Four TRNC universities named in global rankings

The report places Near East University in the 501–550 band, followed by the European University of Lefke at 601–650, Cyprus International University at 651–700 and Eastern Mediterranean University at 701–800.

The rankings cover 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, the report said.

THE assesses universities using 18 indicators across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry links. Its rankings therefore reflect a broader range of activities than classroom teaching alone.

Mehmet’s report highlights the importance of international outlook for North Cyprus’s higher education sector, which attracts students from Türkiye and many other countries. The measure considers international academic staff and cross-border research collaboration as well as overseas student numbers.

The inclusion of a fourth institution expands the sector’s international visibility, although ranking bands do not establish an exact position for each university.

The Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) welcomed the universities’ performance, particularly in research quality and international outlook, while stressing that rankings alone cannot determine educational quality.

It said sustained success also required academic freedom, transparent governance, strong research capacity and education centred on students.

The report notes that prospective students should also assess individual courses, facilities, accreditation, fees, scholarships and employment prospects when choosing a university.