Introduction
The program promotes research excellence and educates students on the scientific frontiers and advanced methodologies at the vanguard of interconnected issues related to Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, Energy, Hydrology, Sustainable Built Environment, and Sustainable Policy.
The program encompasses both basic research and the development of technologies and innovations. Particular attention is given to the EMME (Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East) regional background in the context of global climate changes, addressing impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The curricula include a mandatory subject aiming to build a common basis among students from different disciplines as well as a number of electives that provide insight into a variety of more specialized important topics. The program is offered by the Institute as a whole but it is centered around the Research and Innovation activities of two of its four Research Centres; The Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C), and the Energy, Environment, and Water Research Centre (EEWRC) both internationally recognized centers addressing important interdisciplinary scientific and technological issues on regional problems of global significance. As such, the program will benefit from the participation of EEWRC and CARE-C in large European Research Infrastructures such as EU-ACTRIS (on climate-related atmospheric observations) and EU-SOLARIS (on Concentrated Solar Thermal technologies). It offers international exposure through the active participation of leading world experts from collaborating top research institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Germany), National Observatory of Athens (Greece), Atomic Energy Commission (CEA, France), and regional universities such as National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece) and Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Lebanon).
A key priority of the program is to expose students to the concept of several United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) relevant to the EMME region such as climate action, sustainable management of water, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, and communities. It will also expose the students to a wide spectrum of vertical and transverse priorities of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Cyprus (S3Cy) providing a unique cross-disciplinary approach to solve critical societal challenges. The cross-sectoral nature of the topics demands interdisciplinary research strategies, which enable particularly innovative Ph.D. research and high-caliber publications.
This is a unique program in Cyprus and the region, which aims at providing students with new scientific knowledge to pursue research and academic career as well as to equip them with a wide range of practical and transferable hands-on field/laboratory and numerical modeling skills that will offer them an advantage in the competitive job market of the future.
Learning Outcomes
The program is divided into specialized tracks related to the research thrusts of the CARE-C and EEWRC.
The learning outcomes for each track include the following:
Climate and Atmospheric Sciences track
Comprehensive understanding of the basic physical processes involved in maintaining the global circulation of the atmosphere, the working of the weather, and the surface climate.
Introduction to weather and climate models, understanding the governing physical principles and their use for climate and weather prediction purposes.
The principles of atmospheric physics, chemistry, and biology; The major air pollution sources and methods for measurement, data collection, and analysis of atmospheric samples.
Familiarization with the history, causes, and perspectives of climate change science and the IPCC program.
Hydrology and Terrestrial Ecosystems track
Understanding of the distribution and movement of water around the globe, and knowhow to measure and model hydrologic processes and manage water resources
Broad understanding of the interactions between ecosystems and the environment and practical skill in developing and applying equations to describe ecosystems processes.
Sustainable Built Environment track
A deep knowledge of advanced concepts of sustainability and sustainable built environment development using a wide range of methods to (i) identify and select appropriate sustainable solutions to enhance building design and operation; (ii) improve existing technical solutions; and (iii) stimulate critical reasoning.
Familiarization with computer simulation and analysis tools, interactive data visualization modalities (including spatial and environmental data-driven descriptions), literature, and computational resources in order to engage in interdisciplinary activities related to the built environment.
Energy track
A comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of Energy Systems Analysis and Modelling in Energy planning, practical knowledge on trend analysis, the use and optimization of various bottom-up and top-down models, and interconnections between energy, land, and water.
Advanced knowledge of energy and environmental topics and calculation methods, in combination with knowledge of economic principles in order to address energy and environmental management issues at different scales – corporate, national, and global level.
A good understanding of the status of the world energy system, the need to transition from the current system to a new world energy system that is much more environmentally friendly and sustainable, and the essential role that energy technologies based on the use of Renewable Energy Sources and particularly Solar Energy will play in this Energy Transition and in the world energy system of the future.
A good understanding of the status of energy systems based on the use of Renewable Energy Sources and particularly on the status of Concentrating Solar Thermal technologies, which is expected to play a significant role in the Energy Transition of the EMME region.
