Study Abroad Programs - American University in Cairo
The American University in Cairo was founded in 1919 by Americans devoted to education and community service in the Middle East. Today, AUC is the region’s premier English-language university — an essential contributor to the social, political and cultural life of the Arab world. It also serves as a crossroads for the world’s cultures: a vital, vibrant forum for reasoned argument, spirited debate and understanding across cultures. AUC is an independent, nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian and equal-opportunity institution, fully accredited in Egypt and the United States. AUC’s academic program is rooted in liberal education.
Academics
UMaine students interested in studying abroad at AUC can choose to enroll as either a study abroad student taking classes in Political Science, Business, International Affairs, Engineering and other disciplines, or enroll at the Arabic Language Institute(ALI). Students can attend AUC for a semester, a full academic year or in the summer. All successfully completed courses at AUC transfer to UMaine. AUC’s School of Business is AACSB accredited (same accrediting agency as UMaine School of Business), which makes transferring Business courses from AUC to UMaine easier.
Housing
The American University in Cairo offers two excellent residence facilities for students. The first is the Zamalek residence, located in one of downtown Cairo’s most popular residential districts – Zamalek. It is an island slightly northwest of central Cairo; an urban up-scale area with a large cosmopolitan population. Some of Cairo’s best shopping outlets, entertainment and dining are found in Zamalek. It is approximately 38 kilometers, or 23 miles, from the new campus in New Cairo. There is a shuttle available to campus.
In the Spring 2009 semester, the brand new on-campus student residence facility was opened in New Cairo. This second residence for student living provides a greater variety of living spaces for both men and women in the form of cottages, or large townhouses. The on-campus residence provides the comfort of close proximity to classes and university life. Read more about AUC Residential Life.
Budget & Costs
UMaine students studying abroad at AUC will pay tuition, fees, room and board expenses directly to AUC. It is important that students work with the Office of International Programs to receive approval for their study abroad program in Egypt in order to apply UMaine financial aid funds to their semester abroad.
Scholarships
Students interested in studying abroad at AUC are strongly encouraged to research the NSEP David L. Boren Scholarship and the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship. Read more information under Study Abroad Scholarships.
Application Process
Admission to the program is selective. Successful applicants must have completed 30 credit hours and most have higher than a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Read the Application Information for Study Abroad Students.
All application materials must be sent to the NYC Office of the American University in Cairo at New York Office, 420 Fifth Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10018-2729. Students may reach an AUC Admissions Counselor at 212-730-8800.
Students should pay attention to the difference in wording for AUC and UMaine.
For AUC: Students use the non-degree application for a semester as a study abroad student at AUC
For UMaine: In the Application to Study Abroad students will write under Study Abroad Provider “direct enroll program”. Students receive the application from the Study Abroad Advisor at UMaine.
Deadlines
- Students must submit an Application to Study Abroad to UMaine’s Office of International Programs by October 15 for Spring semester abroad and February 20 for summer and fall semester abroad.
- AUC’s deadlines for spring applications is November 1 and for summer and fall applications April 15.