The University admits outstanding graduate students who demonstrate the ability to do creative and original work. A graduate applicant must have an acceptable bachelor’s degree, with a record at the required level and perform well on any designated entrance examination.

AUC offers 53 master programs and two PhD programs in addition to various graduate diplomas. For a complete list of the graduate programs, click here.

Admission Requirements, Admission Categories and How to Apply

Graduate Admission Requirements

Applicants for graduate study must have an accredited Bachelor’s degree with an academic record at a level sufficient to qualify for full or provisional admission. Minimum requirements need to be met for a graduate studies application to be evaluated for admission consideration. Additional requirements may apply depending upon the specific admission category to which the applicant is offered admission. Additionally, requirements for a given program may differ or be at a higher level, as specified by the concerned department. All credentials submitted must be in English, or alternatively, an official translation must be attached to the documents originally not issued in English.

1- Requirements for Master or Graduate Diploma Programs

The checklist to complete the application for admission consideration includes all the following:

• Meeting the admission application deadline
• An online application for graduate studies
• Online payment of the application fee
• The selection of up to two graduate programs for which the admission application will be processed
• A statement of purpose (about 500 words for each graduate program selected) indicating the reasons of interest in the specific program, what you will bring as skills and/or experiences to the program, and how graduate studies fit in your long term academic and professional objectives
• For the MIM/CEMS program, a letter of motivation instead of the statement of purpose should be submitted. The letter must address several key points as indicated in the application form
• An updated resume (CV) that must include work experience and educational background
• At least two online letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic or professional background
• Official academic records, of which one must be a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with proof of degree completion. Original documents can be returned to the applicants at a later date
• Satisfactory English language proficiency examination test results (refer to the English language proficiency section below). Some AUC graduate programs require higher scores than others. While the validity of any of these English language proficiency examination tests is two years from the day of the exam, the results cannot be considered for graduate admission if the expiry date is before your first day of registered classes at AUC. Unofficial results are acceptable for processing purposes only, and original test results or official online access to results are required prior to final admission for verification
• Clear copy of the valid national ID card (front and back) – Egyptian applicants only
• Clear copy of the information pages of your passport – International applicants and Egyptian dual nationals
• One recent passport size photograph (a clear electronic copy)
• For the Master in Business Administration (MBA) program, satisfactory valid GMAT results. (500 is the minimum acceptable score)
• For the Master of Science in Finance (FINC) program, satisfactory valid GMAT or GRE results
• For the Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication (JRMC) program, non-edited writing samples
• For the Master of Arts in Philosophy (PHIL) program, a 1000 word writing a sample to demonstrate critical thinking
• For the Master of Arts in Economics or Economics in International Development, satisfactory GRE results, to be submitted latest by mid-November for current Fall admission, or by mid-April for current Spring admission

Applicants offered admission will be required to provide the following:

• The official original final bachelor’s transcript with proof of degree completion: The transcript and graduation certificate must show clearly the stamps and signatures/watermarks where applicable. Applicants will be allowed to collect these originals at a later date when verified by the Office of Graduate Admissions
• Egyptian males only: The original military certificate (a valid true copy can be made only at AUC’s Student Service Center), and the original will be returned immediately
• Other requirements as deemed necessary for individual cases

Prior to registration and by the end of the first week of classes:

All new graduate students are required to submit a soft copy of a recent medical report to AUC Clinic [email protected]. Only international students are advised to include the results of a recent HIV test.

Students with special medical requirements or those who would prefer that the Medical Center be made aware of specific medical conditions/needs are advised to communicate these conditions and establish contact with the specialists at the clinic, once on campus.

