Quick Summary
Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation (CSSF) is a partial funding scholarship offered by Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation (CSSF / IKYK) for students pursuing studies in Cyprus. The award covers Up to EUR 3,000 per year for first-cycle (undergraduate) programmes and up to EUR 4,000 per year for second-cycle (postgraduate/master's) programmes and is open to undergraduate (first-cycle) and postgraduate (second-cycle) students studying all academic fields offered by eligible cypriot institutions. The scholarship runs for one academic year per award cycle, renewable for the standard duration of the degree and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on applicants are assessed either purely on academic performance or on a combination of academic performance and socio-economic (financial need) criteria, depending on the specific scholarship category administered by CSSF. Because CSSF administers multiple distinct award categories rather than one uniform scheme, the specific documentation required (income statements for the need-based category, transcripts for the merit-only category) differs by which category an applicant is assessed under. The application deadline is announced annually on the official scholarship page. Competition for this scholarship varies year to year, so early preparation of required documents is recommended.
✨ Should I Apply for Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation (CSSF)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Up to EUR 3,000 per year for first-cycle (undergraduate) programmes and up to EUR 4,000 per year for second-cycle (postgraduate/master's) programmes
⏳
Duration
One academic year per award cycle, renewable for the standard duration of the degree
🌎
Fields
All academic fields offered by eligible Cypriot institutions
🏛️
Provider
Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation (CSSF / IKYK)
The Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation (known locally as IKYK) is the Republic of Cyprus body responsible for awarding annual state scholarships to students studying in Cyprus, based on academic performance or a combination of academic performance and socio-economic criteria. Awards are fixed annual grants rather than a full cost-of-living package, and are open to Cypriot, EU, and third-country nationals who meet the Foundation's criteria.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants are assessed either purely on academic performance or on a combination of academic performance and socio-economic (financial need) criteria, depending on the specific scholarship category administered by CSSF. Because CSSF administers multiple distinct award categories rather than one uniform scheme, the specific documentation required (income statements for the need-based category, transcripts for the merit-only category) differs by which category an applicant is assessed under.
🏛️ Host University
Public and accredited private universities in Cyprus
🤝 Sponsor
Republic of Cyprus, Ministry of Finance
🌎 Fields of Study
All academic fields offered by eligible Cypriot institutions
✨ Key Benefits
Awardees receive a fixed annual cash grant of up to EUR 3,000 for undergraduate study or up to EUR 4,000 for postgraduate study, awarded on academic merit or a combination of merit and financial need. This is a fixed annual grant rather than a full-cost scholarship — it does not separately cover tuition, housing, or living expenses beyond the stated amount.
🎯 Target Students
Cypriot, EU, and third-country (non-EU) students studying in Cyprus
🏷 Tags
Cyprus
Europe
Undergraduate
Master's
Government Scholarship
Merit-based
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
No (the award is a fixed annual grant, not a tuition waiver)
Living Stipend
No separate stipend; the annual grant amount is paid as a lump sum
Total Award
Up to EUR 3,000 per year for first-cycle (undergraduate) programmes and up to EUR 4,000 per year for second-cycle (postgraduate/master's) programmes
✈️ Travel: No
🏠 Accommodation: No
💊 Health Insurance: No
🔄 Renewable: Yes
💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
No (the award is a fixed annual grant, not a tuition waiver)
🏠 Living Stipend
No separate stipend; the annual grant amount is paid as a lump sum
📋 Renewal Conditions
Renewal requires satisfactory academic progress in each subsequent year of study.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Cypriot, EU, or third-country nationals enrolled in an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate programme at a recognized institution in Cyprus.
🎓 Academic Level
Undergraduate (first-cycle) and Postgraduate (second-cycle)
💼 Work Experience
Not required
💰 Financial Need
Considered for the socio-economic scholarship category; not a factor for the purely merit-based category
🎯 Target Students
Cypriot, EU, and third-country (non-EU) students studying in Cyprus
📝 Application Requirements
Documents Required
- Academic Transcripts
- Passport / National ID
- Recommendation Letters
- CV / Resume
- Personal Statement / Essays
📋 Application Process
Apply through the official Gov.cy portal under the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation service, and confirm which of the two award categories (pure merit or merit-plus-socioeconomic) applies to your situation before submitting documents. Gather income and family documentation early if applying under the merit-plus-socioeconomic category, since that category requires more supporting paperwork than the pure-merit track.