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General Information

Undergraduate Studies

Graduate Studies

Research

Continuing Education & Training Programs

Appendix: Personnel & Enrollment

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gradstud
 Student Finances

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for the academic offerings are announced for each academic year in a bulletin from the Office of Student Financial Affairs. (AUC's tuition for 2002-2003 is $11,700 per academic year for 9 graduate credit hours per semester, with additional charges for additional credits.) In recent years, tuition has risen from five to ten percent annually. Such increases are likely to continue in the future.

Non-Egyptian students pay full tuition.  Egyptian students are given tuition scholarships that provide them with reduced actual rates.  The value of such scholarships could vary from year to year and is normally announced by mid- May for the following academic year. In 2002-2003 the actual tuition rate for Egyptian graduate students receiving such scholarships is $4212 per academic year for 9 graduate credit hours per semester, with additional charges for additional credits.

Tuition and fees are collected by semester and must be paid before registration. No student with bills outstanding, including charges for breakage or library fines, will be admitted to any examination, be given any certificate or report of academic standing, or be permitted to register for a subsequent semester.

Deferred Payment

When a student is unable to pay the entire amount due at the time of registration, the Director of Student Financial Affairs may approve payment in two installments as follows:

    a.At least 50 % percent to be paid at the time of registration.

    b.The balance must be paid by November 25th for deferment of fees granted for the fall semester and April 5th for deferment of fees granted for the spring semester.

    c.The student will pay an administrative fee that will be decided every year.

    d.New students who apply for financial aid will be exempted from the administrative fees for deferment of payment.

Refund Policy

A full refund for continuing students is made only for course(s) dropped before the end of the late registration period.  Students who drop a course after the deadline for late registration are not entitled to any refund for the course(s) dropped.  However, students who withdraw from the university after the deadline will receive a partial refund, the amount depending on the number of weeks which have elapsed since the beginning of classes. Refunds are made according to the following schedule:

    -First week of classes: full tuition refund

    -Second week: eighty  percent tuition refund

    -Third week: sixty percent tuition refund

    -Fourth week: forty percent tuition refund

    -Fifth week: twenty percent tuition refund

    -After the end of the fifth week no refunds will be made

Summer-session students who withdraw one day after registration can be refunded the amount paid.*  Summer session students who withdraw more than one day after registration will receive a partial refund according to the following schedule:

    -  By the end of the first week: seventy five percent of tuition and fees *

    -  By the end of the second week: fifty percent of tuition and fees *

    -  After the end of the second week no refunds will be made

* $6 or the equivalent in Egyptian Pounds per course will be deducted from the refund to cover university administrative costs.

The refund schedule refers to tuition for credit courses, audited courses, and  instruction in the Arabic Language Institute and English Language Institute. The student services and activities fee, the application fee, laboratory and studio course fees, and special charges are not refundable.

Financial Assistance

Although the American University in Cairo is a private university that depends upon tuition and contributions for its livelihood, it attempts to provide financial assistance to any student not on probation who demonstrates financial need. AUC offers a range of  fellowships, financial aid, and student work programs to assist students in meeting the expenses of their education. 

Financial Aid and Work Study for Graduate Students

The financial aid and work study programs at the American University in Cairo are designed to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant or student work to  graduate students attending AUC. Financial aid or work study only cover part of a student's tuition at the university.

Financial Aid

In addition to the tuition scholarships that Egyptian students receive, approximately twenty five percent of Egyptian graduate students have received additional financial assistance in recent years.

The university also offers a few financial aid awards for non-Egyptian graduate students on the basis of a distinguished academic record and of individual financial need.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible  for financial aid or work study, students must meet the following criteria:

    a.Financial need established through the financial aid form.
    b.Accumulated grade point average of not less than 3.0.

Selection

The University Financial Aid Committee will make awards and establish student assignments for the fall and spring semesters. A student applying at the beginning of the academic year may receive financial or work study for the fall semester with automatic renewal for the spring semester upon submission of a renewal form. A student applying in the spring semester may receive financial or work study for one semester only.

Awards and Renewal

Financial aid grants or work study  will be determined according to student or family financial resources, as appropriate, within university budget limitations. Financial need is defined as the difference between the costs of attending the American University in Cairo and the amount a student or family can contribute toward those costs. Aid may include both grants and part-time student work.

AUC will provide financial or work aid on application to continuing recipients who remain eligible and continue to demonstrate financial need. The amount and kind of aid a student receives will be reviewed each year so that any changes in fees and in family resources can be taken into account. Students are normally responsible for reporting the changes in their or their family's financial resources. A students' award may increase, decrease, or remain the same from year to year, depending upon university costs, the family's current financial ability, and university approval. Normally, students on probation are not eligible. Graduate students must submit a renewal form every semester if they wish to renew their financial aid awards.

