Cabinet limits number of third-country students

The cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to limit the number of third-country nationals accepted to each of the 21 private universities in Cyprus.

The proposal was put forward by Education Minister Athena Michaelidou.

It will cover the next academic year.

According to deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou, third-country students from Council of Europe countries will be allowed to enrol in the universities regardless of the existing restrictions, up to the total number of students allowed by the available capacity of each university.

He added that the new regulation will only apply for the next academic year and provides for a strict procedure and conditions to serve the policy of attracting students but at the same time to ensure the strict provisions of the Republic’s policy in relation to immigration.