TEACH ENGLISH IN CYPRUS

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 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.