Frequently Asked Questions

If you are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a university outside of Egypt, you can spend a semester or longer at AUC as a non-degree study abroad student, earning transfer credit toward your home degree. If you hope to earn a full degree at AUC, visit the International Students page for more information. 

The best time to study abroad at AUC is during the fall (August - December) and/or spring (January - May) semesters, when you have the greatest variety of course options. However, you are welcome to come for the three-week winter term in January or summer session in June-July.

Yes! All of AUC’s courses are taught in English except for optional Arabic language courses. AUC offers a wide array of Arabic language courses from the absolute beginner to advanced levels you can include in your schedule. AUC also offers a non-credit five-day Survival Arabic course to help newcomers settle in Cairo.
 

Cairo is a bustling megacity described as the center of intellectual, social, and cultural life in the Arab world. AUC has two campuses: a historic campus in Tahrir Square, which hosts the semester-long Arabic Language Intensive (ALIN) program, and the main campus in New Cairo, a secure residential suburb, which hosts year-round general study abroad and the Arabic Language Intensive Summer (ALIS) program.

AUC serves 6,656 undergraduate and graduate students, the vast majority of whom are Egyptian. As a study abroad student, you will be directly enrolled at AUC and sit in classes with degree-seeking students, allowing you to make connections with your local peers from day one. You can read more about AUC’s student profile here.

You will take courses taught by AUC faculty. You can read about AUC faculty's global and national recognition here.

Pending prerequisites, study abroad students can register for classes across AUC’s course catalog, combining sciences and engineering with arts, business, humanities, and social sciences to meet their academic needs and interests. Some home universities have specific partnerships with AUC that require their students to study specific academic fields; consult with your home university to understand any academic restrictions for study abroad at AUC.

Click here to read about course numbering and eligibility. 

Obtain approval for the courses that you plan to take at AUC. If you change your course schedule once you arrive at AUC during the drop/add (late registration) period, contact your advisor for approval. 

A full-time undergraduate student registers for 12-15 credit hours in the fall or spring semester, up to six credits in the summer session, and up to three credits in the winter term. A full-time graduate student registers for nine credit hours in the fall or spring semester, up to six credits in the summer session, and up to three credits in the winter term. International students must maintain full-time status to be eligible for Egyptian residency. Click here for more information. 

AUC offers 38 undergraduate majors, for a list of majors with more information about each one, go to the undergraduate programs. Also, AUC offers 51 master’s programs and two PhD programs. For a list of majors with more information about each one, go to the graduate programs.

Click here for more information. 

AUC follows a US grading system described here. At the end of the term, your official AUC transcript will show your course grades. 

Yes, the Student Accessibility Services Unit (SAS) in the Center for Student Well-Being facilitates academic accommodations such as modifications for the classroom, testing, or assignments.

Submit the admission application before the admission application deadline.

You will find the list of the required documents in this checklist.

Yes, you need to email to [email protected] by mid-semester and follow instructions for academic advising and registration.

AUC tuition and fees/rates can be found here.

No, AUC tuition fees will be waived. Your AUC bill will only reflect charges for the mandatory health insurance, student activities fee, and housing fees if you are planning to stay in AUC's residences. 

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Yes, check this link for more details.

If you are responsible for paying tuition to AUC, you will be billed according to the AUC tuition non-degree international student tuition rate per credit hour listed and fees can be found here (e.g. 15 credits costs USD $11,025). This rate is applicable to both general study abroad and Arabic Language Intensive (ALI) programs. Required non-tuition costs at AUC include a mandatory international student health insurance fee, student services fee (~ USD $75), and housing fee (if applicable). Semester-long study abroad costs (including tuition, mandatory fees, airfare, personal expenses, and food) are estimated at USD $17,500. 

If you hold dual citizenship and plan to pay tuition directly to AUC, you may be eligible to pay the non-degree tuition rate per credit hour for Egyptian students listed here (e.g. 15 credits costs USD $10,005). On the study abroad application, make sure your primary citizenship is listed as “Egypt” and provide the admissions office with proof of your Egyptian citizenship (see eligibility criteria here). 

No, if you are nominated through an exchange program with AUC, your AUC tuition fees will be waived. Your AUC bill will only reflect applicable charges for the medical services fee, mandatory health insurance premium, and non-degree student activities fee non-tuition costs. Housing fee is excluded from the exchange waivers.

Cairo is one of the least expensive cities in the world and the cost of living is far lower than big cities in the US or Europe. Estimated monthly personal expenses are USD $400-500.

No, but AUC has several food outlets on campus, including two major food courts, bakeries, coffee shops and convenience stores on campus - perfect to grab a coffee, eat between classes, or enjoy a meal with friends. For more information, check the food services page. We recommend study abroad students budget ~ USD $2,000 for food costs during the semester.