Students who wish to apply for financial aid or work study must submit the university's financial aid form with required supporting documents to the Office of Student Financial Affairs by the deadlines shown below:

 

Category

Period of Support

Deadline

New Students

Academic Year

Sept. 15

Returning Students

Academic Year

May 15

New Students

Second Semester

Dec. 31

Returning Students

Second Semester

Dec. 15

 


Work Study Program

Part of the financial aid program is made available through work assignments for students on campus which assist them financially, provide them with educational experience, and help develop their skills.  Details on the work study program including areas of work, compensation and applications are announced through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research; assignments are also made and supervision exercised by that office. Administrative procedures are made by the Office of Student Financial Affairs.

Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships

The University offers graduate students a wide range of fellowships and assistantships in order to help them in financing their education. For more details about such awards, please refer to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research or your department of major.  Following is a brief description of each of the graduate awards that are currently offered:

African Fellowships

Fellowships are offered to qualified applicants from African countries (not including Egypt) who wish to pursue full-time study towards a master's degree at AUC.

Fellowships are awarded for two years. Students taking longer to complete their degree will be expected to pay tuition for subsequent work. Fellows are expected to be full-time graduate students and active members of the university academic community. Fellows will receive free tuition, health insurance, and graduation fees. They must finance their own maintenance costs plus transportation. Applications may be sent either through their undergraduate university or directly to AUC and must be received by AUC no later than February 1 for fellowships beginning the following September.

Arabic Language Fellowships

The Arabic Language Fellowships are offered to full-time international graduate students who need to take Arabic language classes in order to satisfy their degree requirements at AUC and would like to enroll in Arabic Language Credit Courses (ALNG) during the academic year or in the Arabic Language Institute's  (ALI) full-time summer Arabic program.

International graduate students, who are fully admitted to the AUC graduate program, may apply to the Arabic language fellowships. The fellowships are awarded for one summer, or one semester renewable once upon the department's recommendation. Arabic language fellows receive a waiver of 50% of the tuition for the ALNG courses or the ALI intensive Arabic summer program. As part of their fellowship and in support of their professional training, fellows are assigned five hours per week of related academic or administrative work. Applications for the fellowship are available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research or the New York Office, and must be received by  the Office of Graduate Studies and Research by June 1 for the Fall semester, November 1 for the Spring semester and February 1 for the ALI intensive Arabic summer program. Selection of fellowship recipients will be made about one month after each of the deadlines.

Graduate Merit Fellowships

Graduate Merit Fellowships are competitive awards offered to outstanding graduate students who wish to pursue full-time study in one of the graduate programs at AUC. Applicants who have a B.A. or B.S. degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in their major, or a grade of "Very Good" in their final year from one of the national universities may apply. Students already enrolled in one of the graduate programs and who have a minimum grade point average of 3.7 in their graduate courses are also eligible to apply.

The fellowships are awarded for one year, renewable for a second year. Fellows receive a waiver of tuition of about $4212 per year and a monthly stipend paid in local currency. As part of the fellowship, and in support of their professional training, Merit Fellows are assigned 18 hours per week of related academic or administrative work. Applications for the fellowship are made to the school dean in May, selection is made by the School in June and the fellowship starts in September.

International Graduate Fellowships in Arabic Studies, Middle East Studies  and Sociology-Anthropology

International graduate fellowships are offered for two academic years and the intervening summer session to international students who wish to pursue full-time study in the master's program in Arabic Studies, Middle East Studies or Sociology-Anthropology at the American University in Cairo.  Candidates must have an appropriate undergraduate degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent.  The award is contingent upon full admission into one of the above graduate programs.

International fellows receive a tuition waiver, a monthly stipend paid in local currency, accommodation in the University dormitory or a monthly housing allowance, and medical coverage under the University medical plan for students.  As part of their fellowship and in support of their professional training, fellows are assigned 18 hours per week of related academic or administrative work. Applications for admission, recommendation letters and a covering letter specifying the name of the fellowship are due at the OGSR in Cairo, or the New York Office with notification to  the Office of Graduate Studies and Research no later than February 1 for fellowships beginning in September.  Selection of the fellowship is made in April.

