Location

To many, Egypt is the cradle of civilization; to others, the leader of the modern Middle East. In Cairo — a city with a metropolitan area population of over 17 million — the ancient and the modern, the rural and the urban are brought together on the banks of the Nile River. The largest city in Africa; the cultural center of Arabic speaking peoples; a crossroad for the sharing of ideas, leadership and trade, Cairo is home to people from all continents. To live and study in this complex city will give you a different view of the world. The American University in Cairo (AUC) relocated in the summer of 2008 to New Cairo, on the outskirts of the old city.  Foreign students at AUC have a unique opportunity to study with Egyptian and Arab students under the guidance of some of the best scholars in the fields of Middle Eastern studies, Egyptology, Islamic Art and Architecture, and Arabic language. On the new, 260 acre campus, students may conduct research in the largest English library in Egypt or utilize the resources of AUC's special collections on Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Islamic and Modern Egypt.  Offering new educational and sports facilities, and state-of-the-art resources to students and faculty from around the world, the new campus will express the university’s mission in a physical space, weaving Egyptian urban and architectural traditions into the design of a modern campus.

Beyond the campus, students may experience the excitement and problems of a developing country; they may view the Great Pyramids at Giza on a sultry afternoon or walk about the cool courtyard of a mosque which dates back 1000 years. Founded in 1919 to offer a comprehensive American-style, liberal arts education to Egyptian students, the American University in Cairo enrolls over 5000 students in its degree, Arabic language and study abroad programs. While students come from over 60 different countries, the vast majority are local Egyptians. The language of instruction is English. AUC is incorporated in the District of Columbia and is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Its degrees are recognized by the Egyptian government. Academic credits earned at AUC are usually accepted for transfer by U.S. colleges. However, study abroad students should obtain written approval of their study plans from their home university before enrolling.

Program of Study

It is possible to enroll for the Academic year, or either Fall or Spring Semesters.   Students may enroll during their junior year of college. Study abroad students do not take a prescribed program but elect courses from the general course offerings of AUC. Courses that focus on Egyptology, history, politics, economics, Arabic language, the arts and social sciences in the Middle East are popular. AUC courses also allow for Engineers and students from the College of Science to attend.  Study abroad students are integrated into classes with AUC degree students and may find that the pace of instruction is affected by the fact that English is often the second or third language of their degree-seeking classmates.

Click here for links to Cairo course information.

Classified at AUC as non-degree students, study abroad students are subject to AUC academic regulations as set forth in the institution's catalog. Notre Dame students take five undergraduate courses (15 credits) each semester. It is the responsibility of each student to be fully aware of the requirements of their specific college major when they select AUC courses. Placement in all classes at AUC is dependent upon space availability and satisfaction of prerequisites.

Eligibility for the Program

Students should plan to attend the program during their sophomore or junior years. Admission to the program requires a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Once nominated by OIS, students must complete the AUC application which will then be made available to them.  For more information visit the American University in Cairo Website:  http://www.aucegypt.edu/

Application Deadline

• November 15th

Additional Information

There is much more we can tell you — about this location, vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of this community ... about the student housing, transportation, health care and much, much more. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing. Interested? Just click here for additional information.