A major educational project has entered the construction phase in the Mackenzie Beach area of Larnaca. A new building for the School of Marine Sciences, Technology and Sustainable Development of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) will soon be built there. The site has already been fenced off and work is underway. The foundation stone ceremony is scheduled for October 30 and will be attended by the President of Cyprus.
Construction timeline and cost
The construction of the new building for CUT’s School of Marine Sciences, Technology and Sustainable Development is one of the projects aimed at expanding higher education in Larnaca. The project budget is €10.934 million. Construction is expected to be completed and the building handed over in August 2028. However, the university plans to begin educational activities earlier, without waiting for construction to be completed. Part of the school will therefore be temporarily housed in another building in the city.
The new campus is expected to strengthen Larnaca’s position as an educational center and expand opportunities for students who want to pursue higher education in Cyprus.
First students could enroll at CUT in 2027
The unit responsible for sustainable development is expected to open as early as 2027. Initially, classes will be held at the Larnaca Municipality’s Multipurpose Center for Social Welfare and Employment. According to CUT Rector Panayiotis Zaphiris, the Sustainable Development program is scheduled to be evaluated by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA) on November 12. If the required accreditation procedures are completed successfully, the university expects to welcome its first students in Larnaca in September 2027.
CUT is currently continuing preparations for the launch of the program. Work is underway in several areas, including:
- recruitment of academic and administrative staff;
- completion of the academic programs;
- preparation of the necessary infrastructure;
- student support and accommodation arrangements.
Student housing
Authorities are also paying particular attention to student accommodation. The Mayor of Larnaca confirmed plans to build student residences near the new CUT building. In addition, other large plots of land have been transferred to the municipality. These are expected to be used for the construction of affordable rental housing. City authorities will also consider whether additional student residences could be developed on these sites.
The expansion of educational infrastructure and the construction of affordable housing are expected to help Larnaca prepare for the arrival of new students and increase the supply of rental properties.
How the new school could affect Larnaca
The opening of the CUT unit could attract students to Larnaca from other parts of Cyprus as well as from abroad. This would create additional demand for rental housing, services, and urban infrastructure. For the real estate market, plans to build student residences and affordable housing will be particularly important. If implemented as announced, these projects could partially meet students’ accommodation needs.
It is important to distinguish between the launch of the academic program and completion of the new building: the first students could begin their studies in September 2027, while the new school building is scheduled for completion in August 2028. The project will form part of the expansion of higher education in Larnaca and CUT’s growing presence beyond its main campus.