Study Abroad at The American University in Cairo

Fear, insecurity, homesickness, leaving your family behind, unfamiliar food, and going completely outside of your comfort zone: Is your present life, with all of its amenities and conveniences, worth sacrificing for a few months in a new city, to encounter new people, live a distinct life, and face countless challenges?

The answer is simply “Yes.” I would definitely go for another study abroad program in Egypt. Being mindful that a different country may not be a tranquil and heavenly, utopic place at first, it will take a few weeks or more, and some sleepless nights and insecure moments until the fun actually starts. You’ll become familiar with the place, people, and even the smell of the air!

I can give hundreds of reasons why you should get out of your comfort zone and experience a new adventure in Egypt and at the AUC community. You will not just embrace a new culture, make new friendships, and grow as a person, but you’ll be in disbelief of the very enjoyable self-learning journey you’re likely to experience that’ll mark your personality forever.

From an exchange undergrad student at AUC who came back as a graduate student.

The academics here are not exactly comparable to a great school in the US, but certainly in the ball park. Regardless of how well they teach, all of my professors have been extremely kind, encouraging, and willing to meet up to go over questions. The city of Cairo, downtown, Zemelek, and all those areas are about an hour away. New Cairo itself (where AUC is located) is kind of a weird city, mostly malls, they seem to be going for a Dubai vibe, but downtown is very “Egypt” so it’s nice that it’s only an hour away. Campus is very secure and staff is very friendly.

I love the campus and the community! They are very welcoming of international students. The professors are attentive and the classes are engaging. The journalism department is particularly strong. The food is great. Make sure to grab coffee at L’aroma if you go. They organized a trip to the pyramids also. Very enthusiastic community with lots of events planned for an integrated campus experience. I have so much fun here and would recommend it to anyone who asked. Definitely a worthwhile opportunity.

Going to Cairo, Egypt has been a unique experience. Especially since I haven't been in the continent of Africa before. Honestly, the initial epiphany I reached was the fact of how much I was influenced by Western media. Just because of the subconscious judgmental based assumptions I had of the country before I got here.

The warmth and the open arms being offered here has been such an important part of the experience and it has made me so grateful for the experience being in Egypt.

AUC itself is a big contribution to this. Since it's a big institution, it's an artform of how well-treated I've felt here.
Thank you,
Juliana

I would’t change a thing! The campus is beautiful, curated down to the smallest detail. The experience has been amazing, I am learning so much about a different culture and, at the same time, about myself.
The teachers are attentive and available. Although the methodology is different from what I am used to, I feel comfortable with the academic interactions I am having. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university.

As someone who loves history, studying in Cairo has been an amazing experience. I’ve loved exploring old Cairo and trying all of the local foods, mostly koshary and ful. I’ve been able to meet so many interesting people, from shop owners in Maadi to Bedouin tour guides in Sinai. AUC has also provided a great opportunity to learn Arabic, so that I can actually speak to others when I travel. I have also had the amazing opportunity to meet and share stories with students from all over the world. The experiences I’ve had at AUC are some I’ll never forget.

I think that AUC is a wonderful experience, but if you would like to be very immersed in Arabic and Egyptian culture, you should live off campus. On campus housing is very nice for those that don’t like commuting/ like dorm life. I find it wonderful to be able to experience Cairo off campus (in Maadi) and have the comfort/support of AUC. New Cairo (where the new campus is) is very expensive and Western. I think it is nice but I prefer to live off campus. Especially for language purposes.
I would recommend AUC to anyone wanting a normal study abroad experience (you should live on campus) and also to those that want more immersion in Egyptian culture ( you should live off campus)

As an international student, I feel proud for having chosen AUC to pursue my undergraduate degree abroad. AUC is very rich, both culturally and academically. I was amazed by its palpable sense of community, its architectural splendour and most importantly, the rigorousness of its academic program. Here at AUC, you can meet a myriad of nationalities, learn about cultures without even having to move. Learning about each other's stories is very inspiring, and it's as if you wandered the world. if you're looking to study in a dense cultural hub, AUC would be your ideal destination.