Student case study · Cyprus
Dawa, from Kathmandu to Limassol
BSc Computer Science, February 2026 intake
Arrived with an offer from a university in Northern Cyprus. Left with a place at a recognised one in the Republic.
- After +2
- Recognition
- Budget
- Starting point
- +2 science, GPA 2.74
- English
- University English test (B2)
- Study gap
- None
- Paid for by
- Parents' savings
- First call to visa
- 103 days
Where Dawa started
Dawa had paid a deposit through another agent for a computer science degree in "Cyprus". When the offer came, the university's address was in the north of the island, and the agent told him to fly via Turkey.
His parents asked us to check before they paid the rest.
What we found
The university was in the north. Its degrees aren't recognised by the Republic of Cyprus or most EU countries, and entering through Turkey would have meant he couldn't legally cross to the EU side to work or study later.
We helped his family request the deposit back in writing (they recovered part of it) and found a recognised private university in Limassol with a February intake, a lower first-year cost than they'd feared, and an English placement test he could take online.
Step by step, with dates
12 Oct 2025
First counselling. The northern offer checked; recognition problem explained in writing.
15 Oct 2025
Written refund request to the northern university, with our help.
24 Oct 2025
Application to a recognised university in Limassol; online English placement test.
4 Nov 2025
Offer received.
18 Nov 2025
NOC; deposit paid; documents for the entry permit submitted.
23 Jan 2026
Entry permit issued, 103 days after the first call.
8 Feb 2026
Flies to Larnaca for Limassol.
The result
Dawa is in his first year in Limassol. He isn't working yet, as we planned, and his parents' budget is holding.
In Dawa's words
I thought Cyprus was Cyprus. Nobody told me there were two.
We nearly paid for a degree that wouldn't count. We asked one question in time.
If your profile looks like this
- 1
Check the university's address. If it's in the north of Cyprus, the degree isn't recognised by the EU. See Cyprus essentials.
- 2
Never enter Cyprus through Turkey for study; it closes the EU side to you.
- 3
Ask for any deposit back in writing, with dates. A paper trail helps.