If you’re living in North Cyprus with children of any age you may feel that there is not a lot for them to do. 

We can start by saying that North Cyprus obviously has its own strong community ties and you can always join in with groups that are particularly aimed at promoting Cypriot culture such as HASDER, but your children may need to at least know the basics of the Turkish language before they get involved.  Having said that, the more the expat and local communities mingle the better, and you will quickly find that children can communicate more easily than adults these days and it’s not a big deal for them to get on and speak a mixture of Turkish and English!

For the toddler age group there are now specific toddler groups due to the arrival of younger expat families wishing to settle in North Cyprus.  They are often advertised in the press or by word of mouth, so it shouldn’t take long to become a social yummy mummy!  Toddler groups are often weekly or bi-weekly get togethers, and they give the youngsters and parents a chance to socialise.  Of course if you’re working there is always the nursery option which will also give your children a great start to life in North Cyprus as they will be able to integrate with the local Cypriot children too.

For children of any age there is a lot to entertain, with groups setting up to educate and allow kids the chance to explore their potential and hone their social skills.  The Five Fingers restaurant in Ozankoy is home to Alex and Libby Main who have set up a Garden Bookshop which is used for kids’ book clubs, talks and shows, and they also hold very successful flower shows.

Adults can also enjoy the activities on offer at the Five Fingers Restaurant as well, with talks and book and film launches, all of which have proved very popular for the expat and local communities alike.  If you would like to know more about their activities then feel free to call them on +90 (0)392 815 2010 or +90 (0)533 8458278 or email alex.main@sunnycyprus.net.

There is the newly opened Black Olive Café in Alsancak, located near to British Academy School, it runs craft clubs and various other entertainment activities to suit kids of all ages, and you can even book your child’s birthday parties there too and let them run riot in the purpose built playground.  You can contact them on +90 (0)533 8355133 or by email theblackolivecafe@gmail.com.  It’s also worth noting that Black Olive Café offers exercise classes for adults too.

If children are interested in sports then there is always football which seems to bridge any kind of culture divide, there are tennis courts in Kyrenia and Lefkoşa which act as a social meeting place too, or children can always get involved in a pursuit such as diving, giving them the opportunity to pick up a skill that could become a possible career or hobby in future years.  If your child attends a local school then there are always things to do and trips to go on organised through the school, so they will soon find plenty to keep them busy.

Perhaps your children are more creative than sporty and again there is much to keep their interest and enthusiasm going with music and dance schools, private piano tuition and so on.  The Cyprus Art School is a private education facility that teaches in music and dance and you can contact them on +90 (0)533 8404094 or by emailing kibrissanat@gmail.com.  Alternatively children can join in a variety of classes at various dance studios all over North Cyprus, where they can learn jazz, ballet or contemporary dance for example.  Girne American University in Kyrenia also has a Stage School if kids are after something a little more artistic, and can offer a range of activities such as belly dancing, tap and ballet – contact 650 2220 for more information.

Besides the above, there are many more things that children can do for entertainment, with beaches or water slide parks making for a fun day out for example, as can a trip to the cinema or a castle!  Whatever children enjoy then please visit our water and land activities articles  to get a full run down of everything there is to do in North Cyprus!

North Cyprus has a raft of higher educational facilities, technical colleges and universities, with most being run on a private basis. 

Students who have passed through the state school system with good grades and exam results are entitled to free entry and study at universities in North Cyprus, once they have passed their final grade exams at secondary education level enabling them to go on to university.  However, students having gone through a private education in North Cyprus must go through university on a fee paying basis.

Universities are based in the larger city and town areas, and can offer a wide range of subjects and facilities to students – from engineering to healthcare, business studies to graphic design, economics and music for example.  Univerities on the island also offer halls of residence accommodation for students, although apartment renting is common amongst groups of students with North Cyprus generally being fairly affordable for most.

Campus recreational facilities are also of a commendable standard, with plenty of things for students to do in their spare time, often offering sports and football fields, and external groups holding dance and arts sessions within the university campus for example.

There are at present six universities operating in North Cyprus, all to European and/or international standards, and some are also supported internationally having proved their standing in the teaching profession with world standards in equipment and facilities.  They all have websites in both Turkish and English, and potential students can find bundles of information on teaching subjects available, details of campus facilities and so on.

Universities operating in North Cyprus are:

CIU (Cyprus International University)

Located in Lefkoşa and founded in 1997, CIU boasts six faculties, modern and hi-tech facilities as well as workshop agreements with 15 different countries, and it is on the UNESCO World Universities listing.

EMU (Eastern Mediterranean University)

Based in Famagusta this impressive university has been running for 28 years as of 2009, and is well known for its excellent facilities and standards.  It has seven faculties, two schools and an English preparatory school, and it can offer instruction to over 15,000 students, as well as hosting regular international symposiums and conferences.

