TEACH ENGLISH IN CYPRUS

Everything you need to know to get a job teaching English in Cyprus

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About Teaching English in Cyprus

A crossroads of history and culture dating to the Classical Age, Cyprus has a long history of English language usage and instruction from the days of the British Empire. Today, this small island nation depends largely on tourism and trade, making English an essential skill for many citizens.

English teachers in Cyprus typically find work towards the beginning of September, with most contracts ending in late June. For those looking to teach through the summer, there are some limited opportunities to teach English at summer English language camps. Summer positions typically start in late June and early July.

English teachers in Cyprus a group of English teachers in Cyprus

English teachers will be expected to interview in person once they arrive in Cyprus, and they will also be responsible for their airfare, as well as housing.  Most teachers live in apartments recently vacated by previous teachers, and many room with their coworkers. 

A solid hourly wage compared to the local cost of living enables  English teachers to cover their basic expenses and to live a comfortable life.  Schools typically offer around 20-25 hours per week of work, leaving you plenty of opportunities to travel and explore. English teachers need to have a BA to teach in Cyprus, and a TEFL certification is absolutely necessary as well. Major cities to teach English in Cyprus are Nicosia, Larnaca, Pafos, Limassol.

To teach English in Cyprus, you will need a TEFL certificate and a 4-year college degree. EU citizenship or a work visa and native English proficiency are expected to find an ESL job in Cyprus. The average salary for an English teacher in Cyprus is about $1,000 - $1,350 USD per month.

How to Become an English Teacher in Cyprus: Requirements

TEFL Certification for Cyprus

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in Cyrpus. You do not need professional teaching experience but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. 

Teachers typically interview for jobs in-person in Cyprus, therefore it is most common for students to take one of our TEFL course options listed below.

Native English-Speaking Proficiency

You do not need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Cyprus, however, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs.  

Degree Requirements for Cyprus

English teachers need a bachelor's degree to teach English in Cyprus. Please note, your bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, it can be in any field. International TEFL Academy does not recommend that our students or alumni without a degree consider Croatia as a viable teaching destination.

How to Find English Teacher Jobs in Cyprus

English Teaching Jobs in Cyprus

The most common teaching jobs in Cyprus consist of:

  • Teaching adults in foreign language schools.
  • Teaching Business English to adults.
  • Private one-on-one tutoring.
  • Teaching children in Summer Camps.
  • Teaching English Online.

TEFL Jobs Cyprus: Hiring & Visa

English teachers in Cyprus can expect to find jobs during the peak hiring months of September and January. Hiring downtimes occur throughout August and also  Christmas through the second week of January. Interviews are conducted face-to-face, meaning you will need to be in Cyprus to interview for your teaching job.

Cyprus represents a more challenging job market for any teacher who does not already have citizenship from a qualified European Union (EU) nation or working rights in Cyprus. EU citizens enjoy legal working privileges, however, they do need to file some paperwork with local authorities – your employer should be able to assist you.

While some schools may sponsor a work visa for non-EU citizens, we highly suggest to not count on getting a legal work permit to teach in Cyprus if you are not an EU citizen.  

TEFL Cyprus: Hours

Schools in Cyprus offer approximately 20 to 30 hours of classroom work per week plus additional hours for prep time. This allows for plenty of time to travel and explore. 

Teaching Cypriot Students

It is most common that your students will be adults, business professionals, or children participating in summer camps.

TEFL Cyprus Salary & Cost of Living

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs will range from $1,800 - $2,000 USD. These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in Cyprus until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like rent, apartment supplies, transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

English Teacher Salary in Cyprus

A solid salary enables teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in Cyprus. Teachers can expect to make $1,000 - $1,350 USD per month.

There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent.

Cost of Living & Savings

The average monthly cost of living ranges from around $1,000 - $1,350 USD per month.

English teachers in Cyprus can expect to break-even month over month. This means you can cover your rent and bills, support yourself, live comfortably, and enjoy your life abroad to the fullest, but you should not expect to save money at the end of the month. If you are hustling and taking on private tutoring lessons and/or teaching English online in addition to your regular teaching schedule, you may increase your ability to save.

