About the university
The Open University of Cyprus (OUC) is a public distance-learning university in Cyprus. It describes itself as a public digital university specialising in distance education, with recognised bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes taught online through its eClass platform.
Most OUC programmes are taught in Greek, but six master's degrees are taught in English: The Open MBA, MSc Human-Computer Interaction, MSc Cognitive Systems (joint with the University of Cyprus), MSc Enterprise Risk Management, a joint MSc in International Shipping Management with the Cyprus University of Technology, and a joint MSc in Security and Defence with the Hellenic Air Force Academy.
Indian students consider OUC because it is a public European university with low fees (about €5,400–7,600 for a whole English-taught master's) and because students can study from home while working. Note that it is a distance-learning university: it is not a route to living and studying on campus in Cyprus, so check how an online degree fits your plans in India or abroad.
OUC is based in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, but teaching, tutorials and, for some programmes, exams take place online.
- Type
- Public digital university specialising in distance education
- Study mode
- Online and distance learning through the eClass platform; students study from home
- Programmes
- 31 study programmes; seven are listed as taught in English (one bachelor's, six master's)
- Graduates
- 10,739 (OUC homepage)
- Academic staff
- 254 academic members (OUC homepage)
- Faculties
- Humanities and Social Sciences; Economic Sciences and Management; Pure and Applied Sciences
- Next intake
- Spring semester (January 2027); applications 16 September–10 November 2026
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
The Open MBA (Master of Business Administration), in English
- Fee / year
- €5,850
- Duration
- 90 ECTS: nine semester-long modules, or seven modules plus an Applied Business Dissertation (online)
- Intakes
- January 2027 (spring semester); apply online 16 September–10 November 2026
- English
- IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent certificate, submitted with the application
- Postgraduate
MSc Human-Computer Interaction
- Fee / year
- €4,650
- Duration
- 3 semesters full time (90 ECTS, online)
- Intakes
- January 2027 (spring semester); apply online 16 September–10 November 2026
- English
- IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent certificate, submitted with the application
- Postgraduate
MSc Cognitive Systems (joint with the University of Cyprus)
- Fee / year
- €2,700
- Duration
- 4 semesters full time (120 ECTS, blended distance learning)
- Intakes
- January 2027 (spring semester); apply online 16 September–10 November 2026
- English
- IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent certificate, submitted with the application
- Postgraduate
Joint MSc International Shipping Management (with Cyprus University of Technology)
- Fee / year
- €5,070
- Duration
- Modules over 3 semesters (90 ECTS, online)
- Intakes
- January 2027 (spring semester); apply online 16 September–10 November 2026
- English
- IELTS 5.5 overall or CEFR B2 and above
- Postgraduate
MSc Enterprise Risk Management
- Fee / year
- €3,000
- Duration
- Modules over 4 semesters (120 ECTS, online)
- Intakes
- January 2027 (spring semester); apply online 16 September–10 November 2026
- English
- Very good command of English; OUC's English requirements document sets the minimum (IELTS 5.5 for its other English-taught master's)
- Postgraduate
Joint MSc Security and Defence (with the Hellenic Air Force Academy)
- Fee / year
- €3,720
- Duration
- 3 semesters full time (90 ECTS, online)
- Intakes
- January 2027 (spring semester); apply online 16 September–10 November 2026
- English
- IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent certificate, submitted with the application
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Open MBA (Master of Business Administration), in English | 90 ECTS: nine semester-long modules, or seven modules plus an Applied Business Dissertation (online) | €5,850 | ≈ ₹6.2 lakh |
| MSc Human-Computer Interaction | 3 semesters full time (90 ECTS, online) | €4,650 | ≈ ₹4.9 lakh |
| MSc Cognitive Systems (joint with the University of Cyprus) | 4 semesters full time (120 ECTS, blended distance learning) | €2,700 | ≈ ₹2.9 lakh |
| Joint MSc International Shipping Management (with Cyprus University of Technology) | Modules over 3 semesters (90 ECTS, online) | €5,070 | ≈ ₹5.4 lakh |
| MSc Enterprise Risk Management | Modules over 4 semesters (120 ECTS, online) | €3,000 | ≈ ₹3.2 lakh |
| Joint MSc Security and Defence (with the Hellenic Air Force Academy) | 3 semesters full time (90 ECTS, online) | €3,720 | ≈ ₹3.9 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Open University of Cyprus with similar universities in Cyprus.
