Girne American University (GAU) — Admissions, Programs and Tuition

Girne American University is a private university in Kyrenia, North Cyprus. What distinguishes it in our directory is simple and checkable: every one of the 8 programs published for it is taught in English, and not one Turkish-taught program appears in that list.

The levels present are bachelor's, associate and doctoral. Medicine and pharmacy both appear — which, in a catalogue this compact, means a substantial share of what is published sits in the health sciences. If your target field is outside these 8 entries, the sensible first step is to go through the list together, rather than spend weeks on a file for a program that is not open here.

Annual tuition runs from €2,200 to €6,500. Take the currency seriously: this university prices in euros, while most of the Turkish private universities on this site quote in dollars. Comparing the numbers side by side without converting produces a figure that has little to do with what you would actually pay.

The practical advantage for an Iranian applicant is that the entire catalogue is in English. At most Turkish private universities, Turkish-taught programs are the majority, so choosing the English route narrows you to a small slice of what is on offer; here that trade-off does not exist, because there is no other option. The flip side is that an English certificate — or a pass in the university's own language exam — is a serious part of your file from the beginning and cannot be deferred.

The honest counterweight: 8 programs is a small catalogue. If you want breadth, or the option to change direction partway through a degree, the larger Istanbul universities on this site put more on the table. This page is written for someone whose field is already in this list and for whom English-medium teaching and this tuition band are the deciding factors.

The figure above is the university's own tuition — not our fee. Everything involved in getting you admitted here, from checking your documents to holding your acceptance letter, is done at no cost to you.

Bachelor's admission is assessed on your high-school record; Iran's national entrance exam plays no part in it. Because every program here is English-taught, demonstrating English ability — by an international certificate or the university's own exam — is a fixed part of the file rather than a program-specific extra.

For the doctoral programs in this list, the degrees and transcripts from your earlier studies are required, and depending on the field a statement of purpose and references as well. We obtain the exact conditions for your program from the university before submitting; guessing at an admission requirement is a cost the applicant ends up paying.

A standard file holds high-school transcripts and diploma with official translations, a copy of a valid passport, a passport photo and an English language certificate. For doctoral study, the diplomas and transcripts of your previous degrees are added.

Preparing and checking these documents is part of the same free service. In our experience most delays trace back to an incomplete translation or a passport with too little validity left, not to the applicant's academic standing.

Like every university operating in North Cyprus, Girne American University is supervised and accredited by YÖDAK (the North Cyprus Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council). YÖDAK is listed in the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) database as an "affiliate member" — affiliate, not full member.

Separately, Turkey's Higher Education Council (YÖK) recognizes North Cyprus universities individually. On the published list from the North Cyprus Consulate General in Istanbul (drawn from Turkey's 2019 national exam guidebook), Girne American University is one of the universities recognized by YÖK. Because that list traces back to an older edition and recognition status can change, we re-confirm the current YÖK recognition status before any commitment, in the free consultation. Full detail on both layers of accreditation is in the [guide to studying in North Cyprus](/guides/studying-in-north-cyprus).

Medicine appears in this university's published program list with one row and, like everything else here, it is taught in English. Pharmacy is offered in the same list with one row, so if health sciences are your target, two distinct routes exist within one institution.

Beyond that we do not fill in detail. The specific conditions for medical admission — grade thresholds, which entrance exams are accepted, additional documents, and whether the current intake still has room — are confirmed directly with the university each cycle. What you hear in a free consultation is the university's current answer, not our recollection of a previous year.

Kyrenia, Girne in Turkish, is a small harbor town on the north coast of Cyprus where the mountains drop almost straight to the sea. Its center is the old horseshoe harbor, watched over by a broad stone castle, with cafes along the water where students end up after class. University campuses sit around the edges of town, and shared minibuses along the coast road plus university shuttles cover most journeys, since the island has no rail. Costs match a small resort town — modest overall, higher for sea-view flats in season. Summers are hot and dry, winters mild, and the swimming months stretch long, with the Five Finger mountains as a constant backdrop.