EUL (European University of Lefke)

Based in Lefke and formed in 1990, EUL is gaining a good reputation for its philosophy that what comes from students, goes back to them.  They also provide some of the most economical tuition fees amongst the universities, and are very student orientated with great campus facilities and ethics.

GAU (Girne American University)

Based in Kyrenia, GAU has been active in the educational sector in North Cyprus since 1985 and now boasts impressive campus facilities.  They have six faculties at present offering degree education in a wide range of subjects such as Business, Banking and Finance, Marketing, International Relations, Political Science and Public Administration, Law, Engineering and Architecture to name just a few.

METU (Middle East Technical University)

Formed in North Cyprus in 2005 this is North Cyprus’ newest university, and is based near Güzelyurt, with its parent campus based in Ankara, Turkey.  Featuring heavily in the engineering faculty, they are constantly adding to their graduate and degree programmes.  As with all the other universities METU boasts modern and hi-tech facilities which are available to all students, as well as enabling access for handicapped students.

NEU (Near East University)

Located in Lefkoşa the NEU is an impressive ‘city’ of a university and boasts one of the most impressive library and cultural centres worldwide.  In operation since 1988, it has close ties with other worldwide higher education facilities and is home to students from over 50 different countries.  It currently has 11 faculties with 20 departments as well as a School of Physical Education and Sports, School of Tourism and Hotel Management offering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.

It is worth noting that all universities in North Cyprus operate under the language medium of English, and that entry exams to assess language knowledge are compulsory.

As we hope you will agree having read this article, the higher education scene in North Cyprus is one to be very proud of and is constantly improving, with all universities aiming to increase their student base considerably over the next few years.

Please click on any of the above links to take you straight to the individual university websites to see the wealth of information on offer to interested parties, or alternatively check our articles on nursery, primary and secondary education options available in North Cyprus.

For such a tiny country, North Cyprus doesn’t do too badly when it comes to a choice of education options for foreign parents moving to the island with children. 

The standards of care and preschool education are often very good, and children have plenty of scope for learning with scheduled play times as well as plenty of creative sessions.  For the purposes of furthering a child’s education within the state system, it is required for children to attend either one or two years of nursery education, known as Maarif, between the ages of 4-6, thereafter starting primary school.

You can search on the internet for primary education in North Cyprus, and you will find that some of the schools and facilities have their own websites or information pages such as this one on Wikipedia for the English School of Kyrenia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_English_School_of_Kyrenia), which opened in late 2008.

Some other alternatives include Guvence Pre-School in Ozanköy (telephone +90 (0)533 845 9990), Bizim Ev Nursery in Çatalköy (telephone +90 (0)533 841 7050) for babies and children up to 3 year olds, Kyrenia Children’s Nursery (telephone +90 (0)533 848 1409), Elma Sekeri in Lefkoşa (telephone +90 (0)533 868 1711) and Maarif Pre-Primary School  (telephone +90 (0)392 366 5361) which has premises in Famagusta and in Kyrenia (telephone +90 392 815 3388).  And finally there’s the British Academy (formerly Sunny Lane) which takes children from the age of 2 and which has a purpose built international school campus in Alsancak (telephone +90 (0)392 821 2011).

Most nurseries are made up of children from many different backgrounds and nationalities, and at such a young age integration is easy because language is still being learned and children who attend mixed nationality kindergartens quickly pick up enough English and Turkish to make themselves understood by the Cypriot and British staff, the other children and the parents.

Please visit our other sections on education for further information on primary, secondary and higher education facilities in North Cyprus.

Primary and secondary education in North Cyprus, known in Turkish as Ilkokul and Ortaokul respectively, are of a fair standard and there are plenty of schools located in cities and most larger towns, but the majority of the privately run universities also have primary and secondary educational establishments these days too, so it’s worth looking around when trying to find the right alternative for your child.

All of the international school options are private and have to be paid for in full by parents – but fortunately private schooling in North Cyprus is far more affordable than it is in the UK or elsewhere in Europe.

The state system requires children start primary education at the age of 6, after having completed 1 or 2 years in nursery, and this level of schooling lasts until the child reaches the age of 12 when they go on to secondary education.  The state schools’ main aim for this age group is to teach and instil the ideas of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Modern Turkey, to educate them about culture, heritage, the importance of being a good citizen and it largely concentrates on the child’s own interests and abilities.

Secondary education in North Cyprus starts from the age of 12 and is separated into two separate levels.  For the first three years from age 12-15 children attend Ortaokul.  This level of education is again based upon general culture, economic and social aspects of life, as well as the day-to-day curriculum.  From the age of 15-18 children move on to the second level of secondary education and attend what is known as a ‘Lise’ school.  This is where they can then choose which subjects to study in more detail should they wish to take a specific career path.  Some schools can accommodate both levels of secondary, but others do not so children will move on to another school to complete this level.