Laboratory Instruction Graduate Fellowships in Engineering, Computer Science and Physics

Laboratory Instruction Graduate Fellowships are competitive awards offered to outstanding graduate students who wish to pursue full-time study in engineering, computer science or physics.  To be considered for the fellowship, the applicant must be fully admissible to one of the above graduate programs and have a B.Sc. degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.  Students already enrolled in one of these graduate programs and who have a minimum grade point average of 3.2 in their graduate courses are also eligible to apply.  To retain the fellowship, the recipient must carry a full course load (9 graduate credits) and maintain a grade point average of 3.2 or better.  In all cases, an applicant must demonstrate an ability and interest in conducting experimental work and interacting with students in a laboratory environment.   Laboratory Instruction Fellows must not engage in other work activities outside the University.

The Laboratory Instruction Fellowship is reviewed every semester and may be renewed for a maximum period of two years. The fellowship may cover a summer session.  Fellows receive a waiver of tuition of about $4212 per year and a monthly stipend.  As part of their fellowship and in support of their professional training, fellows are assigned 24 hours per week of laboratory instruction work. Application for the fellowship is made to the department of major in May, selection is made by the school in June and the fellowship starts in September.

Nadia Niazi Mostafa Fellowship in Islamic Art and Architecture

The Nadia Niazi Mostafa Fellowship in Islamic Art and Architecture is a competitive award offered annually to a second year Egyptian student enrolled in the graduate program in Arabic Studies with a specialization in Islamic Art and Architecture and who wishes to pursue full time study in the program. Students who are fully admitted to the graduate program in Arabic Studies with a specialization in Islamic Art and Architecture and who have completed one year of graduate study in the program (a minimum of 12 credit hours) with a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply.

The fellowship is awarded for two semesters of full time graduate study. The fellow receives a waiver of tuition of about $4212 per year, student services and activities fee and a monthly stipend paid in local currency. As part of their fellowship and in support of their professional training, fellows are assigned 12 hours per week of related academic or administrative work. Application for the fellowship is made to the department in May, selection is made by the department in June and the fellowship starts in September.

Sasakawa Fellowships

The American University in Cairo is proud to be one of only 62 universities worldwide offering the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Graduate Fellowships. This highly selective scholarship program covers tuition, academic fees, a textbook allowance and a monthly stipend for two years of full-time graduate study at AUC in the social sciences or humanities.

The primary objective of the Sasakawa fellowship program is to educate outstanding young men and women who have demonstrated a high potential for future leadership in international affairs, public life and private endeavors. For the 2003-2004 program, three graduate students (two Egyptian and one international) will be selected from applicants  who will start or are currently enrolled in the graduate program at AUC.

The award is contingent upon full admission of the applicant into one of AUC's M.A. programs in the humanities and social sciences. Faculty members are encouraged to nominate eligible students for the fellowship. All applicants (Egyptian and international) must submit an application  for admission, recommendation letters and a covering letter specifying the name of the fellowship to the OGSR in Cairo, or the New York Office with notification to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research by the first week of February. Selection of fellowship recipients will be determined by the AUC Sasakawa Committee and announced by the first week of April.  Scholars will begin their coursework in September.

Sheikh Kamal Adham Fellowships

This fellowship is awarded annually to one international graduate student who is an M.A. candidate in the Journalism and Mass Communication department, Television Journalism specialization. In return, the fellow will serve as an assistant in the Adham Center for 40 hours per month during the academic year, assisting in the Center's projects and research  under the supervision of the Center's Director.

Selection is made by the Director of the Adham Center for Television Journalism on the basis of financial need and academic performance in the program (including prerequisites and undergraduate work). Professional experience is also considered where applicable. If, in any given year, there is no international student eligible and qualified to receive this fellowship, the Director of the Center may either allocate the grant to an Egyptian candidate or to have the fund carried over to the next year.

The grant's duration is for one year and may be renewed only once. For additional information, contact the Director of the Kamal Adham Center for Television Journalism.

Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language Fellowships

Fellowships are offered in the Arabic Language Institute for two academic years and the intervening summer session to full-time students wishing to earn a master's degree in teaching Arabic as a foreign language and to acquire language teaching experience at the American University in Cairo. Special consideration in selection is given to those with previous TAFL experience and/or excellent qualifications in the Arabic language. Fellows pursue degree study, teach Arabic eight hours per week, and participate in Institute research.

Fellows receive a waiver of tuition and fees, a monthly stipend paid in local currency, and medical coverage under the university medical plan for students. Applications for admission and the fellowship must be received no later than February 1 for fellowships beginning in September.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language Fellowships

Fellowships are offered in the English Language Institute for two academic years and the intervening summer session to full-time students wishing to earn a master's degree in teaching English as a foreign language and to acquire language teaching experience at the American University in Cairo. TEFL/TESL experience in the Middle East and knowledge of Arabic or other languages are considered a plus. Fellows pursue degree study, teach English eight hours per week, and participate in Institute research.

