P.A. College offers specialist degrees in Business Administration and Business Computing

P.A. College is a private Higher Education Institution (HEI) operating in Cyprus since 1983 and has Larnaca as its base-of-operations for easy access from within all other cities in Cyprus and abroad since the Larnaca International Airport is only a few minutes’ drive from the College.  The College has applied a strategic decision to operate as a specialist in the field of Business Administration and Business Computing, thus effectively helping to make Cyprus an international business, computing, and management related centre of learning.  The provision of exclusively business-related education, has established P.A. College as the leading institution for the future professionals in the business, financial and services industries and the only premier Executive Business School in Cyprus.

The Larnaca based Executive Business School has concentrated its whole curriculum on the fields of accredited Business Administration (accounting, finance, marketing, management, etc.), and IT as applied in business operations.  This makes it the only HEI in Cyprus offering degree-level government accredited programmes (Bachelor of Arts with Honours in six specialisations), as well as the unique Business Computing Bachelor of Science with Honours degree programme, the only one of its kind in Cyprus and one of only a few in Europe. 

In regards to international accreditation, partnership and collaboration with professional bodies, P.A. College was the first institution in Cyprus whose graduates received the maximum possible exemptions (9 out of 13) towards acquiring the professional qualification of the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). It is also the first private tertiary institution in Cyprus to receive maximum exemptions (12 out of 15) from the most credible professional accounting body of the U.K., the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), as well as from the AIA (Association of International Accountants). P.A. College has developed two unique collaborations of world reach and distinction with renowned international auditing firms. Two of these are:

Strategic Collaboration #1: ‘Best Route to ACA’:

The B.A. (Hons) degree in Business Administration (specialisation in Accounting and Finance), in collaboration with the ICAEW, is the only undergraduate programme in Cyprus which offers 12 exceptions out of the 15 papers required for the ACA qualification along with considerable practical work experience. This is achieved through the collaboration with the renowned auditing firms in Cyprus and ICAEW. The programme incorporates a 12-month internship programme at prominent auditing firms in Cyprus.

This hybrid programme aims at preparing undergraduate students for an outstanding professional career in the field of Accounting/Auditing. During the programme, the students receive excellent quality and up-to-date knowledge as well as experience, acquiring practical and theoretical skills in Accounting, Economics, Taxation and Auditing in Businesses automatically securing 12 exceptions out of the 15 papers for the ACA professional qualification of the ICAEW. Alongside their academic studies, students have the privilege to participate in a unique training programme at prominent auditing firms in Cyprus obtaining around 225 days of practical work experience out of the 450 days required for the ACA professional qualification. The first graduates of the ‘Best Route to ACA’ completed the programme in February 2016 and they have all been employed within two months of their graduation in reputable auditing firms.

Strategic Collaboration #2: ‘Graduates Route to ACA’:

The 'Graduates Route to ACA' is hybrid programme that has been established in collaboration with the world-class Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and KPMG Limited, Cyprus, a world-renowned auditing firm.

The B.A. (Hons) degree in Business Administration (specialisation in Accounting and Finance), in collaboration with the ICAEW, constitutes another strategic undergraduate programme in Cyprus which offers 12 exceptions out of the 15 papers required for the ACA qualification along with considerable technical work experience. This is achieved through the collaboration with KPMG Limited, Cyprus and the ICAEW. The programme incorporates a 12-month internship programme at KPMG Limited, Cyprus.

The programme is intended for university degree holders in any field, it has a total duration of only 16 months and prepares participants for an outstanding professional career in the Accounting/Auditing sector. The programme offers 12 exceptions out of the 15 papers required for the professional qualification of ACA of the ICAEW. Additionally, students have the privilege to participate in a unique training scheme at KPMG Limited, Cyprus and secure about 1500 hours of practical work experience which is close to 1/2 of the total number of hours of work experience required for the professional qualification of ACA.

The College’s student body comprises mainly of Cypriots and a small number of international students from other European countries. The College is really proud of its students’ high academic standard and excellent performance.

Strategic Collaboration #3: ‘School Graduates Route to ACA’:

The ‘School Graduates Route to ACA’ is hybrid programme that has been established in collaboration with the world-class Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and KPMG Limited, Cyprus, a world-renowned auditing firm.

The B.A. (Hons) degree in Business Administration (specialisation in Accounting and Finance), in collaboration with the ICAEW, constitutes another strategic undergraduate programme in Cyprus which offers 12 exceptions out of the 15 papers required for the ACA qualification along with considerable technical work experience. This is achieved through the collaboration with KPMG Limited, Cyprus and the ICAEW. The programme incorporates a 12-month internship programme at KPMG Limited, Cyprus.

The programme is intended for secondary school grduates and prepares participants for an outstanding professional career in the Accounting/Auditing sector. The programme offers 12 exceptions out of the 15 papers required for the professional qualification of ACA of the ICAEW. Additionally, students have the privilege to participate in a unique training scheme at KPMG Limited, Cyprus and secure about 1500 hours of practical work experience which is close to 1/2 of the total number of hours of work experience required for the professional qualification of ACA.

Students and Graduates

The College’s student body comprises mainly of Cypriots and a small number of international students from other European countries. The College is really proud of its students’ high academic standard and excellent performance.

P.A. College graduates have a wide choice in terms of how they can proceed for their postgraduate studies since they have the opportunity to embark onto a plethora of Master’s degree programmes overseas. As a result, graduates have successfully completed Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes mainly in U.K. and U.S. universities.

P.A. College’s graduates are employed shortly after their graduation or even before they formally conclude their studies and they head for national and international accounting and auditing firms, the public sector, the banking sector, as well as IT companies and other trading and business organisations in the private sector.

European Progammes

During the last few academic years, P.A. College participated in several European programmes, including the Erasmus exchange programme. Faculty members were invited to teach, give presentations to students in other European universities, as well as exchange research ideas.  Faculty members from Europe came to the College and delivered lectures and presentations to students and faculty members.  College students attended the programmes offered by European universities whilst at the same time the College hosted exchange students from several European countries. Furthermore, the College participated in funded academic research projects through the national and European agencies.