Throughout the secondary level education system exams are taken at the end of every year for children to be able to pass through to the following year.  In the final year of secondary school all students then take a final exam, with a diploma being issued on passing.  This then entitles students to seek further education or to start seeking employment.  They can also at this time study for university entry exams, with all students who have achieved top grades in the final state school exam gaining free entry to the university of choice upon passing.

If you’re certain that you’re going to remain in North Cyprus and that your children are of a young enough age to learn Turkish easily, you could consider enrolling them in a state school.  However, if you ever want your child to have the chance of college or university in a country other than North Cyprus or Turkey, or if you’re ever likely to relocate again or your child is over the age of about 8 and therefore will find it harder to learn Turkish quickly enough, you should probably not consider enrolling them in the state system.

One thing to bear in mind is that the Turkish school system is very, very different to the European or American system for example.  All lessons are of course taught through the medium of Turkish, although there is a little more emphasis on learning a second language than you may encounter in England perhaps, but state schools do suffer from under-funding in both the facilities they offer and the teaching materials they use.  Therefore, if you do decide at some point to take your child out of the state system they will probably then find it very difficult to integrate into an international school or school ‘back home’ in your original country of domicile for example.

As we mentioned previously, private education is not so expensive as to be unachievable for many, and it could be the best option for your child.  There are some decent primary and secondary school options available in North Cyprus, which adhere to the English curriculum and local education age system, and even some schools on the south of the island that are proving popular for some parents living in North Cyprus.  Some of the educational establishments mentioned in our article about nursery schools also continue children’s education through to secondary and beyond, such as Sunny Lane for example.

Please check through our nursery and higher education articles to find more information about the options available in North Cyprus for your children.

When considering a move to another country there are many things to think about apart from the initial thoughts of ‘am I doing the right thing?’ 

Depending on your reasons for moving to North Cyprus, whether it is to move your whole family for a new start, retiring to enjoy your time in a Mediterranean climate, or whether you wish to find work, we will attempt to offer some tips and advice.  Also note that our Property section will give you insight into finding a home on the island.

Firstly, if you come from an EU country and therefore have an EU passport you’re free to enter the country.  When you enter you’ll receive an entry stamp in your passport and this allows you to remain in the country for 3 months from that date.  Within those 3 months you should begin official registration proceedings to allow the government of North Cyprus to know who you are, that you’re here and to allow you to become a legal resident of Northern Cyprus!  N.B., when you do enter Northern Cyprus as an intended resident, ensure you inform the immigration officer inspecting your passport at the airport or the border crossing of the fact so that you do get a 3 month stamp and not a 1 month tourism stamp!  Our other articles will attempt to take you through the whole process of relocation and residency itself – as best we can, considering that the rules do change every now and again!

If you’re moving to Northern Cyprus lock, stock and barrel and need to relocate your household contents then you will need to consider which company to use to ship your worldly goods.  Most offer a door to door or a door to dock service, with most people seeming to prefer the first option for the obvious reason of it being less stressful!  However, there are still processes that require your time and effort such as customs paperwork and liaising with the shipping company.  There is now quite a choice of companies which deal specifically with shipping to North Cyprus, and in other articles we will give you more information on some of them and a more in-depth look at the process.

The cost of living here will always be an important factor in your thoughts, and this will obviously vary depending on your lifestyle of course!  If you prefer to buy imported, named goods then you will be paying a premium because North Cyprus has to pay high import costs.  If on the other hand you shop locally, buying your main essentials at the market, dine out at the non 5 star eateries, then you can make a small income go a long way here without having to budget or restrict your lifestyle to a huge extent.

Considerations about healthcare and/or medical insurance should also be a part of the relocation process, with research done into the local state healthcare system and private facilities.  You will be pleased to know that private healthcare is quite affordable in North Cyprus, offering state of the art hospitals and clinics, but you can also purchase medical insurance policies through a number of companies here too, should you feel the need.  Please check our articles on the various levels of state, private and alternative healthcare options available to you.

For families who are relocating with small children or teenagers who still require education of some kind, then again, with the influx of foreigners coming to live in North Cyprus, the demand for educational facilities has been met quite sufficiently to enable you to feel confident about getting a good standard of education for your family.  More in-depth articles are available in our Education section which detail each level of education available here in North Cyprus.

If you are thinking of relocating to North Cyprus to work or set up your own company, then this is definitely something that you need to look into before you arrive!  There are lots of rules and regulations in relation to foreigners setting up their own companies or being employed by a local company, and this is often a minefield unless you have done your research thoroughly.  Foreigners wishing to set up companies here are bound by having to have a Turkish Cypriot majority shareholding partner, and the legalities and expense of the initial set up are lengthy and will require legal and accountancy assistance.

