Commencement of Fall 2020 Semester

Important Information

Dear student,

We hope that you are well and keeping safe during these challenging times. We would like to reassure you that the University of Nicosia is making every effort to provide you with a safe and high-quality teaching and learning environment. As always, your health and wellbeing remain our highest priority.

In anticipation of the new Academic Year 2020-2021, starting on the 28th of September, we would like to inform you of the following important developments and decisions.

During its meeting on 4 September 2020, the Council of the University of Nicosia adopted the Senate Resolution dated 3 September 2020, which outlines the framework for the delivery of the programmes of study and courses for the Fall 2020 semester.

The Senate’s decision, guided by the University’s commitment to ensure the health and safety of the University community and society at large, as well as the delivery of education at the highest level, was based on:

  1. the Directive by the Ministry of Health on “Instructions for the operation of Institutes of Higher Education with physical presence of students, academic, administrative and other staff”, sent by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth on 28 August 2020;
  2. the framework for the delivery of the Fall 2020 semester, as outlined by the Cyprus Quality Assurance and Accreditation for Higher Education Agency (DIPAE) in their website announcement, dated 13 May 2020: https://www.dipae.ac.cy/index.php/el/nea-ekdiloseis/anakoinoseis-el/527-13-05-2020-leitourgia-idrymaton-xeimerino-examino-20-21;
  3. the current epidemiological data concerning COVID-19, in Cyprus and abroad.

Mode of Delivery of Courses

As a result of the latest decision by the University, programmes of study and courses will be offered using one of the following modes of delivery:

  1. Online
  2. Face-to-Face with Physical Presence
  3. Hybrid (partly Online and partly Face-to-Face with Physical Presence).

The mode of delivery of each course will be available within the next few days, through the online course schedule on the UNIC website (https://www.unic.ac.cy/academic-calendar/schedule-of-classes/) and on the UNIC Portal (https://portal.unic.ac.cy/). It will also be clearly indicated on your registration form. You will be notified accordingly once the schedule is finalized.

In-course assessment can be conducted utilizing alternative modes of assessment.

Final assessment/examinations will be conducted taking into consideration the guidelines that will be provided by the Cyprus Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education Agency (DIPAE).

Mode of Delivery of Programmes

As a result of the aforementioned modes of course delivery:

  1. students on some programmes of study will be able to study fully online without on-campus presence required. Many students have asked if they should come/stay in Nicosia if their programme will be offered fully online for the Fall Semester 2020. This is a personal decision and is not required by the University. We note that Cyprus is currently one of the safest countries in the world right now as it relates to COVID-19 and has relatively limited restrictive measures. The final decision however is for the student to take.
  2. students on some programmes of study, especially those including laboratory courses, may have to register for courses requiring physical presence on campus. The list of programmes of study that require physical presence is available on the University website at unic.ac.cy/fall2020/programmes

Students that for any reason do not want to take courses requiring physical presence may adjust their semester schedule taking into consideration any possible consequences in their academic progression.

Students who are Unable to Attend Classes Face-to-Face

If you belong to a designated vulnerable group or for any serious reason are unable to physically attend, you will be able to study online by taking online courses or selected face-to-face courses that will provide livestreaming or other type of online support. To this end, an application form should be completed and submitted for approval to the Office of the Director of Academic Advising.

Training

Both online and face-to-face training on the various online learning platforms and tools of the University will be provided to students prior to and during the Fall 2020 semester. New students who will be in Cyprus are advised to attend the training in small groups, with physical presence on-campus. An induction orientation programme and additional on-campus and online support will be offered to new students.

Medical School Students

The Medical School operates on a different academic calendar thus medical students, should follow the communications sent to them by the School. The Medical school is compliant with the relevant directive of the Ministry of Health and framework of DIPAE as stated above.

Dear Student,

The current public health challenge has meant we have had to rethink how we go about our lives, including how we study and learn. For our part, the University of Nicosia has met the challenge successfully, making full use of technology, embracing work-and-study-from-home, and drawing on a decade of experience in distance learning education. In parallel, UNIC faculty has been at the forefront during the pandemic, contributing at the local and international level with public service and research.

As always, your safety and wellbeing remain our top priority. In line with this, we would like to reassure you that the University of Nicosia has implemented all necessary health and safety protocols, based on guidance from the Cyprus Ministry of Health, as well as the recommendations of other public health agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you are a returning student, we thank you once more for your invaluable cooperation. Together, we managed to respond effectively to the challenges COVID-19 posed, and to successfully complete the Spring 2020 semester.

If you are a new student, we look forward to welcoming you to the University of Nicosia community, both on campus and remotely. The University will make every effort to ensure that your academic progression, both during the upcoming Fall 2020 semester and in future semesters, continues uninterrupted.