Education System in Northern Cyprus: Schools, Documents, and Admission

The academic year in public kindergartens and schools in Northern Cyprus usually begins in mid-September. To enroll a child in a public school, it is important to prepare the documents in advance, confirm the place of residence, and in some cases take the STS Turkish language test.

Official academic calendar of the Ministry of Education

• How the education system is structured
• Number of public and private institutions
• Basic documents for admission
• If the child attended a local kindergarten
• If the child did not attend kindergarten and is enrolling in 1st grade
• If the child studied at a private school in Northern Cyprus
• If the child is enrolling in a grade above first
• STS Turkish language test
• Frequently asked questions
• If you need a consultation

How the education system is structured

In Northern Cyprus, the education system includes preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education. Schooling usually takes place five days a week.

• Okul Öncesi — preschool education for children aged 3–5;
• İlkokul — primary school, grades 1–5;
• Ortaokul — secondary school, grades 6–8;
• Lise — high school, grades 9–12;
• Vocational and technical high school — a separate category of upper secondary school with a vocational specialization;
• Universities and colleges — higher education, where programs are often taught in English or Turkish.

In private kindergartens and schools, the language of instruction may be English, Turkish, or mixed. In public schools, the main language of instruction is Turkish, so for a child who has not previously studied in the local system, confirmation of Turkish language proficiency is required.

All public schools in Northern Cyprus have a mandatory school uniform. The requirements for the color, set, and appearance of the uniform depend on the specific school.

Number of public and private institutions

According to official statistics in Northern Cyprus:

Basic documents for admission

For all cases of a child’s admission, a basic set of documents is required:

• child’s passport: original and copy;
• passport of the parent or parents: original and copy;
• document confirming the parent’s legal residence in Northern Cyprus;
• rental agreement or ownership document;
• mukhtar certificate for the place of residence;
• preliminary reservation of a place at the school where admission is planned;
• application or form according to the Ministry of Education template.

The set of documents is submitted to the Ministry of Education in Nicosia KKTC MİLLÎ EĞİTİM VE KÜLTÜR BAKANLIĞI, to the office according to the child’s age. The documents are checked on site and then forwarded for signature. Even if the academic year has already started, the child may begin attending school only after final approval of the documents.

If the child attended a local kindergarten

If the child attended a local kindergarten in Northern Cyprus, the following are usually additionally required:

• a certificate from the kindergarten confirming attendance;
• a recommendation from the teacher.

In such cases, the procedure is usually simpler. The school may reserve a place in advance, and the Ministry notifies the school that the documents are under review.

If the child did not attend kindergarten and is enrolling in 1st grade

If the child did not attend a local kindergarten and is enrolling in the first grade of a public school, confirmation of Turkish language proficiency is required.

In addition to the basic set of documents, the following is needed:

• the result of the STS Turkish language test.

Without a successful language test result, the child cannot apply for a free public school.

If the child studied at a private school in Northern Cyprus

If the child studied at a private school in Northern Cyprus with instruction in English and is transferring to a public school, confirmation of Turkish language proficiency is also required.

Additionally, the following are needed:

• a certificate from the private school;
• a report card or grades;
• a document confirming the completed grade;
• the result of the Turkish language test.

If the child is enrolling in a grade above first

For children enrolling in any grade above first, the Ministry of Education additionally checks documents about previous studies.

Additionally required:

• a certificate from the previous school;
• report cards or grades for previous years;
• a document confirming the completed grade;
• a notarized translation of school documents into Turkish, if the documents are not in Turkish;
• the result of the Turkish language proficiency test.

After checking the documents, the Ministry of Education determines which grade the child can be enrolled in. Review of the document package may take about 1–3 weeks.

STS Turkish language test

The Turkish language proficiency test is called STS — Seviye Tespit Sınavı. It is administered by AÖA TÖKMER at Atatürk Teacher Academy (Nicosia).

The exam is not held only before the start of the academic year. AÖA website publishes STS announcements for different months of the year.

For admission by September, the test is usually taken in late August or early September.

At the time of publication of the article, the test price according to the published price list was 3,500 TL. It is recommended to check the current price before submitting documents.

How to do it

1. The parent comes to AÖA TÖKMER.
2. Books a place for the exam.
3. Fills out a form with information about previous schools and additional courses.
4. Pays for the exam (card/cash).
5. Receives the date and time of the test.
6. Arrives with the child for the exam at the appointed time.
7. Checks the result online in the TÖKMER → Duyurular. section
8. Receives the official certificate in person.

What is assessed in the exam:

• understanding of spoken Turkish;
• speaking skills;
• basic command of Turkish.

The following system is used in the results:

• GEÇTİ — passed;
• KALDI — failed.

For level A1.1, a score of 60 points or higher is considered a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

When does the academic year start in Northern Cyprus?

In public schools and kindergartens, the academic year usually begins in mid-September.

Do kindergartens follow the same calendar as schools?

Public kindergartens usually follow the primary education calendar. Private kindergartens may have an earlier adaptation week.

Can a child enroll in a public school without knowing Turkish?

If the child did not attend a local kindergarten or school, confirmation of Turkish language proficiency is required.

Is the Turkish test required if the child studied at a private English school?

Yes, when transferring to a public school with instruction in Turkish, the test is required.

Where is the STS test held?

The test is held at AÖA TÖKMER in Nicosia.

How much does the STS test cost?

According to the published price list, the price is 3,500 TL. Before submitting documents, it is worth checking the current amount with AÖA TÖKMER.

Can the test results be seen online?

Yes, the results are published online on the AÖA website in the TÖKMER → Duyurular section.

How long does it take to review admission documents?

Review of the document package usually takes about 1–3 weeks.