Scholarships
- Postgraduate
Advance payment discount (The Open MBA)
Value: 7% off the modules you pay for in advance
Eligibility: Students who pay for their chosen modules in full within the advance payment period.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Postgraduate
Programme discounts for 2026/27
Value: 10% (HCI, International Shipping Management) or 15% (Security and Defence) off the module fees
Eligibility: Applies to students on these programmes in the stated academic years; see each programme page.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- OUC's only English-taught bachelor's (BSc Business Economics, joint with the Hellenic Open University) will not run in 2026/27 and its fee has not been announced.
- The entry requirement for that programme is a school leaving certificate (for Indian students, Class 12) and IELTS 5.5 or equivalent.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Some programmes ask for a related subject: computing, information systems, data science or psychology for HCI; STEM, cognitive science or psychology for Cognitive Systems; computing or engineering for Security and Defence.
- The Open MBA accepts a degree in any subject; work experience is useful.
- IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent English certificate, uploaded with the application.
- Good computer skills and a computer or tablet with internet, headphones and a microphone.
- Apply online only, through OUC's admissions portal.
Documents
- Online application form
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts
- English certificate (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent)
- Copy of passport
- Short statement where the programme asks for one (for example, HCI asks you to show you can build a prototype)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 minimum for the English-taught master's programmes |
| CEFR | B2 or above accepted for International Shipping Management |
| Other certificates | OUC accepts certificates it treats as equivalent to IELTS 5.5; see the English requirements document linked from each programme page |
Accommodation and living costs
OUC teaches online, so students study from home through the eClass platform and do not need to move to Cyprus. We found no student housing on OUC's website.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
OUC is based in Nicosia, but it is a distance-learning university: lectures, tutorials and communication take place online through its eClass platform.
- Study from home at your own pace on the eClass learning platform.
- Gold awards at the Cyprus Education Leaders Awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for its digital learning platform.
- Joint degrees with the University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology and the Hellenic Air Force Academy.
- Erasmus+ member and part of European and international university networks.
Careers and graduate outcomes
OUC's online model lets students keep working while they study. The university does not publish graduate employment figures. Because teaching is online, ask OUC how an online degree fits any plan to work in Cyprus or elsewhere; see our Cyprus guide for visa and work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduates to date | 10,739 | OUC homepage, October 2026 |
Studying in Cyprus
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Cyprus. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Cyprus
Photo: UniversitydeCyprus, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicUniversity of Cyprus (official website, opens in a new tab)
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Photo: Michailia, CC BY-SA 4.0 PrivateFrederick University (official website, opens in a new tab)
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FAQs
Do I need to move to Cyprus to study at OUC?
No. OUC is a distance-learning university and teaches online through its eClass platform, so you study from home.
How much does an English-taught master's cost?
Whole-programme fees range from €5,400 (Cognitive Systems) to €6,975 (Human-Computer Interaction). International Shipping Management has a non-EU fee of €7,605, or €6,844.50 with the current discount.
What English score do I need?
IELTS 5.5 or an equivalent certificate for the English-taught master's programmes.
When can I start?
The next intake is the spring semester starting in January 2027. Applications are open online from 16 September to 10 November 2026.
Are all programmes in English?
No. Most OUC programmes are in Greek. Six master's degrees are taught in English; the English-taught BSc Business Economics will not run in 2026/27.
Sources
- Open University of Cyprus: homepage (opens in a new tab)
- Open University of Cyprus: why choose OUC (opens in a new tab)
- Open University of Cyprus: studies (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: The Open MBA (English) (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: MSc Human-Computer Interaction (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: MSc Cognitive Systems (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: MSc International Shipping Management (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: MSc Enterprise Risk Management (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: MSc Security and Defence (opens in a new tab)
- OUC: BSc Business Economics (English) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.ouc.ac.cy (opens in a new tab)
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