Number of students applying to north Cyprus universities is decreasing: EMU cooperatives warns

The Eastern Mediterranean University Academic Staff Union (DAÜ-Sen) has raised concerns over the future of higher education in the country, warning that uncontrolled growth and unsustainable scholarship policies could undermine both academic standards and the financial stability of universities.

Evaluating the 2025 YKS (University Entrance Exam) results, DAÜ-Sen noted that while the number of students enrolling in local universities has decreased, the volume of scholarships offered has increased, creating what it described as a dangerous imbalance that risks lowering the quality of education.

“Universities Must Be Centers of Science, Not Just Student Traps”

In its statement, the union stressed that scholarships should be sustainable, quality-oriented, and supported by public funds, rather than serving as a tool for universities to simply attract more students.

“Universities must not be reduced to ‘student traps.’ They should function as centers of science, research, and development,” the union said.

DAÜ-Sen also criticized the lack of a coherent state policy in higher education, likening the current system to “tourism,” where student intake is treated as a market without adequate planning or regulation.

Warning of Academic and Economic Risks

The union warned that if the present trajectory continues, with proliferating small universities competing uncontrollably for students, the higher education system faces the risk of collapse both academically and economically.

DAÜ-Sen urged policymakers to treat higher education as a matter of national strategy, calling for immediate reforms to safeguard quality and sustainability.