Menu

Admissions



General Admissions Information and Requirements 

The doctoral programs are highly selective and are designed for research-oriented students aspiring to become leaders in their respective field of study. Students who are admitted to the program are immersed in a rigorous international research environment that will require full-time commitment for the duration of the program.

To be considered for admission to a PhD Program, a student must have the following:

      (1)  A Master's degree from a recognized accredited institution, with a strong academic record in a major field of study and background relevant to the proposed graduate-level studies.Indicative fields of postgraduate study include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
 

(2)  Proof of English language proficiency
If your first language is not English, you must provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the program to which you are applying. Proof of English language proficiency may be demonstrated by submitting one of the following certificates (or equivalent as deemed by the Admissions Committee).  

           - IELTS Academic Version: at least 6.5 (taken within the past 2 years)
           - TOEFL Internet-based Test: at least 79 (taken within the past 2 years)
           - GCSE/IGCSE: Grade C or above (preferably with speaking)


IELTS or TOEFL is preferred.

The English Language proficiency test requirement may be waived if you have/will graduate from a higher education institution in which English is the medium of instruction and communication or if you have a minimum of eighteen months of work experience in a country that CyI considers to be “majority English speaking”, no more than two years prior to the proposed date of registration.
  (3)  Due to the nature of the PhD program, strong computational skills are required.

 

Review and Selection Process for Doctoral Program

The Admissions Committee reviews applications and makes its decision on the basis of the student’s academic merit and the match between the Institute’s research activities and the student’s research interests, i.e. Cyi’s capacity to support the students’ Master’s research in terms of facilities, infrastructure and supervision.

Candidates may be asked for a personal interview. If students are abroad, they may be interviewed through a video conference call.

 

 

 

     

Supervisory Capacity /Interest

Applicants are encouraged to contact potential supervisors during the admissions process and investigate common research interests. During the evaluation of the applications the supervisory capacity and interest of the potential supervisor is confirmed for each admitted applicant. PhD students officially select and are assigned a supervisor (faculty member) during the first month of their studies and the selection of the supervisor must be approved by the Program Coordinator and the Academic Committee.


Criteria and Processes for the Recognition of Previous Studies and Credit Transfers

All CyI’s PhD degree programs adhere to the Bologna Process third cycle degrees and use the ECTS credit system, ensuring that its degrees are recognized around the world. The ECTS system utilizes a credit concept to compare courses by workload for a typical student. At the CyI, one (1) ECTS is calculated as being the equivalent of 25 hours of workload, both contact and non-contact hours.

Previous degrees are recognized if students have attended an institution(s) which is/are accredited by the appropriate competent body in the country in which it operates. This is stated clearly in the admissions section of our website.  

Recognition of ECTS Credits

In the cases where a student wishes to transfer ECTS credits acquired previously towards another degree or outside any degree, the Mentor/Dissertation Advisory Committee of the student will assess the relevance of the specific credits in terms of learning objectives and a decision will be made regarding the transfer. The decision will have to be approved by the Academic Committee. A quota of up to 1/3 of the program requirements can be credited from transfer credits if the Academic Committee approves.

Admissions Timeline for Doctoral Program

Students can be admitted twice per year, in the Fall (October) and the Spring (February). The exact date of the beginning of the semesters is decided by the Academic Committee and displayed on the website in the Program Overview page of each degree program.

   

FALL SEMESTER

SPRING SEMESTER

Early
Admissions

Regular
Admissions

Late
Admissions
Regular
Admissions
Late
Admissions
Open for EU and international students Open for EU and international students Open for EU and international students who do not require a visa Open for EU and international students Open for EU and international students who do not require a visa

Application
Deadline

December 20

May1

July 3

September 15

December 1

International students should apply early to avoid disappointment due to migration deadlines.

Applicants are informed approximately six weeks after the respective application deadlines.

The dates listed in the sections above are indicative and may change.

 

 

→ Apply for Doctoral Program

 

Back to top


How to Apply

The Cyprus Institute offers the opportunity to apply for a PhD program through our online Application System.

Documents to be Submitted with the online application

(1) Curriculum Vitae

(2) Academic Degree Certificates and Transcripts
An official copy of the Master’s degree and official transcript(s) of past academic work and studies are required. The transcript(s) should include a detailed list of the courses/seminars taken along with the grades received in each course and a GPA. The Institute accepts Master’s degrees obtained from a recognized accredited institution. If an applicant has not completed a Master’s degree yet, a transcript(s) that list coursework and grades thus far, and expected date of completion of the Master’s degree, should be provided.
Transcripts must be in English: either issued in English by the Higher Education Institution or if the Higher Education Institution cannot issue a transcript in English then you must provide a duly certified official translation in English.

