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The American University in Cairo (AUC) was founded in 1919 by a group of American citizens devoted to education and community service in the Middle East. Today, AUC is the region’s premier English-language University — an indispensable contributor to the social, political and cultural life of the Arab world.  The university also serves as a type of intersection or crossroads for the world’s cultures: a vital, vibrant forum for reasoned argument, spirited debate and understanding across cultures, and a place that absolutely celebrates diversity.

The American University in Cairo is an independent, nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian and equal-opportunity institution, fully accredited in both Egypt and the United States. AUC’s academic programs are rooted in liberal education, and the institution’s meticulous and very rigid core curriculum offers an exhaustive investigation of fundamental questions in every major discipline.

More About the American University in Cairo

In the ever-increasingly globalized society in which we live, the American University in Cairo offers an essential bridge between the cultures of East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the United States and the rest of the world through scholarly research, study-abroad programs and partnerships with academic and research institutions. AUC builds leadership, lifelong learning, continuing education and service among its graduates and is dedicated to making significant contributions to Egypt and the international community in a number of diverse fields. Chartered and accredited in both the United States and Egypt, the American University in Cairo upholds the principles of academic freedom and is wholly dedicated to excellence. Via its first-class liberal arts education, the American University in Cairo provides the opportunity and the space for AUC students to: think critically; engage with the world’s religious, political and cultural disciplines; and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world.

The faculty and students of the American University in Cairo share a common vision to change Egypt and the Middle East for the better, as well as to change the thinking of the contemporary world as a whole through its community-based learning courses, community-service clubs and research centers. 

A window onto Egypt and the world at large, AUC serves as a regional think tank for leading intellectuals, scholars, researchers and expert cadres, who together are involved in activities such as:  debating public policy issues; engaging in outreach programs; providing a platform for the dissemination of ideas to help solve contemporary social, political and economic problems; and conducting interdisciplinary research that has far-reaching implications in a variety of fields, including science, technology, desert development, gender studies, American studies, and economic and business history.  

The nearly 5,000 undergraduates currently enrolled at the American University in Cairo hail from nearly every corner of Egypt as well as from over 110 countries around the globe.  As these students graduate, they have the unique opportunity to join a worldwide network of more than 30,000 AUC alumni, who collectively serve as leaders in finance and commerce, law and engineering, politics and culture, community service and computer science, and many other fields of knowledge.

The American University in Cairo boasts the largest English-language library in Egypt, and the AUC Press is the leading publisher of English-language books in the Arab world. The University’s brand new 260-acre campus in Cairo—Egypt’s capital city—represents a major investment in the future of the city, the country and the Middle East region — a state-of-the-art facility designed for advanced research, innovative teaching and civic engagement.

American University in Cairo:  Mission

As outlined on the innovative and user-friendly website for the American University in Cairo, the institution’s mission is as follows: “The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a premier English-language institution of higher learning. The university is committed to teaching and research of the highest caliber and offers exceptional liberal arts and professional education in a cross-cultural environment. AUC builds a culture of leadership, lifelong learning, continuing education and service among its graduates and is dedicated to making significant contributions to Egypt and the international community in diverse fields. Chartered and accredited in the United States and Egypt, it is an independent, not-for-profit, equal-opportunity institution. AUC upholds all of the principles of academic freedom and is dedicated to excellence.”

American University in Cairo:  Vision

The goals that make up the vision of the American University in Cairo, some of which have already been achieved, are as follows:

“AUC aims to be a world‐class university that is internationally recognized for its leadership and excellence in teaching, research, creative expression, and service. The school hopes to continue to build on its existing strengths to become the leading university in the Middle East and the destination of choice for students and faculty from around the world seeking in‐depth cultural exposure combined with outstanding academic programs, cutting‐edge research, and an ethically engaged, diverse community of scholars.”

American University in Cairo:  Values

All of the programs, teaching, and research that the American University in Cairo is involved with are rooted in the following five core values that the institution holds dear.

Excellence

AUC continually strives to be among the best in all they do: in teaching, research, creative expression, service to their communities, and service to each other in their daily interactions.

