth countries, including Cyprus, continues to attract a small but significant number of students.
These are mainly students from private schools who have always had the sole aim of studying at a British university. The majority of them choose among the best universities in the country, with the university's ranking as a priority and the amount of tuition fees as a secondary consideration.
Traditionally, there are a number of students who choose to study at the best universities in the Russell Group, e.g. University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, UCL and LSE, as well as at the best universities in Scotland (University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh).
These are universities with very high tuition fees, which are aimed at students who are not facing financial hardship and who invest in excellent knowledge, as well as in the global name of these institutions, with international recognition and a reputation that goes back hundreds of years.
Universities with low tuition fees
What about universities that continue to offer low tuition fees, such as "home fees"?
Low tuition fees continue to be offered to European students by about 10 universities in Britain, which still offer the so-called "home fees" enjoyed by Britons, which amount to £9,535 (€11,000 approximately) per year. It should be noted here that most degrees in Britain last three years and master's degrees one year. However, interest in these options is low, with the exception of perhaps one or two universities.
This is mainly due to the low ranking of these universities. Students from private schools, as I mentioned above, usually look for university options that are higher in the ranking, while students from public schools either do not have Britain among their options or they also wish to graduate from a well-known university with a good "reputation" in Cyprus. Consequently, many of our students turn their backs on most of these universities.
How do living costs compare between different European countries?
I would say that the cost of living in many Western European countries does not differ much between them. The exceptions are large European capitals, such as London, Amsterdam and Paris. More specifically, I would say that a student needs €12,000–€20,000 per year for accommodation and food expenses. The corresponding amount in many former Eastern Bloc countries amounts to €9,000–€15,000, respectively.
However, I would like to emphasise that finding accommodation in many countries (and not just the Netherlands) is currently a major challenge. Therefore, those interested should start their search for suitable accommodation in the country and city of their interest well in advance and be prepared to "water down their wine" at least for the first year.
Countries with free education
Which other countries with free tuition do Cypriot students prefer to study in?
It is true that the financial capacity of each student is one of the main factors determining the choice of the country of study. There are countries with free tuition in their English-language programmes, e.g. in Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Sweden. There are of course also many free foreign language programmes in several EU countries.
Nevertheless, we should also mention the options in countries with very low tuition fees (€500–€5,000), such as the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Ireland, which our students are choosing today.
There are many other low-tuition options in Eastern European countries that are worth exploring, as they are high-quality options with a long tradition in the field. Examples of these countries that attract students from Cyprus are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
The shift to Greek universities
How is Cypriot students' interest in Greek universities developing?
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in studying in Greece. The main studies chosen by Cypriot students are Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, as well as all paramedical studies.
Despite the great interest, there are unfortunately too many places that remain unfilled. Something that contributes to the loss of more places in Greece is the fact that many of our students apply in Greece, take up a place, but ultimately choose to study in Cyprus or abroad outside of Greece.
Also, Greece does not offer us the possibility of a second allocation, resulting in the loss of places for students who did not choose to study in Greece, while their place would be given to another person who would wish to study in the corresponding study programme.
Special mention should also be made of the great interest of Cypriot students in studying English-language Medical programmes at public universities in Greece. The tuition fees of these universities range from €12,000 to €15,000 and admission to them is very competitive. We are also seeing the offer and addition of other English-language study programmes in Greece, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Do you see Cypriots starting to choose other cities in Greece besides Athens and Thessaloniki?
Traditionally, Cypriot students choose to study in Athens and Thessaloniki, but also in other large cities, such as Patras, Ioannina and Heraklion in Crete. However, in recent years, we have been happy to see Cypriot students choosing other smaller cities, if they realise that due to demand they will not be able to be accepted by the most sought-after universities and study programmes in the cities I have mentioned above, such as the National Technical University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of Patras.
It is gratifying that we have begun, albeit timidly, to take advantage of other valuable positions at universities in smaller cities in Greece, with a good standard of living and a good student life, beyond Athens and Thessaloniki.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
