Cyprus introduces grants for nursing students to address labor shortages

The Cyprus Council of Ministers has approved a new financial support program for nursing and midwifery students to address a critical national shortage, currently estimated at approximately 600 professionals. Announced by Health Minister Neophytos Charalambidis, the initiative aims to attract more students to these professions and strengthen the public health sector.

The program, effective from the 2026-27 academic year, provides annual grants to permanent residents of Cyprus enrolled in recognized local study programs, regardless of their financial status. The funding is scaled by year: 1,000 euros for the first year, 1,250 for the second, 1,500 for the third, and 2,000 for the fourth year. A key condition for receiving the grant is a mandatory commitment from students to work in the Cypriot nursing profession for at least two years following graduation.

This policy follows long-standing recruitment challenges that have left significant legislation, such as provisions for community nursing and palliative care, largely inactive for months. The government hopes this measure will bridge the current workforce gap in public hospitals and ensure a steady supply of healthcare professionals for the near future.