This study estimates higher education-induced energy consumption in the case of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). Although the TRNC is a non-recognized state and a small island; it attracts many international students each year and has shown tremendous development in higher education since the 1990s. The results of the present study reveal that higher education development has an ongoing relationship with electricity consumption; electricity consumption reacts to its long-term equilibrium level by 80.95% as a result of higher education development. Finally, the results of the present study reveal that higher education development in Northern Cyprus exerts a positive and significant growth impact not only on electricity consumption but also on overall oil consumption, both in the short- and long-term; therefore, it can be inferred that higher education development in this small and non-recognized island state is a catalyst for the growth of energy consumption. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.