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Semester Abroad in Egypt

The American University in Cairo

Cairo, Egypt

Some refer to Egypt as the Mother of the World or as the Cradle of Civilization. Students who study for a semester in Egypt will quickly begin to grasp the origins of these grand titles. A leading power in the Middle East, Egypt's rich culture and history span several millennia.

Situated on the banks of the Nile River, Cairo is home to more than 17 million people and is the largest city in Africa. The sprawling city is the cultural center of the Arabic-speaking world. Modern Cairo encompasses many former cities and their monuments. Five thousand years of culture are concentrated here, at the center of three continents. Today's skyline mixes minarets and palm trees with art deco villas and multicolored neon - but you can still see the sunset over the Nile. Cairo has a unique atmosphere: both exciting and relaxed. The city pulses with life while the Nile flows on to the sea.

American University in Cairo

Founded in 1919, the American University in Cairo (AUC) enrolls 5,146 students in its degree, Arabic language, and study abroad programs. The student body at AUC is 85% Egyptian. AUC's brand new campus is located outside the city in a suburb called New Cairo. The new campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technology.  

The AUC offers an American-style liberal arts education to students in its three undergraduate divisions: the School for Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Business, Economics and Communication, and the School of Engineering and Sciences. Study abroad students enroll in courses across the curriculum in the three undergraduate schools. 

Academics

Students take five (5) classes while studying abroad at AUC. Students are required to take one class in Arabic language, one class in Egyptian culture and civilization, and three additional classes from across the curriculum.

Click here for access to the Bentley course equivalency database, listing all AUC courses that have been approved by Bentley.

For current semester offerings at AUC, please click here

Accommodations and Meals

Students have two housing options at AUC:

Option 1: AUC has built new housing facilities on it's brand-new campus. These facilities are modern and convenient to classes. Located near the student athletics facilities, 12 houses will accommodate a total of close to 500 students on campus.

Option 2: Students can live at the Zamalek Student Residence Hall. The hall is located in a residential area on Gezirah Island, which is within downtown Cairo. Students commute to the AUC campus via fee-paying shuttle buses that run regularly to the campus in New Cairo.

In both cases, accommodations for men and women are separate. Students are not permitted in the living quarters of students of the opposite sex. All students, male and female, interact in the public areas on the ground floor of the residences. There is no meal plan. Students purchase individual meals at the AUC cafeteria and at local restaurants.

More information about housing at AUC can be found here: http://www.aucegypt.edu/STUDENTLIFE/RESLIFE/Pages/default.aspx

Special Program Features

Prior to AUC's orientation, Bentley students will first take part in a five day "crash course" in spoken Egyptian colloquial Arabic. The intensive course will be conducted on-campus at AUC. The four day long orientation for new students that follows will be conducted on campus one day and include a three day excursion to one or more destinations such as Alexandria, Sinai, or the Red Sea.

In addition to the excursions included in the orientation program, students will have the opportunity to sign-up for other trips organized by AUC. The International Student Services Office's Egypt 101 program includes weekend and weeklong trips in Egypt and the surrounding region.