1. Exemptions are granted ONLY for compulsory general language training courses, and NOT for courses with specialized content in a foreign language (e.g. ESP, FOS).
  2. To be exempted, a copy of a language proficiency certificate issued by an internationally recognized educational organization must be submitted (relevant lists of acceptable evidence are provided for each language separately below).
  3. Requests for exemption must be submitted to the Language Centre ONLY at the latest by the end of the student’s second year of study (fourth semester):  
  • Electronically before the end of the registration week of each semester, via email to: [email protected]
  • A COMPLETED FORM (see below) must be submitted along with scanned copies of all required supporting documents.
  • The supporting documents are accepted only if they have been issued a maximum of two (2) years before the start of the course.

Please note the following:

  1. ONLY the Language Centre of the University of Cyprus approves exemptions from foreign language courses. These exemptions are validated by the students’ academic Department and the Academic Affairs and Student Welfare Service.
  2. Upon approval of the exemption, it will be entered into the system by the Academic Affairs and Student Welfare Service, the student is responsible for removing the course from their schedule in due time, according to the deadlines of the current semester’s Academic Calendar; otherwise, the course will be recorded as a failure.
Exemption Certificate Application Form
English

The list of accepted English language certificates has been REVISED as of the Fall Semester 2025/26, as part of the upgrade of the language curriculum.

Therefore, exemptions from the course LAN 100 – Introduction to Academic English are granted ONLY to holders of the following language certificates and to those who hold a degree from an English-speaking university abroad.

  • IELTS: Score of 8
  • IGCSE 0510 – Grade A* [with oral score of 1]
  • IGCSE 0511 – Grade A*
  • CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) – Grade A, B or C
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency) – Grade A, B, C or C1
French
Exemption from LAN 105 – French Beginners I
  1. Previous DELF 1st degree (unity A1) or New DELF A1 (16/20+)
  2. GCE O Level: minimum grade C
  3. (I)GCSE: minimum grade B
Exemption from LAN 106 – French Beginners II
  1. Previous DELF 1st degree: any 2 unities or New DELF A2 (16/20+)
  2. GCE O Level with minimum grade B
  3. (I)GCSE: Grade A
Exemption from all three levels LAN 105, LAN 106 and LAN 107 is recommended only if the student presents a certificate equivalent to A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
German
Exemption from LAN 070 – German Beginners I
  1. Start Deutsch I (A1)
 Exemption from LAN 071 – German Beginners II
  1. GCE O-Level: A, B or C
  2. Start Deutsch II (A2)
Exemption from all three levels LAN 070, LAN 071 and LAN 072 is recommended only if the student presents a certificate equivalent to A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Italian
Exemption from LAN 075 – Italian Beginners I
  1. PLIDA certificate, A1 and above
  2. CELI certificate, 1 and above
  3. CILS certificate, 1 and above
  4. GCE O-Level
  5. GCE A-Level
Exemption from LAN 076 – Italian Beginners II
  1. PLIDA certificate, A2 and above.
  2. CELI certificate, 2 and above.
  3. CILS certificate, 2 and above.
  4. GCE O-Level.
  5. GCE A-Level.
Exemption from all three levels LAN 075, LAN 076 and LAN 077 is recommended only if the student presents a certificate equivalent to A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Spanish
Exemption from LAN 085 - Spanish Beginners I
  1. DiplomasDELE from the Cervantes Institute level A1 (60+/100).
  2. University level courses in a country where Spanish is an official language: 40 hours = A1.
  3. University level courses in a country where Spanish is not an official language: 60 hours = A1.
 Exemption from LAN 086 - Spanish Beginners II
  1. Diplomas DELE from the Cervantes Institute level A2 (60+/100).
  2. University level courses in a country where Spanish is an official language: 80 hours = A2.
  3. University level courses in a country where Spanish is not an official language: 120 hours = A2.
Exemption from all three levels LAN 085, LAN 086 and LAN 087 is recommended only if the student presents a certificate equivalent to A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Russian
Turkish
Chinese

Last Updated on July 9, 2025