To enter Egypt, you are only responsible for obtaining a tourist visa. You are strongly recommended to apply for this from the nearest Egyptian Consulate in your home country before your arrival in Egypt (though some nationalities can obtain it upon arrival). Once you arrive on campus, you will visit the Business Support Office to process your residency visa. The Business Support Office will help you renew your tourist visa if there is any delay in your residency visa approval from the Egyptian authorities. Check this link for more details.

If you are planning to do an internship after your study term at AUC, it is mandatory that you have a valid visa that would cover the duration of your study and internship.

Click here for AUC’s academic calendars. We recommend you arrive one day before the start of mandatory orientation and stay in Egypt for the duration of the exam period. Once accepted to AUC, you will receive the confirmed on-campus housing check-in and check-out dates applicable to your term.

Visit this Living in Cairo page for packing recommendations. 

If you are a resident in AUC’s campus housing, you can have small mail or packages sent to the Office of Residential Life. However, there may be a required duty fee that could be steep and unpredictable. AUC cannot accept shipped luggage or other heavy-duty items, so we recommend bringing what you need in your checked or hand luggage. Note that the AUC Residences include free self-service laundry. If you are not a campus resident, you can have small mail sent to the International Programs and Services Office. 

Cairo International Airport (CAI)

Prior to arrival, you will receive an Airport Meet-and-Assist form to complete with your arrival flight details; if you complete this form following its instructions, AUC will send a representative to meet you at the airport and transport you to campus housing (or your off-campus address) free of charge. 

AUC offers a wide variety of co-curricular activities through its student-run organizations operating on campus. AUC has more than 50 student organizations running every year. By joining student activities, you get the opportunity to develop your soft skills and life skills. 

Yes, you can apply to the work-study program through the Career Center to work on campus in various departments and offices.

Yes, all students with AUC ID can access the libraries diverse and constantly expanding collections, including books, journals, videos, microforms, rare materials and a substantial collection of electronic resources. You also have access to a variety of services, including information literacy instruction, reference and research guidance, document delivery and more. For more information, check the AUC Libraries website.

Yes, AUC has two major food courts, bakeries, coffee shops and convenience stores on campus, perfect to grab a coffee, eat between classes or enjoy a meal with friends. For more information about food outlet locations, operating hours, surveys and service updates, as well as a reference for food services policies and procedures, check the food services page.

Yes, all students with AUC ID can access it. For more information about facilities and reservations, sports schedules, membership, sports academies, daily working hours, and locker rental service, visit the Office of Athletics.

Yes, AUC has bus service that is available to all AUC community. Check the routes, policies and procedures, and fees.

Yes, on-campus housing is available. You need to apply as soon as  the housing application open to ensure availability. For more information about the important dates, check this link.

No, yet students are strongly recommended to live on campus.

The Student Residences are fully furnished. Click here to read about the features and amenities offered in each type of room and take a virtual tour of the residences here.

The Student Residences are home to a mix of international students (degree-seeking as well as study abroad) and Egyptian students, many of whom have hometowns outside of Cairo. 

Yes, a team of nearly 50 full-time professional and paraprofessional staff members ensures the orderly operation of Student Residences both on and near campus. The Student Resident Advisors (RA) work closely with the staff resident officers to establish a living-learning community and offer support and activities for residents throughout the term. 

Yes, AUC has private buses that travel between the AUC New Cairo and AUC Tahrir Square campuses as well as through neighborhoods all over the city. Explore the routes, policies and procedures, and fees. You can purchase a subscription for the term or pay-by-the-ride as desired. Our comfortable coach buses have reclining seats, window curtains, and free Wi-fi on board. 

Study abroad students take AUC buses, Uber and other ride-sharing services (available directly from campus), as well as metered taxis to get around the city.
 

Students will take affordable train transportation to cities such as Alexandria (~2 hours from Cairo), private buses or hired drivers to beach destinations on the Red Sea or nearby desert oases, as well as flights to cities such as Luxor and Aswan.

Yes, AUC requires that all international students are covered by AUC’s comprehensive accident and sickness insurance plan. For more information, read the policy, fees and procedures.

AUC recommends that study abroad students bring enough medication to last the term since a local prescription may not be available and there are often shortages of local versions of prescription medications. It is also recommended to carry the medication in your carry-on and to have a physician prescription printed with you upon arrival. 

Yes, Cairo is a safe city, particularly for its large size of 20 million residents. In the 2018 Gallup Global Law and Order Report, Egypt was ranked the safest country in Africa and safer overall than both the US and the UK. AUC carefully controls access to its grounds and facilities to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of its community. Click here for more information.