Diversity

The American University in Cairo seeks to treat all individuals with dignity and fairness and to promote understanding and respect for the wide diversity of perspectives, traditions, and experiences of all stakeholders.

Social Responsibility

AUC is committed to exploring the challenges that confront Egypt, the region, and the world today and in the future, and to using their intellectual and creative capabilities to address these challenges, serve their communities, and have a positive and sustainable impact on development, business, the environment, and society.

Integrity

The leaders of the American University in Cairo believe that individuals are accountable for their actions, and, as members of a community, that our individual actions have an impact on others.  AUC recognizes it is stronger as a community when they reflect on the consequences of their decisions and actions and when they uphold the principles of academic integrity, including fairness, accountability, and honesty.

Lifelong Learning

The American University in Cairo believes that the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and personal and professional development should continue throughout one’s lifetime.

American University in Cairo:  Institutional Priorities 

The American University in Cairo has outlined several institutional priorities—priorities they feel are vital to their success.  Among them are:

Education for Citizenship and Service

AUC believes that a sound education not only prepares students for professional success, but also readies them for responsible citizenship and community engagement. The liberal arts tradition, with its emphasis on the broad education of a common core curriculum and the experiential learning of rich extracurricular programs, strengthens the curiosity and courage of AUC graduates, and promotes civic participation.

Research Reflecting Innovation and Impact

AUC is a source of insight and inspiration in many fields, and the institution expects their faculty and students to participate in scientific, scholarly and/or artistic production. The school particularly emphasizes those domains in which there is the prospect of a tangible effect on the development of disciplinary knowledge or the enhancement of societal welfare.

Outreach Enhancing Engagement and Access

The American University in Cairo is dedicated to serving communities in Egypt and around the world through extension and outreach programs that bring the university’s expertise and insight to a wider public, that profit from their convening power, and that serve to inform and enlighten public discourse, enhance access to information and knowledge, and enrich artistic and intellectual life.

Management with Sustainability and Integrity

AUC is committed to managing the operations of the University so as to reflect and foster the values they consistently teach their students, expect in their faculty and wish to exemplify in Egypt.  The school’s institutional practices should exhibit a commitment to environmental, social and fiscal responsibility, and leaders and students of the university should observe the highest standards of integrity in the workplace and in their dealings with vendors, clients, and other constituents.

Information for International Students

If you are an international student looking to study abroad at the American University in Cairo, the first department you should contact at the school is the Office of International Students and Study Abroad (ISSA).

The Office of International Students and Study Abroad (ISSA), formerly known as the Office of International Student Affairs, is the office on campus for international students—a place providing everything they could possibly need.  

ISSA offers advising for study-abroad students, and advocacy and assistance to all international students throughout their sojourn in Egypt. ISSA staff members act as a liaison between international students and other offices on-campus on all non-academic issues as well. The office also serves all AUC students who wish to study abroad or participate in an exchange program with one of AUC’s partner institutions. The ISSA team includes nine staff members and more than 20 international peer leaders (IPLs) who work for international students around the clock. IPLs volunteer their time and effort to support these students and make their transition to Egypt a pleasant and adventurous experience.

For more information about study abroad and exchange programs at the American University in Cairo, please visit the section of AUC’s website entitled “International Student Survival Guide, at—http://www.aucegypt.edu/studentlife/isa/Pages/InternStudents.aspx#B

All Programs Available:
  • Arts, Design and Crafts
    • Theatre
    • Performing Arts
  • Business
    • Business Administration
  • Humanities
    • History
    • Humanities
  • Philology, Languages, Literature
    • Philology and Linguistics
    • Language Courses
    • Literature
  • Public Administration and Services
    • Public Administration/Management
  • Sciences
    • Political Science
    • Psychology
    • Sociology
    • Anthropology
Language of instruction

English

Type of school

Private University

Telephone

+20-2 357 5012

Location

113 Kasr el Aini Street Post Office Box 2511, Cairo, Egypt, 11511


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