The American University in Cairo
الجامعة الأمريكية بالقاهرة
An English-language liberal arts university founded in 1919, with a core curriculum and a 260-acre campus in New Cairo.
- Students
- 6,679
- Student–faculty
- 11:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $17,640
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1919
About AUC
The American University in Cairo was founded in 1919 by Americans devoted to education in the Middle East. Its first president, Charles R. Watson, set out to build an English-language university with high academic standards; AUC enrolled its first woman in 1928, the year its first class graduated. In 2008 it moved its main operations from Tahrir Square to a 260-acre campus in New Cairo, and it still runs the historic Tahrir Square campus downtown.
AUC keeps a liberal arts model: every undergraduate takes a common Core Curriculum across the humanities and the natural and social sciences before specialising. Its five schools are the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, the School of Sciences and Engineering, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the School of Continuing Education. In fiscal year 2025-26 it enrolled 6,679 students, with 571 full-time faculty and 39 undergraduate programmes.
Admission is certificate-based: AUC accepts the Egyptian Thanawiya Amma, American diplomas with SAT or ACT, IGCSE and A-levels, the IB and many others, and admits students for fall and spring. Tuition is charged per credit hour in US dollars (about USD 17,640 a year for an international student taking 12 credits a semester), with Excellence Scholarships covering 20% to 100%. AUC suits students who want an American-style education in English with deep roots in Egypt and the Arab world.
Why students choose AUC
A US-style liberal arts education in English, with a Core Curriculum for all undergraduates and 39 undergraduate programmes.
AUC reports a 96% employment rate within the first year after graduation and more than 52,000 alumni in about 140 countries.
Combinable Excellence Scholarships can cover 20% to 100% of tuition, including an International Diversity category for students from abroad.
The New Cairo campus has 12 research centres and a library with one of the largest English-language collections in the region.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (spring 2027 intake also open)
Selectivity
AUC does not publish an acceptance rate. It sets minimum scores for each secondary certificate and says meeting them only admits you to the selection process; acceptance depends on the availability of places, and places in science and engineering majors are limited.
Typical entry requirements
| American High School Diploma | GPA 2.0+ plus SAT 950 or ACT 20 minimum; SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 22 for engineering, computer science, data science and actuarial science |
|---|---|
| IGCSE / GCSE / GCE A-levels | Best eight subjects: grade C or above at IGCSE/GCSE or AS, D or above at A-level; transcripts and predicted grades not accepted |
| IB Diploma | Completed diploma meeting the semester's admission scores; predicted grades required for early admission |
| Thanawiya Amma / STEM / Azhariya (Egypt) | At least 70% |
| Arab national certificates (Tawjihi) | At least 75% |
| Other diplomas | French Baccalaureate 10/20; German Abitur average 4; Canadian diplomas 75% |
| English language | All applicants must submit International TOEFL, Academic IELTS or Duolingo scores taken within two years; AUC does not exempt applicants on citizenship or English-medium schooling alone. Scores set your English placement rather than a pass/fail line; students below the level for rhetoric and composition may take the Intensive English Program or Academic English for the Liberal Arts. TOEFL MyBest scores and IELTS One Skill Retake are accepted; TOEFL code 0903. Exemptions apply for, e.g., four years of English-medium school in an English-speaking country or the IB diploma. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 days1 November 2026
Single admission cycle for spring.
- Fall 2027 Early Admission Non-binding In ~4 months1 February 2027
Provisional admission; admitted applicants pay a non-refundable deposit that is later deducted from tuition.
- Fall 2027 Regular Admission Non-binding In ~8 months1 June 2027
Later applications are considered only if places remain.
Dates from AUC's undergraduate requirements page (updated September 2026). Applications after the deadlines are considered only if places remain, which lowers the chance of declaring a science or engineering major at admission.
How to apply
Apply online via AUC's application portal (a new application each academic year), upload all certificate documents, a personal statement (checked for plagiarism) and TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores, and give email addresses for two recommenders (teachers or counsellors). Fall admission runs in two stages: provisional (early) admission on predicted or interim results, with a non-refundable deposit, then final admission on final results. To be considered for Excellence Scholarships, tick the scholarship box in the application.
What admissions looks for
- Scores at or above AUC's minimum for your secondary certificate; higher scores improve your standing because places are limited.
- For science and engineering majors, strong mathematics (for example SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 22 for American diploma holders).
- An original personal statement and two recommendation letters from teachers or counsellors.
- English proficiency shown through TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo, which determines your English placement.
Tips for applying to AUC
- 1 Apply by the 1 February Early Admission deadline for fall: provisional admission comes earlier and science and engineering places fill up.
- 2 Tick the scholarship box in the admission application; if you do not, AUC says there is no later chance to apply for its scholarships for that intake.
- 3 If you take IGCSE/A-levels, submit all certificates and your candidate number: AUC counts your best eight subjects and ignores school transcripts and predicted grades.