2- Doctoral Programs

The checklist to complete the application for admission consideration includes all the following:

• Meeting the admission application deadline
• An online application for graduate studies
• Online payment of the application fee
• The selection of up to two doctoral programs/concentrations for which the application will be processed
• A statement of purpose (no less than 500 words for each program/concentration requested). Indicate the reasons for interest in the specific program, what you will bring as skills and/or experiences to the program, and how graduate studies fit in your long term academic and professional objectives
• Research interests and objectives (This is to be prepared as a separate document to the Statement of Purpose)
• The abstract of the completed master’s thesis
• An updated resume (CV) that must include work experience (if any) and educational background
• The detailed final official transcript of the master’s degree showing courses and grades, with proof of degree completion. The transcript and proof of degree completion need to have official stamps and signatures, verifying the accreditation of the degree
• The detailed final official transcript of the bachelor degree showing courses and grades per semester, with proof of degree completion
• At least two online letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic or professional background
• Satisfactory English language proficiency examination test results (refer to the English language proficiency section below). Some AUC graduate programs require higher scores than others. While the validity of any of these English language proficiency examination tests is two years from the day of the exam, the results cannot be considered for graduate admission if the expiry date is before your first day of registered classes at AUC. Unofficial results are acceptable for processing purposes only, and original test results or official online access to results are required prior to final admission for verification
• Satisfactory valid GRE results
• Clear copy of the valid national ID card (front and back) – Egyptian applicants only
• Clear copy of the information pages of your passport – International applicants and Egyptian dual nationals
• One recent passport size photograph (a clear electronic copy)
• Optional for possibly enhancing the application: Other recent university transcripts, showing courses and grades per semester/academic year

Applicants offered admission will then be required to provide the following:

• The official original final master’s transcript with proof of degree completion: The transcript and graduation certificate must show clearly the stamps and signatures/watermarks where applicable. Applicants will be able to collect these originals after they are verified by the Office of Graduate Admissions
• Egyptian males only: The original Military Certificate (a valid true copy can be made only at AUC’s Student Service Center. In this case, the original will be returned immediately
• Possibly additional documents as would be deemed necessary by the Office of Graduate Admissions, for individual specific cases

 Prior to course registration, but no later than the end of the first week of classes:

• All new graduate students are required to submit a soft copy of a recent medical report to the Office of Medical Services, at [email protected]. International students are advised to include the results of a recent HIV test
• Students with special medical requirements or those who would prefer that the Medical Center be made aware of specific medical conditions/needs are advised to establish contact with the Office of Medical Services, once on campus

3- Graduate Non-Degree Programs

Applicants not seeking an AUC degree but wish to take AUC courses for academic credit may be admitted as a non-degree conditional they meet the minimum criteria for graduate admission. A number of places are set aside each year for such students, most of whom take a year away from their studies at another institution to study and live in Egypt. Since AUC is a U.S. accredited institution following an American system, students from U.S. universities are usually able to transfer AUC credits to their home institutions, but they are advised to check in advance.

The University may approve a change of status from non-degree to degree student if the non-degree student applies and is accepted to a degree-seeking program.  If a graduate non-degree student should become a degree candidate, the department of major will consider accepting credit for courses taken under non-degree status. All academic regulations applicable to degree students will apply retroactively with such change of status.

Graduate non-degree paths:

• Regular non-degree
• Exchange non-degree: Targeting to join AUC through an established exchange program between AUC and the applicant’s institution
• Study Abroad non-degree: Targeting to join AUC through an established Study Abroad agreement program between AUC and the applicant’s institution

The checklist to complete the application for admission consideration includes all the following:

• Meeting the admission deadline
• An online application for graduate non-degree studies
• Satisfactory English examination results (Refer to the English Language Proficiency section below). Non-degree-seeking applicants must attain at least the test score required for full admission to be accepted. While the validity of English language proficiency examination is two years from the day of the exam, please note that the results cannot be considered for graduate admission if the expiry date is before your first day of registered classes at AUC.