A comprehensive understanding of the overall process of designing, modeling, and optimizing power plants and other systems based on renewable energy sources, and particularly CST (Concentrating Solar Thermal) systems.
Practical expertise and know-how regarding the methodologies and computational tools to use in the design, modeling, and optimization of CST systems and other renewable energy systems, such as PV power plants or Wind Turbine systems.
Program Structure and Requirements
To satisfy the requirements of the Ph.D. program, a student must earn a total of 180 ECTS-credits of which 50 ECTS-credits are from courses. The program has a duration of at least three years. A general indicative schedule of the program is displayed in the table below.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Semester 1
1 Mandatory Course (10 ECTS) taken during Semester 1
Research Component (160 ECTS)
Semester 2
1 or 2 Elective Courses (total 10 ECTS) taken during Semester 1-3
Research Component (160 ECTS)
At end of the Year, 1 student take the Comprehensive Examination
Semester 3
1 or 2 Elective Courses (total 10 ECTS) taken during Semester 1-3
Research Component (160 ECTS)
Semester 4
Research Component (160 ECTS)
Semester 5
Research Component (160 ECTS)
Semester 6
Research Component (160 ECTS)
At end of the program, students must pass their Doctoral Examination
* Before the student can defend their Ph.D. thesis, they must have successfully completed their coursework, completed the Comprehensive Examination, and have submitted two scientific publications (one submitted, one accepted) inappropriate for each doctoral program international journals.
The information provided in this table is indicative
Program Courses
EAS 500 Fundamentals, Frontiers, and Methodologies in Environmental Sciences, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Built Environment
EAS 511 Monitoring and Modelling Terrestrial Ecosystems and Hydrologic Processes
EAS 513 Terrestrial Ecosystems
EAS 515 Renewable Energy Sources
EAS 518 Energy and the Built Environment
EAS 521 Energy Systems Analysis and Modeling
EAS 522 Energy and Environmental Policy
EAS 523 Interactive Visualisation of the Built Environment
EAS 524 Design, Modeling, and Optimisation of CST Power Plants
General Admissions Information and Requirements
The doctoral programs are highly selective and are designed for research-oriented students aspiring to become leaders in their respective fields of study. Students who are admitted to the program are immersed in a rigorous international research environment that will require a full-time commitment for the duration of the program.
To be considered for admission to a Ph.D. program, a student must have the following:
1. A Master's degree from a recognized accredited institution, with a strong academic record in a major field of study and background relevant to the proposed graduate-level studies.
2. Proof of English language proficiency
If your first language is not English, you must provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the program to which you are applying. Proof of English language proficiency may be demonstrated by submitting one of the following certificates (or equivalent as deemed by the Admissions Committee).
IELTS Academic Version: at least 6.5 (taken within the past 2 years)
TOEFL Internet-based Test: at least 79 (taken within the past 2 years)
GCSE/IGCSE: Grade C or above (preferably with speaking)
IELTS or TOEFL is preferred.
The English Language proficiency test requirement may be waived if you have/will graduate from a higher education institution in which English is the medium of instruction and communication or if you have a minimum of eighteen months of work experience in a country that CyI considers to be “majority English speaking”, no more than two years prior to the proposed date of registration.
3. Due to the nature of the Ph.D. program, strong computational skills are required.
Review and Selection Process for Doctoral Program
The Admissions Committee reviews applications and makes its decision on the basis of the student’s academic merit and the match between the Institute’s research activities and the student’s research interests, i.e. Cyi’s capacity to support the students’ Master’s research in terms of facilities, infrastructure, and supervision.
Candidates may be asked for a personal interview. If students are abroad, they may be interviewed through a video conference call.
Criteria and processes for the recognition of previous studies and credit transfers
All CyI’s Ph.D. and Master’s degree programs adhere to the Bologna Process second and third cycle degrees and use the ECTS credit system, ensuring that its degrees are recognized around the world. The ECTS system utilizes a credit concept to compare courses by workload for a typical student. At the CyI, one (1) ECTS is calculated as being the equivalent of 25 hours of workload, both contact and distance learning hours.