- 4 Send a strong TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score: a low one places you in intensive English before you can start rhetoric and composition.
- 5 International applicants can be considered for the International Diversity Excellence Scholarship (20% to 30%) by applying as international students.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
AUC's Excellence Scholarship Program, based on merit and financial need, combines categories (Academic Achievement 20-60%, Egyptian National Certificates 20-40%, International Diversity 20-30%, Talents, Leadership and Community Service, Liberal Arts Majors, each 20-30%) for total coverage of 20% to 100% of tuition. Tuition instalment plans and US loans are also available.
- 20% to 100% of tuition when categories are combined
- Excellence Scholarship coverage
- 20% to 30% of tuition
- International Diversity scholarship
- USD 36,558 a year, including USD 17,640 tuition for 24 credits
- AUC 2025-26 estimated budget for a US undergraduate (federal-loan cost of attendance)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Fall and Spring), plus summer and winter sessions
Engineering (School of Sciences and Engineering)
One of the few majors AUC can declare at admission, for applicants who meet the cut-off scores and maths requirements.
Computer Science
Requires SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 22 (American diploma) for declaration at admission; alumna Rana el Kaliouby studied at AUC before co-founding Affectiva.
Business Administration (Onsi Sawiris School of Business)
Has its own admission requirements from Fall 2027; Queen Rania of Jordan earned her business degree at AUC.
Economics
Graduates include Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and Everest climber Omar Samra.
Egyptology
One of the liberal arts majors eligible for a dedicated Excellence Scholarship category.
Arabic Studies and Middle East Studies
Rooted in the School of Oriental Studies, which AUC added in 1921.
Research
- The New Cairo campus houses 12 cross-disciplinary research centres.
- AUC's five-storey library holds one of the largest English-language collections in the region.
- AUC offers undergraduate research opportunities and 2 doctoral programmes alongside 52 master's degrees.
Schools & faculties
- Onsi Sawiris School of Business
- School of Sciences and Engineering
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
- School of Continuing Education
AUC reports a 96% employment rate within the first year after graduation (FY 2025-26 Facts and Figures).
Student life
Life centres on the New Cairo campus, which has on-campus residential units plus university residences in nearby buildings about seven minutes away, food outlets and emergency medical service. AUC lists 36 athletic programmes and 60 student-run organisations, and its counselling centre was the first in Africa accredited by IACS. Students come from 71 countries, and the Tahrir Square campus keeps a foothold in downtown Cairo's cultural and political life.
- 36 athletic programmes and 60 student-run organisations
- First IACS-accredited counselling centre in Africa
- Partnerships with more than 200 universities in global cities
- Historic Tahrir Square campus downtown alongside the New Cairo campus
Housing. AUC offers on-campus residential units and near-campus residence buildings about seven minutes from campus.
Location
The main campus is in New Cairo, a satellite city about 20 miles and roughly 45 minutes from downtown Cairo, where AUC keeps its original campus on Tahrir Square. Students split their time between the self-contained suburban campus and the city, the cultural and political hub of the Arab world that AUC describes.
Nearest airport: Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Notable alumni
- QR Queen Rania of JordanQueen of Jordan; business administration graduate
- RE Rana el KalioubyComputer scientist and co-founder of Affectiva; bachelor's and master's from AUC
- HA Haifaa al-MansourSaudi Arabia's first female filmmaker; studied comparative literature
- RA Rania Al-MashatEgyptian Minister of International Cooperation; BA in Economics (1995)
- NF Nabil FahmyFormer Egyptian foreign minister; BSc in physics and mathematics and master's in management
- OS Omar SamraFirst Egyptian to climb Mount Everest; BA in Economics
Frequently asked questions
How much is AUC tuition for international students?
Undergraduate tuition is USD 735 per credit hour for international students, paid in US dollars, or about USD 17,640 a year at 12 credits per semester (AUC's own budget basis). Egyptian students pay USD 700 per credit hour (about USD 16,800 a year) and may pay in USD or EGP.
What are the AUC application deadlines for 2027?
1 November 2026 for Spring 2027; 1 February 2027 for Fall 2027 Early Admission; 1 June 2027 for Fall 2027 Regular Admission.
What SAT score do you need for AUC?
American diploma holders need at least SAT 950 or ACT 20 with a GPA of 2.0 or higher; to declare engineering or computer science at admission you need SAT Math 560 or ACT Math 22. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.
Does AUC offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Excellence Scholarships can be combined for 20% to 100% coverage, and the International Diversity category offers 20% to 30% to strong students from abroad who apply as international students.
Does AUC require TOEFL or IELTS?
Yes. All undergraduate applicants must submit TOEFL, Academic IELTS or Duolingo results, which determine English placement; AUC does not exempt applicants on citizenship or English-medium schooling alone.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to AUC in the QS World University Rankings 2027.