ikyk scholarships — ikyk scholarships — The Ikyk student scholarships will be disbursed in 2026, as confirmed by the finance ministry, which announced plans to allocate additional funds next year for 300 students who have yet to receive their awarded amounts.
- “We are glad that the President of the Republic has listened to our appeals and we hope that we will not find ourselves as spectators in the same play next year,” Savvidis remarked.
During a session with the House education committee, a finance ministry representative outlined the government’s commitment to providing extra funding to the State Scholarship Foundation (Ikyk). This decision aims to ensure that deserving students obtain the financial support they need to continue their studies.
Concerns have been raised about the payments owed to students from previous years, as the ministry is also looking into outstanding grants from 2023 and possibly 2022. The representative mentioned that they have reached out to Ikyk for detailed information regarding these payments, emphasising the importance of accessing data stored in Ikyk’s digital system.
Chrysanthos Savvidis, chairman of the education committee and Diko MP, highlighted the urgency of the situation, expressing that some students could be forced to halt their education due to the lack of funds. He has appealed to President Nikos Christodoulides for an additional budget to support these students, stressing the need for equal opportunities and the importance of maintaining trust in public institutions that provide scholarships.
“We are glad that the President of the Republic has listened to our appeals and we hope that we will not find ourselves as spectators in the same play next year,” Savvidis remarked.
Meanwhile, Disy MP Giorgos Karoulas urged the finance ministry to enhance collaboration with Ikyk, warning that the reliability of the scholarship system is at stake. He stated, “Our talented children must not be victims of this situation and the unreliability of the state itself,” advocating for an increase in scholarship amounts to better support gifted students.
Akel MP Christos Christofides expressed his satisfaction with the ministry’s recent decision, noting that while it does not achieve perfection, it will ensure that an additional 300 students receive the necessary support. He conveyed his hope that the current issues surrounding the scholarship payments would be resolved promptly.
Sotiris Ioannou from Elam reassured the committee that, according to his discussions with the finance ministry, no students would lose their scholarships. He indicated that the remaining amounts would be distributed soon, citing information from the Minister of Finance that the issue would be resolved within days.
The absence of an Ikyk representative at the committee meeting was noted with criticism, particularly as the position of the organisation’s president has been vacant for several months, with the deputy president currently abroad.
Heightened interest in academic scholarships has led to an increase in Ikyk’s budget, with a supplementary budget of €1.7 million allocated for 2025. The regular budget for 2026 is expected to exceed the previous year’s figure, as announced in parliament.
Ikyk serves as a government body that awards scholarships to students from Cyprus, the EU, and non-EU countries based on academic merit and socio-economic status. These scholarships cover undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies, both domestically and internationally.