For Exchange and Study Abroad non-degree applicants, please refer to the section below:

(Unofficial results are acceptable for processing purposes only, and original test results or official online access to results are required prior to final admission for verification)

• Clear copy of the valid national ID card (front and back) – Egyptian applicants only
• Clear copy of the information pages of your passport – International applicants and Egyptian dual nationals
• 1 recent passport size photograph: (a clear electronic copy)
• For regular non-degree:
  Online payment of the application fee.
  Official academic records, of which one must be a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with proof of degree completion. (Original documents can be returned to the applicants at a later date).
• For Exchange and Study Abroad non-degree:
  Proof of nomination by the partner university
  Copy of the most recent graduate transcript at the partner university
  Proof of English proficiency in line with AUC graduate requirements
• For non-degree applicants to the MIM/CEMS program only:

An updated resume (CV) that must include work experience and educational background
‘Proof of healthcare with coverage of the stay in Egypt’ to be submitted with the application

Applicants offered non-degree admission will be required to provide the following:

• Egyptian males only: The original Military Certificate. A valid true copy can be made only at the Student Service Center, AUC. In this case, the original will be returned immediately
• Possibly additional documents, as would be deemed necessary by the Office of Graduate Admissions for individual specific cases

Prior to course registration but no later than the end of the first week of classes:

• All new graduate students are required to submit a soft copy of a recent medical report to the Office of Medical Services, at [email protected]. International students are advised to include the results of a recent HIV test
• Students with special medical requirements and those who would prefer that the Office of Medical Services be made aware of specific medical conditions/needs are advised to establish contact with the Office of Medical Services

4- Additional Requirements for International Students

• Once on campus, admitted international students are required to provide two recent passport size photos for student visa purpose
• Proof of health and accident insurance for the duration of the stay in Egypt

English Language Proficiency:

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of adequate English language for graduate studies. For full admission to the University, graduate applicants must attain the required score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (International TOEFL, iBT), the International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS) examination, the Advanced or the Proficiency exams of the academic Cambridge Assessment English tests. Degree-seeking applicants who do not attain the minimum test score required for full admission, but are otherwise qualified for admission are placed in an English language course for further language study.

Non-degree-seeking applicants must attain at least the test score required for full admission to be accepted. Applicants may submit results for more than one test as long as these are submitted within the approved admission evaluation deadlines. The highest of the valid scores will be considered for admission. Some graduate programs require a higher cut off scores for admission consideration

TOEFL/IELTS/ Cambridge Assessment English cut off scores for all graduate programs, except the MIM/CEMS program

Graduate English modules are assigned based on these test scores.

Possible exemptions from the English test may be allowed given specific conditions unless the applicants are also applying for the African Graduate Fellowship, whereby English test results must be provided.

Details of the possible exemptions are available here 

Graduate Readmission

Students who wish to apply for readmission must meet the conditions specified in the catalog and available here

Computer and Library Skills

Graduate students may be asked to demonstrate minimum competency in the use of computers and academic libraries as they relate to graduate study and research

Entrance Examination

• The department of major may require applicants to sit for a graduate entrance examination, whose results will be considered at the time of admission
• Science and Engineering departments require PhD applicants to sit for a Graduate Entrance Examination (GRE). Additionally, applicants to masters programs in economics, economics in international development and finance are required to sit for the GRE
• The Department of Management requires MBA applicants to sit for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
• Applicants to the MS Finance program may choose to submit either the GRE or GMAT exams to complete their applications for admission consideration
• Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language program may require an Arabic Language test based on the evaluation of the application
• Although the Economics and Economics in International Development programs (ECON and ECID) allow until mid April (for Spring semester admission) and mid-November (for Fall semester admission) to submit satisfactory GRE test results, you are strongly urged to apply and submit results for this test as soon as possible: Test availability is limited and there is a considerable delay for results to reach AUC. Registration for the following semester will not be permitted if results are not satisfactory or if they are not submitted before the set deadlines

Admission Categories

Categories of admission depend upon the applicant’s qualifications, status and study plan. Admission is either full or provisional. In rare instances, admission may also be conditional as well as full or provisional: for example, where original official documentation was not provided due to technical delays that could be verified, admitted students may receive conditional letters of admission with which they may attend the new graduate students orientation but will not be permitted to register for classes until the condition is met.

Details of graduate admission categories are available here.