(3) English Language certificates

If your first language is not English, you must provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the program to which you are applying. Proof of English language proficiency may be demonstrated by submitting one of the following certificates (or equivalent as deemed by the Admissions Committee).

         - IELTS Academic version: at least 6.5 (taken within the past 2 years

         - TOEFL Internet-based Test: at least 79 (taken within the past 2 years)

         - GCSE/IGCSE: Grade C or above (preferably with speaking)

IELTS or TOEFL is preferred

The English Language proficiency. test requirement may be waived if you have/will graduate from a higher education institution in which English is the medium of instruction and communication or if you have a minimum of eighteen months of work experience in a country that CyI considers to be “majority English speaking” no more than two years prior to the proposed date of registration.

(4) GRE Score Report for General GRE test (optional)

(5) Personal Statement
Applicants should submit (upload on the online application form) a personal statement (< 1500 words), including a research plan outlining topics of interest and indicating how this aligns with research and faculty at the CyI. Note: if admitted, the candidate is NOT held to the submitted research plan – this plan is a draft and is to indicate the candidate’s research interests and abilities – the final PhD project will be discussed and agreed with the student’s Dissertation Advisory Committee after admission to the Cyprus Institute.

The personal statement should describe the applicant’s background and recent/current academic work and future research plans in relation to the Cyprus Institute’s Research activities and the doctoral program to which the student is applying. If possible, it should identify relevant Cyprus Institute faculty. The statement should point to the educational, research and personal experiences that shaped the student’s interest in the proposed field of study. It should outline the research area that the applicant is interested in, and the intended research topics to be investigated at the Cyprus Institute. It should concisely mention examples of the applicant’s work that illustrate the potential to meet the expectations of the graduate program of study at the Cyprus Institute. The statement must be written in English.

(6) Example of Written Work
This is an example of (or a part of) current or previous work by the applicant that demonstrates the candidate’s interests and abilities for their proposed studies at the Cyprus Institute. This piece of writing may comprise any of the following: an essay (or excerpt) from undergraduate/graduate work, a publication, a conference presentation, a part of Undergraduate or Master’s Thesis, or a text written specially for the purpose of this application. This document must be in English and not exceed circa 3000 words.

(7) References
Applicants are requested to provide contact details of at least two faculty members or other professionals who are well acquainted with the applicant’s academic, research and professional work and are willing to provide a references.

Apply directly through the online application system

Back to top


Tuition, Fees and Financial Support

Tuition and Fees (pdf)

The Cyprus Institute offers financial support to prospective students based on various selection criteria depending on the type of award. The financial support may be offered as a scholarship, research assistantship or work-study or a combination of any of these types of support. All types of support are offered subject to availability of funds.

It is worth noting that all our PhD students receive financial aid. This may be towards their tuition fees and/or their living expenses.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Cyprus Institute offers full or partial scholarships to outstanding students to cover tuition and other fees and/or living expenses.

Selection Criteria
These awards are granted based on academic merit.

Scholarship Amounts & Duration
Scholarships offered are currently the following:

Tuition Scholarships 
Tuition Scholarships will cover tuition fees and may be partial or full scholarships
Dean's Distinguished Scholarships 
Graduate School Scholarships
Scholarships that may assist students with their living expenses


GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

The graduate research fellowship position enables students to work as members of a research group in one of the Institute’s research projects through an effective arrangement for graduate study and professional training. Work on the student’s thesis may be considered as part of the Graduate Research Fellowship assignment.  Graduate Research Fellows are considered members of research groups or units in one of the Institute’s Centers, working under a Supervisor.

Selection Criteria
Graduate Research Fellowships are offered based on academic merit, the alignment between the Institutes’ research activities and the students' reseach projects.

General Terms of the Graduate Research Fellowship 
Graduate Research Fellowships are offered for one year and are renewable based on the students' performance and availabiltiy of funding. Graduate Research Fellows are appointed on a part-time or full-time basis, according to the alignment of their PhD project to the Graduate Research Fellowship position.

    Specific Graduate Research Fellowships 
    A.G. Leventis Research Assistantship in Archaeological Science

 

WORK STUDY SCHEME

The work-study scheme is designed to provide the opportunity to doctoral students who need financial assistance to be self-reliant and also to gain valuable work experience. Through this scheme, students undertake several administrative, operational, and teaching or research-related tasks for the Institute. Work study can be offered as Research Studentships, Teaching Assistantships or Administrative Assistantships.

Selection Criteria
Work-study positions are offered on the basis of students’ qualifications and availability of funds. 
 
Employment Terms
Students who are awarded a Research Studentship will also be employed on a part-time basis and will receive a stipend. Students who work as Teaching Assistants or Administrative Assistants are appointed on a part-time basis with a contract of employment and a respective salary.

For additional financial support opportunities please check our Financial Support section.  

Back to top