Nicosia, Cyprus. The cabinet on Thursday approved an annual grant scheme for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students, aimed at addressing shortages of nursing staff in the health sector. The scheme will begin in the 2026-27 academic year and will be available to new and existing students.
Grant amounts and eligibility
Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said the grants would be paid on a sliding scale: €1,000 in the first year, €1,250 in the second, €1,500 in the third and €2,000 in the fourth.
Permanent residents of the Republic of Cyprus enrolled in recognised nursing or midwifery programmes at higher education institutions in Cyprus will be eligible, regardless of their year of study or financial circumstances.
Recipients will be required to work for two years in healthcare institutions in Cyprus after completing their studies.
Part of wider staffing plan
Charalambides described the decision as part of a broader health ministry plan to tackle the shortage of nursing staff.
He said the ministry had already introduced awareness campaigns for final-year secondary school students and a targeted communications campaign promoting nursing as a profession, which is now in its third consecutive year.
According to available data, the campaign has doubled the number of undergraduate nursing students over the past two years, he said.
The minister said the government remained committed to initiatives supporting healthcare professionals and strengthening the resilience of the healthcare system.