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The American University in Cairo (AUC)

Why choose The American University in Cairo (AUC)?

Why Study at AUC?
Academics
With 40 majors and 55 minors, AUC offers 2000+ courses within an American liberal arts system taught by faculty from around the globe. Learn Arabic at an institution with 60+ years of experience teaching Arabic to diplomats, scholars and journalists, AUC has something for everyone!

Campus Life
Thrive on a world-class, environmentally responsible, green campus and join a diverse community from 60+ countries around the globe.
Take a full virtual tour of our campus here.

Career Center
AUC’s internships, work-study programs and job shadowing opportunities allow you to enhance your resume as you earn your degree.
Beyond the Classroom
Discover your interests and develop your skills with like-minded individuals through 70+ student clubs on campus, work alongside faculty and researchers on issues unique to Egypt and the Middle East.

Discover Egypt
Discover the wonders of Egypt, from historic Cairo, ancient pharaonic temples in Luxor to the deep Red Sea.

Reviews

Default avatar
Yousef
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Extraordinarily Fascinating Experience

My experience at the American University in Cairo (AUC) has been transformative, marked by exceptional education, a robust community, and unique opportunities for personal growth. AUC’s high-quality education is delivered through rigorous academic programs and passionate professors who encourage critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. Beyond academics, the university fosters a vibrant, inclusive community that celebrates diversity and collaboration, offering countless opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with others. My time at AUC has been nothing short of enriching, preparing me for future challenges and inspiring me to strive for excellence.

Pros
  • Engaging work
  • Diverse environment
Default avatar
Fedaa Aldeen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Exceptional Academic and Cultural Experience

Attending the American University in Cairo (AUC) has been an enriching and transformative experience. The campus is beautifully designed, blending modern facilities with traditional Egyptian architecture, making it a vibrant and inspiring place to learn. Academically, the university offers a rigorous curriculum with highly qualified professors who are supportive and approachable.

What truly sets AUC apart is the emphasis on critical thinking and real-world applications, preparing students for global challenges. Beyond academics, the campus life is dynamic, with a wide range of extracurricular activities, cultural events, and clubs to join, creating an engaging environment to build lasting friendships.

The diversity of the student body fosters a multicultural perspective, and the university's location in Cairo provides a unique opportunity to explore the rich history and culture of Egypt. I highly recommend AUC to anyone seeking a world-class education in the heart of the Middle East.

Default avatar
Ainara
3/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience in AUC

In AUC, all restaurants and cafés use disposable items. Most of the students buy coffees or lunch there on a daily basis, which means that they are producing a worrying amount of waste. This is therefore a huge problem that should be addressed. Students are not aware of how detrimental that is and do not fight against it. What is more, many students litter the campus and there are no campaigns are concerned with raising awareness of this matter. Besides, the union does not seem to organize activities or campaigns that truly tackle students' needs.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would not sleep in the dorms. Although the facilities are amazing, it is better to enjoy downtown Cairo. New Cairo is empty and it is quite boring to hang out there.
Pros
  • Free facilities: swimming pool, gym, sports fields
  • Free activities
Cons
  • Disposable items --> plastic
  • Private education should not exist
Default avatar
Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

AUC is one of the most beautiful colleges in the world

I am an international student at AUC and have been thoroughly impressed by how beautiful and well maintained the university is. Not only are there hundreds of fruit trees, beautiful walkways, water fountains and more, the college is very kind and understanding and offer a lot of support for students. They accepted me even though I applied past the deadline, and were very generous. I also appreciate how they have all of the staff speak in English so international students can feel comfortable. If you're thinking about studying at AUC, don't walk, run!

Default avatar
Mohammed Ahmed
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Extraordinary experience

Studying at the American University of Cairo has been an amazing journey. As a Yemeni student, I've experienced a mix of rigorous academics, cultural enrichment, and vibrant social life. Living in Cairo has allowed me to immerse myself in Egyptian culture and history while making lifelong friends from around the world. This opportunity has greatly enriched my knowledge and personal growth. Moreover, the architectural design of the campus is really fascinating. It was carefully designed to serve students in all aspects of their needs. All of which make my time at AUC truly unforgettable.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I chose this program to study abroad in Cairo, Egypt, to give me an opportunity to reconnect with my roots.

