Study and find schools in Egypt

Studying in Egypt

Egypt is one of the main places in the world to study Arabic. Students come for two reasons: to learn the language in Cairo, whose dialect is widely understood across the region, and to take a degree at one of the large public universities or at a private university that teaches in English. Modern Standard Arabic is the official language; English is the language of instruction at the American University in Cairo.

Our directory lists seven schools in Egypt: four universities and three language schools. Five of them are in Cairo, one in Alexandria and one in Mansoura, in the Nile Delta.

The education system

Higher education is offered by public universities, private universities and foreign or international universities. The public universities are large institutions organised in faculties. Alexandria University, for example, describes itself as the second modern university in Egypt after Cairo University. It has existed since 1942 and lists 24 faculties, 750 programmes and 120,000 students. Mansoura University also teaches in faculties, from engineering, medicine and agriculture to law, nursing and fine arts.

Future University in Egypt (FUE) in New Cairo has admitted students since 2006 and teaches in six faculties, including pharmacy, dentistry, engineering and computer science. Egypt's National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE) accredits faculties and programmes, and the Supreme Council of Universities publishes the list of accredited private universities; check that a private university and your programme appear on these lists before you apply.

The American University in Cairo (AUC) follows a different model. It is an English-language university accredited in both Egypt and the United States, with a liberal arts core curriculum that every undergraduate takes, more than 35 undergraduate degrees and four schools. Study is organised in credit hours, as in the United States.

Language schools form the third part of the sector. They teach Modern Standard Arabic (the written and formal language) and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (the spoken dialect), often alongside Quran recitation or cultural programmes.

Admission and recognition

Each university sets its own admission rules for international students. AUC accepts international students for undergraduate and graduate degrees and also takes non-degree visiting students. Public universities such as Mansoura and Alexandria have international relations offices with information for international students, and Alexandria University states that it offers scholarships to students from the Nile Basin countries and other countries.

Check the language of instruction for each programme: AUC teaches in English, while at other universities the language can differ from one programme to another. Language schools usually place you with a test; Qortoba Institute, for example, asks students to take an evaluation test before enrolling, and the result determines the level and the number of levels needed.

If you plan to use an Egyptian degree in Spain or Latin America, check the recognition procedure of your own country before you enrol, and make sure the university and the programme are officially accredited in Egypt.

Visas and residence

According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (advice valid on 7 October 2026), Spanish citizens need a visa for Egypt, and their passport must be valid for at least six months after the planned end of the stay. A tourist visa can be bought on arrival, valid for 30 days and one entry, for US$30, or applied for online through the official Egypt e-Visa portal at least seven days before departure. Holders of a tourist visa may not work.

For a longer stay, such as a degree or a full academic year, you need a residence permit. The ministry advises contacting the Egyptian embassy before travelling; extending a visa inside Egypt means a long procedure at the Ministry of Interior's immigration office in Abbasiya, Cairo, with extra requirements and a fee. Nationals of other countries should check with the Egyptian embassy or consulate where they live. Travellers coming from countries with a yellow fever risk, including Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, must show an international vaccination certificate.

Costs

The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Fees vary widely between public, private and international universities, and each university publishes its own. At AUC, undergraduate tuition for international students is US$735 per credit hour (tuition page updated 29 July 2026), payable in US dollars; non-degree students pay the same rate. AUC also runs a scholarship programme that can cover up to the full tuition. Language schools price their courses by level and length. No official source gives typical student living costs, so ask your university about housing before you arrive. Note that you may not bring more than EGP 5,000 in cash into or out of the country.

Where to study

• Cairo has five of the seven schools in our directory. AUC has a campus in New Cairo designed for 5,500 full-time students and a historic campus at Tahrir Square; its Department of Arabic Language Instruction, established in 1921, teaches Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Future University in Egypt is also in New Cairo, and Qortoba Institute for Arabic Studies runs on-site Arabic courses and a summer programme in Cairo, as well as online classes
• Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast, is home to Alexandria University
• Mansoura, in the Nile Delta, is home to Mansoura University

Culture and practical life

• Safety: the Spanish ministry advises against travel to the border area with Gaza and the whole of North Sinai; Cairo and Alexandria are among the low-risk areas it lists
• Health: take out full health insurance. Private hospitals often ask for payment in advance, tap water should be avoided, and people with breathing problems or asthma are advised not to stay in Cairo for long because of air pollution
• Local rules: dress modestly, especially at religious sites and during Ramadan; do not photograph military sites, bridges or canals; and be aware that demonstrations and filming or interviewing local people are severely restricted for foreigners
• Spanish connection: the Instituto Cervantes has centres in Cairo and Alexandria

Frequently asked questions

Is Egypt a good place to learn Arabic?

Yes, it is one of the main destinations. Cairo has language schools and the AUC Department of Arabic Language Instruction, which teaches both Modern Standard Arabic and the Egyptian dialect, the dialect most widely understood in the Arab world according to AUC.

Can I study in English in Egypt?

Yes. The American University in Cairo is an English-language university. At other universities, check the language of each programme before applying, as Arabic is the official language of the country.

Do I need a visa to study in Egypt?

Spanish citizens need a visa even for a short visit; a 30-day tourist visa is available on arrival or online. For a longer course you need a residence permit, so contact the Egyptian embassy in your country before you travel.

How much does it cost to study at the American University in Cairo?

Undergraduate tuition for international students is US$735 per credit hour, according to the university's tuition page updated in July 2026. Scholarships can cover part or all of the tuition.

Which universities in Egypt are in your directory?

Our directory lists The American University in Cairo, Future University in Egypt, Alexandria University and Mansoura University, plus three language schools in Cairo.