About TRNC
An attractive spot in Mediterranean Sea:
North Cyprus enjoys picturesque nature, beautiful beaches, and monuments standing in testimony of many different civilizations and cultures that have inhabited the island throughout the history.
North Cyprus offers the perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life. Enjoying more than half of the island's 480 miles of spectacular coastline, North Cyprus boasts a myriad of picturesque coves and beautiful broad bays backed by historical harbors and citrus groves. Whether it's swimming on secluded stretches of sandy beaches in the Karpaz, enjoying the excellent facilities and activities of private hotel beaches or scuba-diving in one of the region's spectacular dive sites, there's a great choice for beach-lovers. Indeed, it's no surprise that according to legend, Julius Caesar gave the island to Cleopatra as a token of his love.
World-famous Golden Beach:
Further along the East coast, at the foot of the Karpaz peninsula in the Yeni Iskele district is Boğaz, a sleepy fishing village in an utterly tranquil location. Here, you are within easy reach of the Karpaz itself which boasts some of the island's most deserted sandy beaches. The highlight of this area is the Golden Beach, one of the world's finest and longest beaches, with magnificent sands that stretch for more than 3 kilometres. The beach is fringed with magnificent sand dunes and it is here that turtles roam and make their nurseries.
Language:
The official language is Turkish, but English is also widely spoken as a second language.
A Safe Place to Study:
Crime Rate in North Cyprus is one of the lowest around the World.
Climate:
North Cyprus enjoys a very pleasant climate, with warm, dry summers and mild winters, and an average of 300 days of sunshine. In August, the hottest month, mean temperatures range from 21°C to 36°C and in the coldest months of January and February, the average temperature is around 10°C, with a winter average of 6 hours daily sunshine and only moderate rain, making it an ideal year-round destination.
Religion
The majority of the Turkish Cypriots are Muslims.
Cuisine:
The culture of a place is always reflected in its kitchen, and Northern Cyprus is no exception. North Cyprus cuisine embodies influences from north (South-Eastern Europe), east (Western Asia), south (northern Africa), and west (Mediterranean) resulting in excellent choices from pasta dishes made of dough, raw and cooked vegetables, different types of seafood and meat kebabs, and finally mouth-watering deserts. Eating out is popular amongst locals and the choice of cuisine reflects this. In larger towns, a range of international restaurants also offer dishes from around the world.
Fees and Living Expenses:
North Cyprus Universities offer affordable tuition fees and moderate living expenses Estimated average living expenses for international students are 200-250 US dollars per month including accommodation.
Transportation:
How to Come to North Cyprus:
By Plane:
Flights to Northern Cyprus are conducted via Turkey. Students should obtain a transit visa to Turkey from the nearest Turkish Embassy. However, students located close to Islamabad – Pakistan; Baku – Azerbaijan and Abu-Dhabi – UAE can obtain a clearance document from TRNC Representative that will help to enter TRNC. Also students must have an original copy of the Acceptance Letter issued and send by the university.
Students can do their flight booking as transit passengers from Istanbul. Providing that students do not leave transit region in Turkey, then no entry visa to Turkey will be required.
The final destination of arrival should be Ercan Airport located 10 km away from the capital of Cyprus – Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Links:
Entry Requirements:
A valid passport is required for entry to North Cyprus.
Transportation from/to campus is provided by Universities. Apart from this, a good inexpensive network of buses and mini-buses operates between all the main towns, in addition there are Dolmush (shared taxis) operating on the same routes. Taxis are widely available.
Click for Visa Requirements for Foreign Students (http://international.ncc.metu.edu.tr/immigration-and-residency-updates)
Electricity:
240 volts Ac. 50 Hz.
Traffic:
Driving is on the left. Traffic and road signs are international. Maximum speed is 100 km/hr. Vehicles entering North Cyprus must be insured upon arrival.
Banking and Exchange:
Currency is the Turkish Lira. Eurocheques, Travelers cheques, Sterling, Dollars and other major currencies may be used or exchanged throughout North Cyprus.
Family Life:
For Turkish Cypriots, family life is of ultimate importance and therefore a great amount of their free time is spent at family gatherings, barbeques and weddings. All towns and even some villages hold festivals many of which are in the early summer (see events).
Hotels
If you wish to visit the campus, but also enjoy Cyprus as well, there are many hotels that you can choose from.
Please make sure to check the distance from the hotel to campus when making your booking.
Towns, distances from campus and travel fares are below;
Town |
Distance to Campus |
Taxi Fare (Turkish Lira)* |
Bus/Dolmuş Fare (Turkish Lira)* |
---|---|---|---|
Güzelyurt |
9 Km / 10 Mins |
15 - 20 TL |
2 TL |
Lefke |
32 Km / 30 Mins |
65 - 80 TL |
10 - 15 TL |
Lefkoşa |
35 Km / 40 Mins |
65 - 80 TL |
10 - 15 TL |
Karşıyaka (West Girne) |
32 Km / 30 Mins |
65 - 80 TL |
10 - 15 TL |
Alsancak (West Girne) |
33 Km / 30 Mins |
65 - 80 TL |
10 - 15 TL |
Girne Centre |
40 Km / 45 Mins |
80 - 100 TL |
10 - 15 TL |
Çatalkoy (East Girne) |
45 Km / 1 Hr |
80 - 100 TL |
15 - 20 TL |
Esentepe (East Girne) |
1.m / 1 Hr 22 Mins |
100 - 130 TL |
20 - 25 TL |
*Please be aware that fares are updated. Fares may change, so make sure to always ask before you get into a vehicle.
When looking for a hotel, we advise you to use the below links to get the best reviews and prices;
https://www.hotelscombined.com
Useful Link for more information about TRNC: