Fourteen teams participated in the 2002–03 Cypriot First Division.
The team with the most points at the end of the season crowned champions.
The teams had to declare their interest to participate in the 2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup before the end of the championship.
Ethnikos Assia, Doxa Katokopias and Ermis Aradippou were relegated from previous season and played in the 2002–03 Cypriot Second Division.
They were replaced by the first three teams of the 2001–02 Cypriot Second Division, Nea Salamina, Digenis Morphou and Aris Limassol.