Higher education in Cyprus is provided in both public and private institurions and the system is under constant development. The Department of Higher Tertiary Education (DAAE) in Cyprus has has taken big measures to increase funding, research and interest for higher education, three state universities has been opened. The DAAE also establiched a Council of Educational Evaluation-Accreditation which aims to keep a constant level of education in Cyprus and make sure that infrastructure and equipment live up to these standards. Since Cyprus became a member of the EU in 2004 the role of higher education in the country has grown even bigger and the Open University of Cyprus has opened its doors.
As English is the language of instruction in many programmes of higher education in Cyprus many abroad students find their education here. In 2005-06 many foreign students came from Europe, India, Bangladesh and China.