My family is originally from Egypt and, having lived in the US my entire life, I have always felt so distant from my culture.

Studying abroad at AUC was the perfect chance for me to learn more about the Egyptian lifestyle, live in a country so different than what I know, study Arabic, and connect with family that I have in Egypt.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Due to the fact that my home university does not offer any programs in Egypt, they did not assist me with much when it came to planning my abroad experience. I informed them that I was choosing to participate in a non-affiliated abroad program, and the organization was on me at that point on. I applied to AUC independently and organized my travels.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

A piece advice that I would give to someone that chooses to study in Egypt is to put yourself out of your comfort zone, enjoy every day making the most of each opportunity, and soak up the culture as much as possible.

Moving to Cairo is already a leap of faith for most people, so you might as well immerse yourself in the uncomfortableness because the best growth comes from these times of discomfort.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

A day in the life in this program entails classes at the New Cairo campus.

I would have Arabic classes in the mornings, followed by lunch at the oriental food place on campus. We might hang out in the gardens and enjoy the Cairo sunshine, chat, do homework, play games, or just enjoy each other's company and the beautiful campus.

On days that I didn't have school, I would try and explore the city, head downtown to sightsee or visit family.

Overall, days were filled with lots of food, laughs, sunshine, and exploring.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going into my study abroad experience was that I would be lonely or not meet many friends. I went into the program pretty much solo and was afraid that I wouldn't find people that I connected with. This fear was almost immediately squashed because I met the most wonderful people. I went into the experience striving to put myself out there and be my authentic self. This taught me that being yourself will attract people to you who you'll connect with.

What was the biggest take-away from your abroad experience?

Living abroad taught me so much about the world, about myself, and about humanity. I learned that being true to who you are is so valuable, and the power of human connection is beautiful. Through connecting with family that I didn't know prior, to meeting amazing people from around the world, I formed lasting connections. Traveling and seeing how people different from you live teaches you so much. It gives you a new perspective and opens your mind to seeing the world.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Salima Ikram

Job Title
Distinguished University Professor
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Dr. Ikram is an Egyptologist who has excavated in Egypt since she was a student in 1986, and has also worked in Greece, Turkey, and Sudan. Her main interests in terms of ancient Egypt are death and mummification, daily life, food, rock art, experimental archaeology, ethnoarchaeology, archaeozoologist, and the cultural heritage protection. She has published extensively on these subjects, both for adults and children, and has also appeared on television.

What is your favorite travel memory?

The first time I went into the Great Pyramid at Giza when I was 9.5 years old was amazing – the dramatic architecture of the Grand Gallery that shot up through the pyramid was awe-inspiring, and the whole space filled me with wonder. This was one of the pivotal moments in my decision to become an Egyptologist.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have been blessed with the opportunity to live and work in Egypt, and have had access to study its monuments as well as to dig them up. I have also been able to take students to visit the sites and also to work on them, which allows both them and myself to grow as scholars and human beings, as we witness the astonishingly rich culture of ancient Egypt.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the nicest things a student has said (actually, several of them say this) is that they have been extremely well prepared for grad school and that the Egyptology unit at AUC taught them how to think, question, appreciate, and be engaged with Egypt in a way that students who study elsewhere cannot. And, at conferences, they always insist on a group lunch, which is starting to mean taking over an entire restaurant.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

The Egyptology Unit at AUC is made up of wonderful scholars with a range of expertise who are engaged in ancient Egypt in a variety of ways. We have a unique understanding and way of interacting with Egypt's culture due to the fact that we live in Egypt and are immersed in both its present and past. We all publish extensively and are involved in a variety of field projects in which we involve our students.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The Egyptology unit works (and plays) together for mutual benefit and also works very hard to ensure that our students have the best possible education as well as opportunities to work in the field and enjoy a wide variety of experiences as well as exposure to different scholars and intellectual paths.