What Does Teaching in Cyprus Look Like?

Check out our blog to read stories from our alumni teaching English all over Europe.

Want more? We've got you covered! Visit our Video Library to watch day-in-the-life videos from our alumni and get a glimpse into what your life as an English teacher in Cyprus & Europe could look like!

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Teaching English in Cyprus FAQs

Do I need a degree to teach English in Cyprus?

To teach English in Cyprus, make sure you understand what is and is not required:

Required:

  • A four-year college degree in any field.
  • A TEFL certification.
  • EU Citizenship - Cyprus represents a more challenging job market for any teacher who does not already have citizenship from a qualified European Union (EU) nation or working rights in Cyrpus.  While there are instances of non-EU citizens receiving a work visa with employment, we highly suggest to not count on getting a legal work permit to teach in Cyprus if you are not an EU citizen. 
  • Understanding of the types of English teaching jobs that are available.
  • Savings for start-up costs.

Not Required:

  • You do not need to be a native English speaker, but you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. 

How much does an English teacher make in Cyprus?

English teachers in Cyprus can earn $1,000 - $1,350 USD per month. There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent. 

Are English teachers in demand in Cyprus?

Yes, there is a demand for English teachers in Cyprus. The most common English teacher jobs in Cyprus include teaching adults in foreign language schools,  teaching Business English to adults, private one-on-one tutoring, teaching children in Summer Camps and teaching English online.

English teachers in Cyprus can expect to find jobs during the peak hiring months of September and January and will need to be present in Cyprus for face-to-face interviews. Hiring downtowns occur throughout August and also from Christmas through the second week of January. 

What type of visa do I need to teach English in Cyprus?

Cyprus represents a more challenging job market for any teacher who does not already have citizenship from a qualified European Union (EU) nation or working rights in Cyprus. While there are instances of non-EU citizens receiving a work visa with employment, we highly suggest to not count on getting a legal work permit to teach in Cyprus if you are not an EU citizen. 

Recommended TEFL Courses for Teaching English in Cyprus

Part-Time Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

  • 170-Hour Online Certification
  • 11 Weeks Part-Time
  • OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
  • Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
  • Lifetime Job Search Guidance
  • 20-Hours Live Practice Teaching

Intensive Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

  • 4 Weeks Full-Time (40+ hours per week) - required class time typically 6-8 hours daily
  • OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
  • Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
  • Lifetime Job Search Guidance
  • 10-Hours Live Practice Teaching (Virtual) built into the course
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Reviews From ITA Students Who Now Experience TEFL in Europe

Laura Tressel

Teaches English in Europe

Laura Tressel

I chose to do ITA's Online TEFL Course because it gave me the flexibility to work during the day and complete my course at night. My favorite part of the course was the practicum. I assisted an ESL teacher at a local adult night school and I realized then that I loved teaching adults - so I now teach Business English. I fell in love with the culture and the people in Italy. I love that the working environment is so much less competitive than in the US, and people really focus on living their lives outside of work and enjoying things like food, nature, and the company of your friends and family.

Ken Patel

Teaches English in Europe

Ken Patel

I chose ITA primarily because of their huge and active alumni community which has been an invaluable source of information and encouragement throughout my experience - it was definitely a good choice. My plan was to work in a language academy in Spain but they didn't have enough hours so I picked up a job teaching English online to supplement my income. I really enjoyed this and I earned about 3x as much per hour after accounting for travel time, lesson prep, and corrections. At the end of the school term, I quit my academy job and switched to working online full time.

Tina Angok

Taught English in Europe

Tina Angok

I took ITA's Online TEFL Course because of their level of accreditation and really enjoyed it. The tasks assigned taught me how to be an effective teacher and construct lesson plans. I really appreciated the practicum and quizzes. I decided to teach in Berlin because I'm a history nerd, and there's so much history to learn about in this city. I also love the high level of diversity and a plethora of activities to do. I work for Lingua Franca, a company that specializes in business English training. My students are all adult professionals working in their fields.