Study Abroad at The American University in Cairo

Upsides:
- The AUC campus is amazing. It is gorgeous, clean, and offers all the infrastructure that you need and much more. Expecially the sports complex is incredible.
- There are usually just a dozen (maximum two dozen) students in each class, which renders the learning experience very intimate. The professors are skilled and accessible.
- There are many activities offered on campus, and many student associations / sports clubs to choose from.
- The Arabic classes are of great quality.

Downsides:
- The new campus is quite far from the city center
- The whole environment can feel a bit elitist at times. Altough AUC is a good start, if you want to experience the "real" Egypt, meaning the whole of the Egyptian society, you need to go outside the uni and get to meet non-AUCians as well.

Overall a really great university experience and a decent but not complete cultural experience.

I have one month left of my study abroad experience at AUC, and I wish it weren't coming to an end. The campus is beautiful, students and faculty are friendly, and the academics are rather impressive. I felt so unprepared to visit a MENA country for the first time, but AUC offers the perfect balance of "home" and Egyptian culture. I am a business student, and all of the business courses are challenging, engaging, and interesting. I also study Arabic, and I have made so much progress in the past few months! The student dorms are much nicer than an American dorm I've ever seen, and safety is top notch.

The visa process through the school was a bit unclear and troublesome, but everything worked out before my tourist visa expired. The International Programming Office is incredibly helpful for any issue you might have, and I was surrounded by other international students fro all over the world.

After living in Abudhabi for 18 years, I chose to study at AUC. I never regretted my decision as it is a place that I learn different things and also have friends in. The liberal arts program has helped me to find my true passion aside from Mass communication which is business. Also, i have discovered a lot about the Egyptian culture like how they dress, eat and behave. Consequently, I became in love with the culture as I never lived in my country. Discovering Egypt by trips AUC does every now and then way a great experience. Also, I loved how the university is diverse with all cultures in Egypt in addition to also their mentality. Doctors in the university are always eager to teach us and make us learn something. Hence, studying abroad in Egypt has a lot of advantages and it is a must to try it❤️

Egypt is an exciting culture rich country. No two persons will ever have the same experience in Egypt with so much to do and see in this country. So why not study and live here? Studying in AUC Was a great experience with all around awesome safe campus and welcoming faculty and staff. The knowledge and experience of the professors will add to and expand your knowledge and will allow you to go away with an experience unlike any other. The activities on campus are also unparalleled. Every week there is something different to do or an event to attend whether it be academic or not. That is also aside from the trips that are geered towards introducing students to different regions in Egypt. I highly recommend AUC to any student looking to expand their selves on any level.

My last year as an undergraduate was all about envisaging on how studying abroad is going to be. By then, I had little knowledge on what it takes to go overseas. All I wanted was to taste the sweet experience of travelling, meeting new people and facing new academic challenges. I was particularly keen about American standard of learning. Soon enough, I realized I got to face US school application with little experience. I came across AUC from a scholarship forum on whats app and I concluded this could be exactly what I was looking for. So far studying in AUC has made me seen learning as means of self transformation. The flexibility in everything couple with students needs change the stressful part of academics to be fun, fulfilling and rewarding . AUC is a global university, when you think about the hub of international life and experience in Egypt, think AUC. Talking about numerous benefits will make me write and non stop. Only studying here will make someone capture the worthwhile experience. For me is home away from home.

My resolve to travel to Egypt from Nigeria my country of origin, was one thought of by many close associates as as an undeserving academic adventure to the land of religious extremism characterized by high level discrimination and violence.
Despite my personal resolve to seek knowledge at all cost, and no matter where, I was overwhelmed with feelings of uncertainties. On one hand that my faith will be faced with terrible challenges and on the other hand how to cope with violence in my new abode.
However, the warmhearted reception and constant conviviality accorded me on arrival drastically changed my initial impression and switched my mood to that of one who had been welcomed to his new home.
The unique academic environment at AUC cattering for learners of all class, 'abled and differently abled' appeals much to me. It gives me an impression of an existing paradise of learning at the citadel of knowledge.
Attitudes of lecturers, nonacademic staffers, students and other Egyptians I have met confirmed to me that 'experience indeed, is the best teacher' in life.
Adding to all of these is the tourist attractions spread in different locations that re-echos to me as well as other countless tourists the ancient civilization of Egypt.
On the whole, coming to AUC is coming to learn more than you can imagine.

I would describe my semester in Egypt as an enormous cultural adventure! Coming from a western country, going to Cairo is a big change. About 95% of the students, so in my case, I was the only international student in most of my classes. Luckily, all the courses are in English and all the teachers (and most of the students) are fluent in English and do not mind switching from Arabic to Engish when you join the conversation.
The campus is very luxurious and has a beautiful garden where you can sit if it is not too hot outside. The buildings were a bit of a maze to me when I first arrived, since they are all in the same Cairo architectural style, but that is just something to get used to. There are campus dorms that are very safe and look very comfortable. However, they are quite expensive and there is sometimes a waiting list. There are plenty of (very cheap) housing options outside of the campus. It is easy to team up with other internationals in the first week to find an apartment together. The travel time will be a bit longer, but the school bus is comfortable (about 1.5 hours on average from the Cairo city center to campus, for around 2 dollars)
The classes at AUC we easy to follow for me and the teachers provide generally enough information to practice, evaluate, and receive feedback. Most teachers give graded homework and pop quizzes next to the exams, a bit like in High School. The staff members warned me not to take too many "difficult" courses, however, the courses here are easier than in European universities. So don't be afraid to challenge yourself :)
Before arrival, communication through email was a bit slow, last-minute, and incomplete, which caused some surprises and issues in the first week of arrival. Luckily, on campus the students and staff are very helpful, they helped me solve the issues. There are enough places to ask for help and support.
Overall it was a worthwhile adventure that changed my perspective on culture and the Middle East, and I have learned many life lessons inside and outside the classes.

Everyone told me it was going to be hard living in Cairo, but honestly now after 4 months I’m still wondering what they were referring to. It’s been very different, and nothing is as it’s “supposed” to be but everything gets done and sorted anyway, just never in the way you assumed. Which is what makes everyday in Cairo exciting. You never know what’s going to happen.
I live in Zamalek and would definitely recommend to live near downtown and off campus even though the commute is long it’s worth it. When it comes to activities there are a lot of cool clubs on campus but I would recommend to volunteer or join groups or communities outside of campus because AUC is a bobble, it’s an amazing bobble but some times I found my self needing a change of scene.
I study visual journalism and I had a few production courses which were very cool and I learned a lot from them, on the other hand the more academic courses i took weren’t very challenging.
But in the full experience I have definitely enjoyed my semester at AUC, but for me the experience has been more about Egypt and Cairo than my studies, which is all intentional.