The Cypriot government and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) have expressed their shared commitment to establishing a university branch in Cyprus. This was confirmed during a meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Palace between President Nikos Christodoulides and NKUA Rector Gerasimos Siassos, in the presence of Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Athina Michailidou, and NKUA's administration.

Rector Siassos announced that a decision has been made to introduce six Greek-language academic programs and one English-language program at the Cyprus branch.

Welcoming the NKUA delegation, President Christodoulides highlighted the university’s historical role in educating generations of Cypriots. He reaffirmed the government’s determination to facilitate the branch's establishment as soon as possible.

"All cities in Cyprus have expressed interest in hosting you. This is a testament to the Cypriots' admiration for the oldest academic institution of Hellenism," he stated.

Rector Siassos emphasized NKUA’s status as the oldest and largest university in Southeastern Europe, founded in 1837. He noted that the institution has educated hundreds of thousands of graduates, including many Cypriots who now hold prominent roles across Cyprus.

"The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has deep ties with Cyprus, historically and academically. The establishment of a branch here is of great significance to us," he said, commending the government for supporting the initiative.

While details are still under discussion, a survey conducted by a private firm found that 90% of Cypriots support NKUA’s presence in Cyprus.

"This expansion will provide high-quality education and attract students from across Southeastern Europe," Siassos noted.

The next phase will involve finalizing the location of the NKUA branch, with discussions ongoing between university officials, the government, and the Archbishop of Cyprus, a NKUA alumnus who has expressed enthusiasm for the project.

Siassos confirmed that the university’s administrative bodies have unanimously approved the expansion, with academic programs already accredited in Greece and ranked among the top 100 globally. The initial programs set to launch in Cyprus include Nursing, Medicine, Psychology, Education Sciences, Philosophy, and Economics.

"The implementation process is under discussion, and while we do not have a finalized timeline yet, we hope to move forward as soon as possible," he added.

Among the anticipated offerings is NKUA’s internationally recognized English-language program in Philosophy and Literary History, the first undergraduate program of its kind established in Greece. The university plans to introduce additional English-language programs once the Cyprus branch is operational.