Information that students or footballers should bear in mind before coming to
Northern Cyprus to study or seek a position in a football team:

[NB The Anglican Church considers itself a guest in Cyprus and whilst it maintains local structures (i.e. is NOT a part of the Church of England,) it seeks not to interfere with local politics, but to accept the situation as it finds it, and works with all people of good will. We
believe it is for the Cypriot Peoples to determine their future and the relationships between themselves.]
 
  1. There are four jurisdictions on the island.
    i. The southern part of the island which is recognised internationally and is known as the Republic of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the EU.
    ii. The northern sector known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and only recognised by Turkey. Technically the whole island is in the European Union; in practice the northern sector is NOT, although it has been in the receipt of EU grants for a variety of projects.
    iii. The Sovereign Base Areas. When the British granted independence in 1960, they retained two areas which are a military presence in the East and West of the island, which are known in local parlance as the British Bases. Though not in the
EU these area's laws reflect those passed in the Republic of Cyprus. Separate civilian police and customs forces operate in these areas.
    iv, TThe United Nations maintains a buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of the island with soldiers and civilian police from a variety of nations. (Under the Green Line Regulations almost anybody is able to pass from south to
north who has arrived in the south with the appropriate visa or other entry rights. Only EU citizens and those of countries such as Australia, Canada, USA, and Japan may cross from North to south having entered the TRNC via an air or
sea port in the north.)
  2. Entry into Cyprus north or south does NOT confer automatic entry to other European countries. New visa requirements mean that those coming from countries such as those in Africa require a transit visa for Turkey and whilst in Ankara an entry visa for Northern Cyprus must been obtained, which will be granted only if your acceptance papers for a university here are in order. We aware of potential students being sent back from Ercan airport in North Cyprus. Students may not enter North Cyprus via the airports in the south as visas will not be granted by the southern authorities through their overseas embassies as they regard the northern part of the island as an illegal state.
  3. Work by STUDENTS in North Cyprus is illegal at any time, except in very limited circumstances within a university and linked with a course of study, or unless the prospective employer is prepared to go through the full proper procedures for registering a student with the authorities and paying the correct social insurance and/or income tax – most do not bother and want to pay ‘cash in hand.’ However, where illegal work has been obtained, students have often been disappointed at the difference between the level of money promised and the actual rate of pay received. Sometimes several weeks of manual work through a very hot summer with promises of pay at the end have resulted in no pay or the builders disappearing from the site where the student was working when returning to collect money at the time suggested by the employer. In the case of female students payment can sometimes be withheld unless sexual favours are granted. In any case of a dispute or harassment or abuse the student has no recourse to the processes of law because the job was illegal.
FOOTBALLERS. It has come to our attention in the past few months that families are parting with a great deal of money with much sacrifice, in Africa especially, to send their sons to North Cyprus with the expectation that they will obtain positions in local teams and earn large sums of money to send home. The teams here are  essentially small town/village teams and the pay rates, where they exist, are very small.  RATES OF PAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACCEPTED ARE NOTHING REMOTELY LIKE THE PREMIER LEAGUE IN ENGLAND. A recently arrived footballer had been persuaded to leave a well paid position in a
team in Singapore, and is deeply upset at the level of remuneration he is now receiving..
  4. Students have provided the following costs - all figures per 10 week semester:
 
Fees (based on the local university) US$2,400 - US$3,000.
(see: http://www.emu.edu.tr/e/currentstudents/Semesterfeeseng20072008.htm )
As of Feb 2008 the local university requires almost US$6,000 to be paid by arriving new
students to ensure admission and continuity.
Dormitory Accommodation US$ 700
(note - after the first semester students are expected to find their own external off campus accommodation and may not stay in the dormitory during the breaks between semesters and are expected to move out)
Flat/apartment US$ 500 (sharing)
Food, clothes, books, sundries etc. etc.  US$1,500+

National Government Scholarships are very limited and should not be depended upon to fund a course of study. The local cost of living is high.

Some universities, because of the decline of the dollar, now require payment and fix their fees in Euros, often at the same figure as before. E.g. a semester costing $2,600 previously is now costing EUR2,600.

It should be noted that agents working in overseas countries are not always fully forthcoming with the correct information, and information should be sought from the university that you intend to attend directly. Monies for fees are supposed to be transmitted directly to the school bank account. School agents are meant to receive their fee when a student has successfully enrolled. They are not required to collect money locally.