Cyprus Sets The Benchmark: 74% Of Master’s Students Are Women In 2022

Cyprus is rewriting the rulebook on higher education in the European Union. According to Eurostat data, the island nation recorded the highest percentage of women in master’s programs among EU member states in 2022 while also boasting one of the strongest showings in doctoral studies.

Master’s Programs: A New Standard In Gender Equality

In 2022, Cyprus enrolled 9,359 master’s (or equivalent) students, of whom 6,948 were women—a striking 74.2%. This figure outpaces other EU nations, with Poland (67.3%) and Lithuania (66.1%) trailing behind. Across the EU, women make up 58.6% of master’s students (905,678 out of 1.5 million), a majority in every country except Luxembourg, where gender parity prevails.

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Doctoral Studies: Climbing The Ladder

Cyprus isn’t stopping at master’s programs. At the doctoral level, 83 out of 143 students in 2022 were female (58.0%), placing Cyprus second only to Latvia (59.6%) and ahead of Lithuania (57.4%). In comparison, the EU-wide average stands at 48.5% (48,079 out of 99,204).

A Decade Of Progress

Over the past decade, the EU has seen a slight decline of 0.4 percentage points in the share of women in master’s studies—driven by modest decreases in 12 countries, ranging from -0.1 in Slovenia to -3.6% in Hungary. In stark contrast, the share of women in doctoral studies has grown by 1.0 percentage point overall, with Cyprus registering the most impressive surge: an 8.0 percentage point increase from 2013 to 2022.

Implications For The Future

These figures highlight Cyprus as a leader in fostering gender equality in higher education, a crucial factor for driving future innovation and leadership. With such a robust commitment to empowering women at the highest academic levels, Cyprus is not only setting a benchmark for the EU but also paving the way for a more diverse and dynamic knowledge economy.

As the global spotlight increasingly focuses on diversity and inclusion, Cyprus’ standout performance in both master’s and doctoral studies signals a promising shift toward a more balanced and innovative future in higher education.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Could Turn 30,000 Empty Buildings Into New Homes

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Vacant Properties Could Be Renovated For Housing And Community Use

Cyprus has an estimated 30,000 vacant or abandoned buildings that could be renovated and brought back into use, potentially helping ease pressure on the housing market, particularly for renters.

Former parliamentary Environment Committee chairman Charalambos Theopemptou examined how other EU countries deal with vacant properties and outlined several measures Cyprus could consider.

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Lessons From Europe

Countries such as Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal use different combinations of renovation grants, tax measures and urban renewal programmes to encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use.

Ireland offers grants of up to €50,000 for vacant homes and €70,000 for derelict properties, while France and Spain use tax measures in areas with high housing demand. Portugal supports renovation through a dedicated urban renewal fund. Cyprus currently offers grants of up to €40,000 for renovating a three-bedroom home.

Creating A National Register

Theopemptou suggested creating a comprehensive register of vacant, abandoned and dangerous buildings, with municipalities and communities working alongside the Interior Ministry and technical services.

Properties could be classified according to their condition, historical or architectural value and location. Buildings near schools, public transport, local centres or areas with demand for affordable housing could receive priority.

He also proposed combining financial incentives with simpler procedures and faster technical assistance for owners willing to restore unused properties.

Putting Empty Buildings To Work

Once renovated, vacant properties could provide affordable and student housing, small businesses, cultural spaces and other community facilities. Long-term leases, partnerships with owners, social enterprises and unused municipal buildings could also contribute.

Many properties may not require major reconstruction. Structural assessments, cleaning, basic repairs, energy improvements, accessibility upgrades and reconnection to utilities could be enough to return some buildings to use.

Theopemptou also called for faster permits for smaller renovation projects and greater use of EU funding linked to the Renovation Wave initiative. Local authorities could further improve transparency by publishing data on vacant properties, including how many have been classified as dangerous, renovated or returned to use.

Bringing more of Cyprus’s unused buildings back into circulation could increase the housing supply while revitalising neighbourhoods and improving quality of life.

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