Previous degrees are recognized if students have attended an institution(s) that is/are accredited by the appropriate competent body in the country in which it operates. This is stated clearly in the admissions section of our website.
Recognition of ECTS credits
In the cases where a student wishes to transfer ECTS credits acquired previously towards another degree or outside any degree, the Mentor/Dissertation Advisory Committee of the student will assess the relevance of the specific credits in terms of learning objectives and a decision will be made regarding the transfer. The decision will have to be approved by the Academic Committee. A quota of up to 1/3 of the program requirements can be credited from transfer credits if the Academic Committee approves.
How to Apply
The Cyprus Institute offers the opportunity to apply for a Ph.D. program through our Online Application System.
Documents to be submitted with the online application
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic Degree Certificates and Transcripts
An official copy of the Master’s degree and official transcript(s) of past academic work and studies are required. The transcript(s) should include a detailed list of the courses/seminars taken along with the grades received in each course and a GPA. The Institute accepts Master’s degrees obtained from a recognized accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent. If an applicant has not completed a Master’s degree yet, a transcript(s) that list coursework and grades thus far, and the expected date of completion of the Master’s degree, should be provided.
Transcripts must be in English: either issued in English by the Higher Education Institution or if the Higher Education Institution cannot issue a transcript in English then you must provide a duly certified official translation in English.
3. English Language certificates
If your first language is not English, you must provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the program to which you are applying. Proof of English language proficiency may be demonstrated by submitting one of the following certificates (or equivalent as deemed by the Admissions Committee).
IELTS Academic version: at least 6.5 (taken within the past 2 years
TOEFL Internet-based Test: at least 79 (taken within the past 2 years)
GCSE/IGCSE: Grade C or above (preferably with speaking)
IELTS or TOEFL is preferred
English Language proficiency. test requirement may be waived if you have/will graduate from a higher education institution in which English is the medium of instruction and communication or if you have a minimum of eighteen months of work experience in a country that CyI considers to be “majority English speaking” no more than two years prior to the proposed date of registration.
4. GRE Score Report for General GRE test (optional)
5. Statement of Intent
A statement that describes current academic work and future professional plans in relation to one of the Cyprus Institute’s Research Centers and doctoral program to which the student is applying. It should point to the educational, research and personal experiences that shaped the student’s interest in the proposed field of study. It should outline the research area that the applicant is interested in and the intended research topics to be investigated while in residence at the CyI. It should concisely mention examples of the applicant’s work that explain academic maturity and potential to meet the expectations of the intense graduate program of study at The Cyprus Institute. It should also briefly explain how the work would be innovative and useful to other researchers in the field. The statement should not exceed 1500 words and must be written in English
6. References
Applicants are requested to provide contact details of at least two faculty members or other professionals who are well acquainted with the applicants' academic, research, and professional work and are willing to provide references.
Admissions Timeline for Doctoral Program
Students can be admitted twice per year, in the Fall (October) and the Spring (February). The exact date of the beginning of the semesters is decided by the Academic Committee and displayed on the website and in the prospectus.
Application Deadline
Fall Semester
EarlyAdmissions
RegularAdmissions
LateAdmissions
Open for EU and International Students.
Open for EU and International Students.
Open for EU and International Students who do not require a visa
Applicants will be prioritized for consideration for our Dean's Distinguished Scholarships and a limited number of Research Assistantships / Scholarships.
Applicants will be considered for a limited number of Research Assistantships / Scholarships (subject to availability).
Applicants will be considered for a limited number of Research Assistantships / Scholarships (subject to availability).
ApplicationDeadline
December 20
April 1
Open until places are filled
Spring Semester
RegularAdmissions
LateAdmissions
Open for EU and International Students.
Open for EU and International Students who do not require a visa
Applicants will be prioritized for consideration for our Dean's Distinguished Scholarships and a limited number of Research Assistantships / Scholarships.
Applicants will be considered for a limited number of Research Assistantships / Scholarships (subject to availability).
ApplicationDeadline
September 15
December 1
International students should apply early to avoid disappointment due to migration deadlines.
Applicants are informed approximately six weeks after the respective application deadlines.
The dates listed in the sections above are indicative and may change.
