Cyprus Health And Social Sciences University

Why Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University

Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (CHSSU) is a private university in Northern Cyprus with a clear specialty: health and social sciences. Founded in 2016, it has quickly grown into the largest specialised health-and-social-sciences university in Northern Cyprus, hosting 4,000+ students from 40+ countries. It is a leading destination for students wanting to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and the social sciences in English, with a strongly practical, hands-on approach, on-campus clinics, 25+ labs and its own teaching hospital, and generous scholarships that make it genuinely affordable.

History & milestones

CHSSU was established in 2016 in the Güzelyurt (Morphou) district of Northern Cyprus. In the same year it completed a modern campus and earned accreditation from Turkey’s YÖK and the TRNC authorities to teach health and social sciences. From the start it built practical training into its curriculum, establishing state-of-the-art laboratories and an on-campus university hospital (the CHSSU Polyclinic) and partnering with local hospitals for clinical internships. In just a few years it grew rapidly in enrolment and programs, becoming the region’s largest specialised institution of its kind and earning a reputation for its hands-on educational approach.

Güzelyurt & the campus

CHSSU is based in Güzelyurt (Morphou), a historic, safe and student-friendly college town in Northern Cyprus, quiet and culturally rich, yet close to the island’s Mediterranean beaches and the capital, Nicosia. The campus is modern and self-contained, with over 80,000 m² of green space, on-site student dormitories, multiple cafeterias, a mini-market, sports facilities and plenty of leisure areas. The cost of living in Güzelyurt is notably lower than larger cities, and the multicultural community (dozens of nationalities) makes for a welcoming setting that combines academic focus with cultural exposure and a high quality of life.

Vision & mission

CHSSU’s vision is to become a nationally and internationally recognised centre of excellence in health and social sciences education. Its mission is to educate professional, ethical leaders who positively impact their communities, through student-centred education at European and global standards, innovative research and practical skills, and values of openness, leadership and lifelong learning. The university deliberately blends theory with practice (clinical work, laboratories and internships) so graduates leave academically accomplished and genuinely experienced.

Rankings & recognition

As a young, specialised university, CHSSU is not yet in prestige tables like QS or THE, but it appears in Webometrics 2023 (~12,243 globally, 11th in Northern Cyprus) and uniRank (~24,698 globally, 9th in Northern Cyprus). Within its niche of health and social sciences it has quickly become one of the top private universities in the TRNC, and its growing research output is expected to lift its rankings further. Its real strengths, however, lie in its accreditations and its practical, hospital-based training.

Academics & language of instruction

CHSSU offers 60+ programs across associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. English is the primary language of instruction for most programs (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Business, Engineering and more), with some programs in Turkish; an on-campus English Preparatory School (plus Turkish courses) ensures language is never a barrier. The curriculum is consistently practice-led, pairing classroom learning with simulation labs, clinical rotations and internships.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Medicine, a 6-year MD in English, with early and frequent clinical exposure in the university’s own hospital and partner clinics, and a problem-based curriculum.
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year BDS (English) with an advanced simulation clinic, plus rare postgraduate dental specialties (Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Periodontology).
• Faculty of Pharmacy, a 5-year BPharm (English) with a real on-campus training pharmacy and modern pharmacology labs.
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, a 5-year DVM (English), a rare offering, with small- and large-animal clinics.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nutrition & Dietetics and allied health (mostly Turkish, with English support), using simulation labs and hospital placements.
• Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Business Administration (IACBE-accredited), International Relations, Economics, Psychology and Education, with case studies, projects and internships.
• Faculty of Engineering (new), Biomedical Engineering and Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering (unique in Northern Cyprus), in English.
• Vocational School of Health Services & School of Physical Education and Sports, 2-year health-technician diplomas and sports-science/management programs.

Tuition & scholarships

CHSSU is very affordable and pairs low fees with generous aid; figures below are approximate guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Bachelor’s: ~$2,250-8,000 / year (Business and Nursing at the lower end; Medicine and Dentistry at the higher end)
• Master’s: ~$2,000-6,000 / year (non-thesis lower; specialised clinical master’s higher)
• PhD: ~$8,000-12,000 for the program (advanced doctoral specialties higher)

Crucially, many international students receive a 50% scholarship, and high-performing or need-based candidates can be awarded up to 75%, and these hold for all years of study, even through academic difficulties. Sibling and early-enrolment discounts, minimal application fees, government Türkiye Scholarships and Northern Cyprus’s low living costs make CHSSU one of the most economical quality options around.

Graduate studies

Graduate education, run by the Graduate Education and Research Institute, is a strong part of CHSSU. Master’s degrees (1.5-2 years, thesis or non-thesis) include the MBA, Clinical Psychology, Health Management, International Relations, Sports Management, Educational Administration, Nutrition & Dietetics and Physiotherapy, plus advanced dental specialty master’s. PhD programs span Pharmacy, Business Administration, Educational Management, Clinical Psychology and Physiotherapy, alongside doctoral dental specialties. Small classes, flexible (evening/weekend) scheduling, research centres, assistantships and partnerships (including study-abroad and partner-hospital data) give graduate students close mentorship and real research experience.

Campus & facilities

CHSSU’s standout asset is its practical-training infrastructure, 25+ specialised laboratories and clinics, including the on-campus CHSSU Polyclinic teaching hospital, a high-tech dental simulation clinic, a working training pharmacy, anatomy, nursing and physiotherapy labs, and veterinary clinics. The central library offers print and digital collections, quiet and group study rooms, computer labs and campus Wi-Fi. Recreation is excellent for the region, a swimming pool, fitness center, tennis and basketball courts and open fields, alongside two cafeterias and cafés (with international and halal options), a mini-market and bookstore, and a campus-dormitory shuttle.

Student services & campus life

CHSSU offers comprehensive support: an International Office providing orientation, visa/residence-permit help, bank-account and insurance guidance and cultural excursions; academic support (study-skills and writing workshops, tutoring, office hours); a Career Planning Center with counselling, CV/interview workshops, career fairs and internship placement; and counselling, health and accessibility services (wheelchair access and accommodations for students with disabilities). Campus life is vibrant, dozens of student clubs (Medical Students Association, Business Club, African and Middle Eastern student unions, music, theatre, debate, robotics), sports leagues and cultural nights, making for a balanced, multicultural and welcoming experience.

Accreditations & recognition

CHSSU is fully accredited by Turkey’s YÖK and North Cyprus’s YÖDAK, so its degrees are valid in Turkey and the TRNC and widely recognised internationally. It is listed by UK ENIC/NARIC (confirming UK-equivalent degrees) and recognised by education authorities across the Middle East and Africa (including Libya, Sudan and Egypt). Its business programs hold IACBE accreditation, and it is a member of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and EURAS. It maintains notable partnerships, with London South Bank University (UK), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Iran) and leading Turkish universities Gazi and Başkent, supporting exchange, joint research and additional training facilities.

Special highlights & why choose

CHSSU’s appeal is a practice-first health and social-sciences education at outstanding value. Its English-medium Medicine offers early hospital training; its Dentistry flagship combines a simulation clinic with rare postgraduate specialties; Pharmacy runs a real training pharmacy; and it offers an unusual DVM (Veterinary) plus distinctive Biomedical and Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering. Add IACBE-accredited Business, generous 50-75% scholarships that last all years, a safe and affordable college-town setting on a Mediterranean island, and broad international recognition (YÖK, YÖDAK, UK ENIC), and Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University is a compelling, budget-friendly gateway to a globally recognised degree.