Cyprus Sets Cap On Third-Country Students In Private Higher Education Institutions

In a significant policy shift, the Cypriot government has implemented a cap on the number of students from non-EU countries enrolled in private higher education institutions. This new regulation, ratified by the Cabinet, aims to strike a balance between attracting international talent and maintaining educational standards while ensuring adherence to national immigration policies. Effective from the academic year 2024-2025, the cap targets private institutions with high international-student ratios, reflecting Cyprus’ commitment to sustainable growth and quality education.

Rationale Behind the Cap

The decision to introduce this cap is multifaceted. Primarily, it aims to regulate the burgeoning number of international students to ensure that educational quality is not compromised. With a surge in third-country nationals seeking education in Cyprus, there has been growing concern about the capacity of private institutions to maintain high academic standards while accommodating an increasing number of students.

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Furthermore, this policy addresses immigration control, ensuring that the influx of students aligns with the country’s broader immigration and demographic strategies. By managing the number of international students, the government aims to streamline the integration process and avoid potential socio-economic imbalances.

Implementation and Impact

The cap will be enforced starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, giving institutions time to adjust their admission processes and align with the new regulations. The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, will oversee the implementation, ensuring compliance and providing support to institutions during the transition period.

Institutions with a high proportion of third-country students will need to reassess their recruitment strategies and may need to diversify their student base. This shift could lead to enhanced collaboration with EU countries and increased efforts to attract students from within the European Union.

Broader Implications for the Education Sector

This policy is expected to have several implications for the Cypriot education sector. For one, it may prompt private institutions to invest more in facilities, faculty, and resources to attract a diverse student body and maintain competitive standards. Additionally, the cap could encourage a more balanced distribution of international students across various institutions, promoting healthy competition and innovation in the education sector.

Moreover, the cap is part of Cyprus’s broader strategy to enhance the quality of higher education, making it a more attractive destination for high-calibre students globally. By ensuring that private institutions can offer top-notch education without being overwhelmed by numbers, Cyprus aims to solidify its reputation as a hub for quality higher education.

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Cyprus-Based ASBIS Hits Record $1.05bn In Monthly Revenue, Up 216% Year On Year

by News Editor

October 21, 2026

The technology distributor ASBIS Group, headquartered in Limassol, has exceeded $1 billion in monthly sales for the first time in its history, reporting preliminary consolidated revenue of $1.05 billion in September 2026, more than three times the amount recorded a year earlier.

The figure represents a 216% increase from $332 million in September 2025, making it the highest-revenue month in the company’s history.

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ASBIS reported its strongest sales growth in servers and server components, while CEO Serhei Kostevitch pointed to growing demand for artificial intelligence solutions and computing infrastructure as an opportunity for the business.

For a company operating across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, September marked a new sales milestone following several months of substantial year-on-year growth.

Kostevitch attributed the record performance to the group’s existing operations, highlighting its broad product portfolio, international market presence and strong relationships with manufacturers and trading partners.

“Most importantly, this result is the outcome of our regular operating activities,” he said.

The CEO also highlighted the company’s portfolio of projects as a reason for confidence in continued AI-related development.

However, the group’s growth was not limited to AI-related technologies. Smartphones also performed strongly in September, with Kostevitch stressing that “we are growing beyond the AI segment as well.”

Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine accounted for the largest shares of ASBIS’s September revenue, followed by Slovakia and Poland.

Growth Follows Record First Half

September’s results follow a period of strong financial performance for ASBIS.

In July, the company reported preliminary consolidated revenue of $531 million, an increase of 89% compared with the same month in 2025. August brought a further rise to $604 million, up 91% year on year.

September’s $1.05 billion figure represents a substantial increase on both months, although the company has not provided a detailed breakdown explaining the acceleration.

The results also follow a record first half of 2026, when ASBIS generated approximately $2.97 billion in consolidated revenue, up 76% year on year.

Net profit after tax reached $80.6 million, compared with $19.4 million in the same period in 2025.

The second quarter was particularly strong, with revenue reaching $1.69 billion, an increase of 78.7%, while quarterly net profit more than tripled to $44.3 million.

ASBIS has emphasised that its September revenue figures are preliminary estimates and may differ from the final reported results.

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