Dual Degree Studies

Graduate students may pursue two distinct graduate degrees (diploma and one master or two masters or two graduate diplomas) in different departments, either simultaneously or consecutively. Academic regulations for dual degree studies are available here.

Auditing

Those who wish to attend individual classes may apply as auditors; however, they may not sit for final examinations, nor receive academic credit or any university certificate of enrollment. Auditors do not have to meet all requirements for regular admission but must apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the deadlines. Since permission to audit is on a space-available basis, applicants are not permitted to register until after the registration of regular students has been completed.

The form for auditing is available here.

Completed forms should be sent to [email protected].

Summer or Winter Admission

There is no graduate admission in the winter sessions. Degree-seeking graduate admission applies only to the Fall and Spring semesters. Graduate non degree applicants for the summer sessions should follow the application procedures for non degree admission and must submit their application forms by the admission deadlines set for the following semester.

Important notes when applying to graduate studies:

• Applications that are submitted beyond a graduate admission deadline will be evaluated at the next available deadline
• Final admission decisions should be expected within three to four months from the application submission deadline
• International applicants submitting a graduate admission application by February 1 for admission consideration for the following Fall semester should expect the admission decision by April 1
• International applicants interested in early admission decisions for the Fall semester should apply by the preceding October 15, and if interested in early admission decisions for the Spring semester, should apply by the preceding April 1
• Scanned or soft copies of all credentials are accepted for processing purposes only
• Required original documents and original test results are to be submitted by the deadlines indicated in the letter of acknowledgment sent from the Office of Graduate Admissions
• Financial aid and fellowship applications have their own deadlines. However, graduate admission applications must be submitted first to obtain an AUC ID five working days prior to being granted access to apply for financial aid and/or graduate fellowships applications

How to Apply

1. Check the admission deadlines and plan ahead.
2. Decide upon the graduate program you wish to pursue and are eligible for:

• Degree-seeking (master, graduate diploma, doctoral)
• Non degree (regular, exchange, study abroad)

3. Make sure to review the requirements listed for each program and take the time to read the instructions and the checklist for your intended program to prepare the required credentials and tests
4. Submit the online application. Indicate your full name as written in your national ID card (for Egyptian applicants) or passport (for international applicants)
5. Attach your credentials as instructed in the online application. You must include a clear copy of your valid personal ID
6. At least two letters of recommendation must be submitted as instructed in the online application. Once you submit the selection of your evaluators, electronic notifications of your request will be sent to these evaluators and you will receive an email to confirm that your request has reached them. You can track the process until you are informed that their letters for you have been submitted to AUC. It is the applicant’s responsibility to track this process and to ensure that the evaluators submit their letters by the set deadlines. Only online letters of recommendation will be accepted
7. Submit the required test results: plan ahead to take and submit any required tests by their due date. The recipient code for AUC for TOEFL and GRE test results is 0903. You are required to include this number when requesting online access for AUC to view your test results
8. Once your admission application is successfully submitted you will be contacted by AUC to let you know your AUC student ID number. Be sure to include it in all your correspondences with AUC
9. The Office of Graduate Admissions will contact you by email at a later time to let you know the status of your application form and if at this first stage of evaluations you are required to submit additional documentation and by when. Your prompt response and cooperation will facilitate the swift evaluation of your application. Ensure that the email address you have indicated is correct and that your account is checked regularly for correspondences from AUC
10. If applicants are interested in applying for funding opportunities offered at AUC, then you must wait for five working days after you receive your AUC ID number to be granted access to submit funding related applications. Read more about fundings: fellowships, financial aid and US loans.

Where to Send Documents

Clear scanned copies are acceptable for processing purposes unless specifically instructed by the Office of Graduate Admissions to provide original documentation during the processing of your application. Only those admitted applicants offered admission must provide original documentation for verification, as requested.

Original documentation is available for return to the graduate student after AUC has verified the authenticity of the credentials. However, it can only be collected in person by the concerned student. A valid official personal photo ID will be required for identity confirmation.

Credentials are delivered to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Hamza EL Kholi Information Center
AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74
AUC New Cairo 11835, Egypt