National and Kapodistrian University of Athens opens Cyprus branch

On September 21, 2026, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) officially welcomed its first cohort of freshmen to its newly established branch in Nicosia, Cyprus. The ceremony marked the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year, with the School of Medicine and the Department of Primary Education being the first units to commence operations.

The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including NKUA Rector Gerasimos Siasos and Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos, who emphasized the importance of this academic expansion for the educational ties between Greece and Cyprus. Other notable attendees included the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, P. Lagou, and department heads N. Arkadopoulos and T. Babalis. The establishment of this branch is part of a broader urban strategy to revitalize the historic center of Nicosia by integrating academic activities to boost local infrastructure and commerce.

Following the launch of the initial departments, the university is expected to integrate the Department of Psychology and the School of Economics into its local operations in the coming days. The initiative is viewed as a significant step toward the internationalization of Greek higher education and the long-term sustainable development of the Cypriot capital's city center.