If you are looking to buy a property then again research is vital given the current situation with the legalities of title deeds and the purchase process.  You should feel entirely comfortable with your decisions as long as you have taken time to understand and research and spoken to others who have experienced the process.  For more information on property in North Cyprus please visit our additional site that will enable you to gain a good insight and give you some initial research fodder!

And finally, you should come and visit the island first for more than a normal two week holiday to make sure your decision to relocate here is the right one!  It’s a simple process to find a rental property for a few months to suit a budget, and this gives you valuable time in deciding on a particular town or area that you feel is right for you.  You would be surprised at the amount of people who have come for a holiday and then upped sticks and arrived without doing any further research and who have no idea that it gets cold and rains here in the winter!

Whatever your reason for moving to North Cyprus you will without doubt make a lot of new friends on the island and these will be the best people to assist you with the whole relocation process and make it go as smoothly as possible for you.

The area around Lefke is a mixture of coastline and low-lying mountains which form part of the Troodos range.  The land of the region is very fertile with natural watercourses effectively feeding it, and Lefke is famous for its ‘Yafa’ oranges as well as dates, plums and walnuts.  In its more recent history, Lefke was also part of the copper mining operation area with land being leased to the Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC);  the nearby port of Gemikonagi was used for transportation.

Even though mining stopped in 1974, the legacy of CMC still remains to this day.  The area where mining was intense is now an environmental disaster zone, with copper slag deposits being left to sink into the waters of the Mediterranean.  There are also abandoned and derelict storage warehouses and machinery which leave a depressing scar on the landscape to this day.  Efforts are being made to force CMC to clear up and contain this damage, but as yet nothing has convinced them to do so.

Lefke and the surrounds of Gaziveren have a fantastic if turbulent history, and you can still see some great examples of Ottoman houses and mosques around the town.  Gaziveren was the scene of bloody conflict in 1964 when Turkish residents held off Greek troops, far superior to themselves, until Turkey managed to negotiate a cease fire.

Lefke’s main attraction is Soli, an historic site of huge proportions that has still not been completely excavated.  It is believed that this once great city would have been founded in around 600BC by Demophon, a son of Theseus, with King Philokypros moving his capital to this site.  Solon, a celebrated Athenian philosopher, advised the King to make this move and was rewarded by having the City named in his honour.

Soli changed hands in 498BC when the Persians arrived in Cyprus, but the city did not suffer at the time of the power transfer, and in fact remained a very prosperous city.  However, in the 7^th century when Arab raiders took over, it was pillaged and destroyed.  In the 1930’s part of the site was excavated by a team of Swedish architects, and they revealed such treasures as the Roman Theatre.

A few kilometres away on the coast road you can also find the ruins of Vouni, a once opulent and extravagant palace probably built in the 5^th century BC during the Persian period.  Here there have been many discoveries of bronze statues, sculptures, gold coins and jewellery, and the site is well worth a visit if only to see the stunning 360 degree views from its elevated position.

Lefke is now home to the celebrated European University of Lefke, opening in 1990 as the University of Lefke, and which is now recognised by the Council of Higher Education in Turkey and the European Union.  It has grown into a large complex offering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, and it has benefited from the construction of additional buildings and facilities in recent years to reflect its achievements.

Lefke is full of history and has a vibrant future.  Both of these attributes make this town a wonderful place to visit, and we would advise you to take the time out to do so!

Education at the local Turkish Cypriot schools is free and accessible to all children between the ages of 6 and 18.  The demand for quality education through the medium of English has intensified as the number of expatriates moving to North Cyprus has increased significantly, and the number of schools in North Cyprus offering the British or international curriculum for students through years 1 to 12 has grown to meet this demand.

One of the first English language primary schools to be built in Northern Cyprus was Sunny Lane (now known as the British Academy), it developed from an original idea by Hayran Unwin and is now a fully fledged primary AND secondary school offering teaching through the medium of English and cleverly combining both the British and Turkish National Curricula.

The university sector of education in North Cyprus is well represented with several European and International Universities such as GAU (Girne American University), the EMU (Eastern Mediterranean), EUL (Lefke European), NEU (Near East), CIU (Cyprus International) and the METU (Middle East Technical) all providing international students with a great range of facilities and campus activities, as well as stunning libraries, university television and radio for example.  Most of these universities also hold conferences, lectures, international congresses and symposiums.

Each university also has their own very well maintained website so that you are only a click away from masses of information on what they can offer.  Near East University for example opens its facilities, such as the Library and Culture Complex, to the public and foreign researchers 24 hours a day, and this one complex within the campus is located on 15,000 sqm of indoor space with over 250,000 open shelves, an information access centre built to world standards with more than 50 thousand electronic journals!

There is so much more to tell you, so please feel free to check out our more in depth articles on nursery, primary and secondary and higher education by clicking any of the tags below this article!