Study in Egypt
Egypt’s reputation precedes the country itself: with famous pharaohs and empresses, gorgeous landscapes and instantly recognisable landmarks, there’s no wonder students decide to come and study here, seeing how they combine an amazing vacation with an exquisite education, all in one trip.
And Egypt knows how valuable education is: they invented writing, they thought reading and writing were gifts from gods, and scribes were considered to be “the chosen ones”. If you're looking to study at a university in Egypt, you will find diverse higher education options with a rich historical backdrop and modern facilities.
But are the main requirements and how is actually studying in Egypt like?
Why study in Egypt?
1. High-quality universities
Many Egyptian universities earn their place in renowned world university rankings, which are updated every year. Higher education institutions in Egypt are competitive, offering an excellent academic environment, plenty of English-taught courses, and all the resources international students need.
2. Living costs are affordable
Compared to other study destinations, living costs in Egypt are very low. You can handle all monthly expenses with a budget of 220–350 EUR. Accommodation will represent the highest cost, and keep in mind that the budget can go up and down depending on your spending habits.
3. Explore ancient monuments and mysteries
Egypt is famous for its unique culture and outstanding monuments, which have stood the test of time. While studying there, you have to visit iconic attractions like the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings, the Egyptian Museum, Karnak, the Luxor Temple, the Abu Simbel Temples, etc.
What is it like to study in Egypt?
The educational system in Egypt focuses a lot on the student’s wellbeing and life outside of the university. A lot of clubs and extracurricular activities are available for them, as well as counselling, career advising, and trips and activities for international students.
The professors and staff are polite and helpful, and they encourage an interdisciplinary environment, students from other faculties and programmes being invited often to tell how they study and on what they’re working on.
And the best part? Some Egyptian universities have British degrees correspondents and offer accreditations for the Master’s degrees.
How to apply
In Egypt, each university sets its own rules and requirements for international students. Still, there are a few documents that get requested by all universities. For instance, if you wish to study in Egypt, you need to present:
- A copy of your passport
- A comprehensive medical report
- A bank statement that shows you have enough funds to cover your living and tuition costs or that you received a scholarship
- Your previous transcripts
- A letter of intent
How to qualify for an Egyptian university?
Take Preparation Courses
These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programme. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.
Improve your English through an English-language prep course
If you’re attending a degree programme in Egypt, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.
English-language tests
To apply to study in Egypt, you’ll need to provide proof you have a diploma for your English proficiency.
The certificates generally accepted by the universities in Egypt are:
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL
- IELTS
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
Still, you should always check your university’s website, just to be sure what the exact requirements are.
Living in Egypt
Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses in Egypt:
Tuition fees
The principle behind tuition fees in Egypt is a bit different from other countries. Here, students have to pay for each credit-hour they study.
Usually, a degree may take around 15 to 20 credit hours to complete, but that depends on the degree, area of study, and university. At the American University in Cairo, for example, the cost for 1 credit hour is 626 EUR.
Egyptian universities can also ask for an application fee; they also charge Egyptian students and non-Egyptian students differently, so don’t compare how much you pay to how much local students pay.
Living costs in Egypt
Egypt is one of the cheapest international destinations for students. Living costs and the entertainment comes at a low price, even though Egypt offers some of the best and most adventurous activities (e.g. riding a camel). The minimum average living costs are around 220–350 EUR/month, but it depends on your needs and lifestyle.
Here's a breakdown of average living expenses in Egypt:
- accommodation (rented flat): 100–330 EUR/month
- monthly utilities: 30–40 EUR/month
- public transport pass: 11 EUR/month
- food and groceries: 100–175 EUR/month
- three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: 17 EUR
- 1 loaf of bread: 0.50 EUR
- 1 litre of milk: 0.80 EUR
- 1 kg of apples: 1.30 EUR
- 1 kg of bananas: 0.70 EUR
- 1 cappuccino: 1.50 EUR
About Egypt
Facts about Egypt
Everything you may know about Egypt revolves, more than likely, around mummies, pharaohs, and pyramids, but the culture and the people of Egypt are far more complex and laid more cornerstones in science and astrology than the world combined.
For instance:
- Ancient Egyptians kept flood records on the Nile, and, because they were so precise and detailed, scientists today use that data still, in order to predict and understand rainfall patterns;
- Also, in ancient Egypt, scribes poured on the ground water mixed with ink, as an offering to the god Thoth, messenger for the gods and patron of learning. This was to celebrate writing and reading, seeing how common folk believed that literate people had power from the gods themselves. If that isn’t 20/20 vision, then nothing is.
- Speaking of reading and writing, hieroglyphs have no vowels, so we’re not sure how the spoken language went, but we can safely assume it sounded horrible;
- Women in ancient Egypt were insanely emancipated, considering the times: they could own property, carry out business deals, and initiate divorce. Some, depending on the status of their families, could become doctors or priestesses.
Still, on the other side of Egyptians characters, far from the philosophers and scientists, lays the type of people that would make the basic girls say “That’s, literally, me!”. These examples are:
- Pharaoh Pepi II, who would, allegedly, smear naked slaves with honey to attract flies away from him;
- People who would buy giraffe tails and would make them fly swatters, which was a popular fashion item in ancient Egypt;
- And, like any good religion, every big city supported one favourite god, similar to people supporting football teams today, which raises a lot of questions, like: Were there hooligans? Did they have merchandise? How crazy were the parties after each game, seeing how Egyptians crafted their own beer?
And, because this list would be incomplete without a few words about mummies and their curses and such, we should mention two famous ones:
- Some people believe Titanic sank because of the mummified Egyptian priestess the ship was transporting;
- Charles the II used to rub mummy dust on his skin, because he thought “greatness” would rub off. All together now: EWW!
How to Apply to a Master's in Egypt
If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Egypt, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.
What documents do I need to provide to apply in Egypt?
To apply to a university in Egypt you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- your passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in Egypt so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.
Prove your English skills
Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Egypt
The deadlines for applying to a Master's in Egypt are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.
To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.
