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American University in Cairo
| Area: | International Business Exchange |
| Location: | Cairo |
| Country: | Egypt |
| Term: | Spring |
UofSC's exchange program with the American University in Cairo (AUC) in Egypt is designed to help USC students gain knowledge of Egyptian culture and business practices. Founded in 1919, AUC is a leading English language, U.S.-accredited institution of higher education and the center of the intellectual, social and cultural life of the Arab world. AUC's 260-acre campus is located in the suburb of New Cairo. It is a modern, state-of-the-art campus, with traditional Egyptian architectural style. Cairo, located on the banks of the Nile River, is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world with a population of 6.8 million. It is the center of the region's political and cultural life and offers famous historical sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, as well as world-class cultural events and an array of shopping, leisure & nightlife activities.
Egypt is on the University Travel Warning List. Students interested in going on this exchange program will need to complete the Higher Risk Travel Petition process.
Category: 1, no foreign language proficiency requirement, all courses, other than language languages, are taught in English
Cost: UofSC resident tuition rates + in-country costs
Requirements: junior standing; International Business major
For housing, students should budget between $1,500-$3,000 per semester, depending on location and whether students choose to live alone or with roommates. Egypt's overall cost of living is low, but students should budget for food, travel, and personal spending habits. To get an idea of life on site, you will find on the numbeo website indications on the cost of living in Egypt compared to 250 other countries in the world.
Exchange students at AUC can choose from the full curriculum. All courses, other than language courses, are taught in English. Students take classes with Egyptian and other international students. Students can take 12-15 credits per semester at AUC. Classes are held Sunday, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays generally consist of labs and seminars. Most classes at AUC are worth three U.S. credits, and most lab sciences carry an additional lab credit. Students studying Arabic can elect to take accelerated 6 credit language classes.To see courses UofSC students have taken at this university, please reference the Registrar's Course Equivalency Table.
The International Office at AUC organizes social events throughout the program. They can also help you connect to existing student organizations and clubs during your time at AUC. Students also have the opportunity for individual travel throughout Egypt and the region. AUC has a travel office to assist students with finding affordable and safe opportunities for travel.
Per university policy, all UofSC students will be charged emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance for their time abroad. Contact the Education Abroad Office for more details.
Housing in Cairo is arranged through AUC during the application process. Students should choose to live in the dormitories on AUC's New Cairo campus. Residence halls are fully furnished and include kitchens, wifi, and complimentary self-service laundry.
American University Cairo follows an American semester model. The master calendar is available here. USC IB students will attend AUC in the Spring semester. The Spring semester begins early February and classes end in late May.
AUC offers an airport pickup service for a nominal fee to incoming exchange students. A week-long mandatory orientation program is held for all international students prior to the start of classes.
All students studying in Egypt will receive a tourist visa upon their arrival in Cairo, but students can apply in advance if they wish. The visa costs approximately $25. Student visas are issued during the semester after students have arrived in Egypt.
AUC advises that international students apply for an entry visa from your home country. Students can get a visa application from an Egyptian consulate from their home country for 90 days, do not wait until the last minute to apply. Allow several weeks if you are getting the visa by email.