Home​ Education systems​

Cyprus

To which Dutch diplomas can you compare diplomas from Cyprus?

Diploma CyQF EQF Comparable to NLQF EQF
Apolytirio Techniki kai Epaggelmatiki Scholi (Τεχνική και Επαγγελματική Σχολή) 4 4 a HAVO diploma for the general education part, for the vocational education part usually an MBO diploma 3, sometimes an MBO diploma level 4 4 4
Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) with the commerce and service specialisation (Εμπόριου και Υπηρεσιών) 4 4 a HAVO diploma 4 4
Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) with the fine arts specialisation (Καλών Τεχνών) 4 4 a HAVO diploma 4 4
Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) with the classical studies and humanities specialisation (Κλασικών και Ανθρωπιστικών Σπουδών) 4 4 at least a HAVO diploma, with the possibility of a VWO diploma if the higher education entrance exams* are passed with an average grade of at least 10 4 of 4+ 4
Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) with the economic sciences specialisation (Οικονομικών Επιστημών) 4 4 at least a HAVO diploma, with the possibility of a VWO diploma if the higher education entrance exams* are passed with an average grade of at least 10 4 of 4+ 4
Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) with the foreign languages and European studies specialisation (Ξένων Γλώσσων και Ευρωπαϊκών Σπουδών) 4 4 at least a HAVO diploma, with the possibility of a VWO diploma if the higher education entrance exams* are passed with an average grade of at least 10 4 of 4+ 4
Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) with the natural sciences/life sciences/information science/technology specialisation (Θετικών Επιστημών /Βιοεπιστημών/Πληροφορικής/Τεχνολογίας) 4 4 at least a HAVO diploma, with the possibility of a VWO diploma if the higher education entrance exams* are passed with an average grade of at least 10 4 of 4+ 4
Ptychio (Πτυχίο) from a university 6 6 an HBO bachelor's degree or a WO bachelor's degree 6 6
Ptychio (Πτυχίο) from a Higher Education Institution 6 6 an HBO bachelor's degree or a WO bachelor's degree 6 6
Master (Μάστερ) from a university 7 7 an HBO master's degree or a WO master's degree 7 7
Metaptychiako Diploma (Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα) from a university 7 7 an HBO master's degree or a WO master's degree 7 7
Master (Μάστερ) from a Higher Education Institution 7 7 an HBO master's degree or a WO master's degree 7 7
Metaptychiako Diploma (Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα) from a Higher Education Institution 7 7 an HBO master's degree or a WO master's degree 7 7

* - for more information, see the highlighted blocks at the bottom of this page

In Cyprus, an Apolytirio Lykeiou (Απολυτήριο Λυκείου) grants access to the Pancypriot Exams (Παγκύπριες Εξετάσεις Πρόσβασης), which serve as the entrance examinations for higher education. The level of this entrance examination is comparable to the level of the Dutch VWO. Students who achieve an average score of at least 10 on the Pancypriot Exams have attained a level equivalent to a VWO diploma.

Entrance exams

After obtaining the Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou, students must take the Pancrypriot exams (Παγκύπριες Εξετάσεις Πρόσβασης) to be able to progress to higher education. These are centralized exams graded on a scale of 0 to 20, with 10 considered a passing grade.

Approximately half of the candidates achieve a score of at least 10 on the entrance exams. However, grades can vary significantly by subject. For example, a candidate might have an overall average below 10 but a high grade in mathematics; this implies that the mathematics subject was at a higher level than the other subjects taken. An average of at least 10 combined with a low grade in a subject like mathematics implies that mathematics was achieved at a lower level than the other subjects. Consequently, the grade per subject can be relevant when applying for a credential evaluation.

These exams usually take place in June. In July, the exam results are published and candidates receive the results of the entrance exams. The document containing these results may have varying titles. Examples are: Δελτίο Αποτελεσμάτων Υποψηφίου Παγκύπριες Εξετάσεις Πρόσβασης (year of attendance) (translation: Candidate Results Bulletin Pan-Cypriot Entrance Exams (year)) and Δελτίο Γενικού Βαθμού Πρόσβασης Κάταταξης γιά Εισαγωγή στα ΑΑΕΙ Ελλάδας Παγκύπριες Εξετάσεις Πρόσβασης (year) (translation: General overview of entry requirements/rankings for the Greek Pan-Cypriot Entrance Exams (year)). This document lists all the subjects the candidate was examined in, along with the grade achieved for each. It also includes a score assigned by the Ministry, calculated based on these grades and the candidate's performance relative to all other candidates that year.

Candidates can retrieve their exam results digitally by logging in to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.