[Introduction to North Cyprus]
North Cyprus Universities
[Complaints and Feedback page]
NEU (NEAR EAST UNIVERSITY).
The website for this university appears
to be quite accurate. It does not make exaggerated claims about its facilities,
specific international collaborations, or claim to have a library to rival the
Library of Congress (although the facilities are excellent and its library is
large and well stocked). 
What does let the
university down is its perceived reputation for racially motivated clashes
between Turkish and non-Turkish students and once again, the poor reputation of
its English Preparatory School.
There has been a great deal of money invested into Near East University by the present owners. The campus is large, clean, and well cared for. Finding your way around is comparatively easy. The on-campus dormitories are getting a little tired now, but new on campus accommodation is under construction. Off campus accommodation is available in Lefkosa, the islands capital city, and is reasonably plentiful. Although not cheap, Lefkosa is cheaper than Girne and Lefke. The university has an excellent bus service into the city centre.
Most classrooms are bright and clean but rather Spartan. There seems little in the way of teaching aids such as OHP, DVD/Video, and audio systems. In today’s modern world, such items should be on the inventory of every classroom in the English Preparatory School and faculty classrooms.
The university has an Olympic Size in-door Swimming Pool. Near East University is unique in offering this facility. Housed in an impressive structure, the pool was opened in the spring of 1997. Designed for swimming and diving competitions, the pool has seating for up to 1000 spectators with a pleasant cafeteria area serving drinks and snacks. Near East University is rightly proud of this excellent facility which is also open to the general public.
The Ataturk Congress Centre was opened with great fanfare in November 1997. The centre boasts four conference halls accommodating up to 140 people that appear to be well equipped. There is a 1000 seat amphitheatre which is very well equipped and is likely to exceed the needs of the university. There is also an impressive exhibition centre with a large entrance and reception area. There is a TV studio for the use of students studying Communicative Arts and Sciences. The building in fully air-conditioned and has an adequate central heating system.
The Dorana Hotel is situated in the resort town of Girne and holds a 3 star local rating. A relatively modern building it serves as a training centre for students studying in the Tourism and Hotel management courses offer at NEU and gives them valuable and practical experience in their chosen field of study. The university also operates its own travel agency in Lefkosa, staffed by students thus gaining valuable experience in this booming service industry.
Teal Research and Training Boat is owned and operated by Near East University and enables students studying in the Faculty of Maritime Studies to gain first hand knowledge of basic seamanship. The boat is also used by the Tourism and Management departments and is available for use by local and international marine archaeologists.
The university offers its students basic health care facilities that are free of charge.
Near East University is popular with international students particularly from the middle and near east. The university boasts several international groups and organizations that organize cultural events throughout the year.
There have been complaints and niggles about the university in the past, some of which were quite justified. Educational standards have been brought into question and the management has had to address the concerns made public by the regulating authority YÖK.
The English Preparatory School has never had a particularly good reputation; employing a large number of local ELT graduates who are poorly paid with little or no experience, and in some cases, a very rudimentary command of English! Class sizes in the EPS tend to be far too large for real language learning. Recent reports would suggest that the problems within the EPS continue. These need to be addressed urgently. Any student failing in the EPS is almost bound to fail in their faculty courses which in most case must be taught in English.
The questions of educational standards are best addressed by former students of the university. As we have said, Near East attracts a number of students from around the world. It should be possible for you to do some investigating yourself to find if Near East meets your expectations. Our limited experiences of students who have graduated from Near East are all quite positive. One student who graduated in 1997 is now an executive for a Turkish telecommunications company and another who graduated in 1999 is a senior executive for a large American tobacco company.
It is our opinion that things at Near East are slowly moving in the right direction. The facilities are second to none, and investment in the infrastructure is considerable and on going. If Near East is able to improve the standards of actual education to come somewhere near to international standards over a set time period, the management and students could well be on to a real winner with this university.
THE SURROUNDING AREA
Near East is situated on the outskirts of the capital city Lefkosa/Nicosia and close to the village of Dikmen.
Lefkosa is the only remaining divided city in the world, but the walls are slowly but surely crumbling. The area controlled by the Turkish Cypriots is still caught in a time warp and is all the more charming for it. There has been investment in Lefkosa recently but this tends to be on the outskirts of the city as opposed to the city centre. There has been much restoration of old historical buildings and whole settlements in the city centre itself. The city itself is interesting and full of places of historical interest.
As one would expect, there are a number of restaurants in the city, none are exceptional, but many are very good. Night life is restricted to the odd bar and nightclub and can best be described as rather low key. There are a number of supermarkets in the City and its environs where prices are much the same as in other towns in the rest of Northern Cyprus.
Lefkosa can suffer from water shortages in the summer months and this can be a problem, especially when the temperature regularly rises above 40c. During periods of prolonged heat and water shortage the place can become oppressive and decidedly “whiffy”, summertime in Cyprus certainly requires more than the occasional ‘toilette de chat’!
The main state hospital is to be found on the outskirts of town. The Dr Burhan Nabaltanoglu hospital is more than adequate for most medical emergencies and is staffed by many excellent doctors. The building itself is looking a little tired and could do with a splash of paint, but the hospital has many up to date pieces of equipment including a modern MRI scanner.
All foreign students arriving in Northern Cyprus will be required to undergo a number of medical tests before being issued with a student visa. These tests include HIV, TB, and Hepatitis blood tests. These are expensive, extremely time consuming but unavoidable.
Again it is important to point out that foreigners are entitled to receive free
emergency treatment in a state run hospital but all other medical treatment must
be paid for. You may like to consider purchasing private medical insurance
locally.
Dolmus and bus services are plentiful and cheap. Girne is about 20 minutes by bus, Gazimagusa and Lefke about 55minutes in opposite directions.
At the time of writing, there are two border checkpoints in Lefkosa where you can cross between the Turkish Cypriot North Cyprus and Greek Cypriot South Cyprus. These are situated at Ledra Palace and Metehan. Only holders of EU and Turkish Cypriot travel documents can cross the border at the present time.
Translated from a German text document 15/.03/05