Fellows receive a waiver of tuition and fees, a monthly stipend paid in local currency, and medical coverage under the university medical plan for students. Nonresidents of Egypt are provided, in addition, with accommodation in the university dormitory or a housing allowance, and one-way home travel. Applications for admission and the fellowship must be received no later than February 1 for fellowships beginning in September.

University Fellowships

The University Fellowships are competitive awards, granted to those who display superior academic performance and promise. Fellows receive a waiver of tuition of about $4212 per year and a monthly stipend paid in local currency. As a part of their fellowship and in support of their professional training, fellows work with faculty members in teaching and research activities. To be considered for a fellowship, an applicant must have an undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and must be enrolled in no less than six credits of coursework or actively engaged in thesis research. To retain the fellowship, the recipient must carry a full program of study and maintain a grade point average of 3.2 or better.

Writing Center Graduate Fellowships

Writing Center Graduate Fellowships are established by the American University in Cairo to provide fellowship recipients with valuable teaching and academic experience and involve them as tutors in AUC's Writing Center. The fellowships are competitive awards offered to outstanding students who wish to pursue full-time study in the graduate program of English and Comparative Literature. To be considered for the fellowship the applicant must be fully admissible to the graduate program in English and Comparative Literature at AUC and have a B.A. degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.  Students already enrolled in the program and who have a minimum grade point average of 3.4  in their graduate courses are also eligible to apply.  To retain the fellowship, the recipient must carry a full course load (9 graduate credits) and maintain a grade point average of 3.4 or better.

The Writing Center Fellowship is reviewed every semester and may be renewed for a maximum period of two years. The fellowship may cover a summer session.   Fellows receive a waiver of tuition and a monthly stipend. As part of their fellowship and in support of their professional training, fellows are assigned 10 hours of work per week in the Writing Center.  Application for the fellowship is made to the department in April, selection by the department with approval of the dean is made in May and the fellowship starts in September.

Assistantships

Departments also offer a few graduate assistantships to  applicants who have special qualifications. Assistants receive monthly stipends––but not waiver of tuition and fees and assist in teaching, class supervision, and/or research.

Post-Masters Assistantships

The university offers a limited number of post-masters assistantships to candidates who are interested in acquiring advanced professional guidance in improving their academic experience. To be considered for the assistantship, a candidate must have an M.A. or M.S. degree and should be preparing for a Ph. D. degree or receiving academic training. The post-masters assistantship is for one year, renewable once. Fellows receive a monthly stipend and assist faculty members in teaching and/or research activities.

Fellowship Without Stipend

The university provides institutional affiliation with AUC in the form of a fellowship without stipend for visiting graduate scholars who wish to do research in Egypt and already have a source of funding but who need such an affiliation. The benefits of this fellowship include guidance in obtaining student or temporary residence visas, sponsorship by an academic department, consultation with faculty, access to the library and medical coverage under the University medical plan for students. The fellow must register at AUC for research, pay a research fee equivalent to the tuition of one graduate credit hour per academic year, and agree to the university's regulations regarding responsibility in research and publication. The fellowship does not provide housing or office space.

Acceptance of a scholar as a fellow without stipend is conditional upon the compatibility of his/her research interests with those of an AUC faculty member from a sponsoring department. Additional requirements may be specified such as making an oral presentation of the fellow's research project to a Scholars Seminar sometime during the period of his/her affiliation and presenting the school with a copy of research results such as a copy of the Ph.D. dissertation and/or copies of any published articles.

To apply, the candidate must submit the following:

  1. The university's personnel information form and a current resume
  2. A letter of introduction or sponsorship from the applicant's home institution
  3. A research outline, including a description of the research techniques and tools the applicant plans to use in Egypt
  4. A statement describing the source(s) and amount(s) of funding available for the applicant in Egypt
  5. A recommendation from the AUC faculty member endorsed by the chair of the sponsoring department.

Applications and supporting documents should be submitted to the dean of the appropriate school for final approval.

Other Awards for Non-Egyptians

Center for Arabic Study Abroad

Fellowships are offered to American graduate students for participation in the intensive Arabic language program taught by AUC under the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) established by a consortium of U.S. universities, including AUC, and funded annually since 1967 by the U.S. Department of Education. Both summer and twelve-month programs are conducted. Students pay a program fee to help cover administrative costs and receive a fellowship covering tuition, maintenance, and travel from and to the United States. Competence in modern standard Arabic equivalent to at least two years of study on the college level is a prerequisite.

For information and applications contact:

The Director
Center for Arabic Study Abroad
Institute of Comparative & International Studies (ICIS)
1385 Oxford Street
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322
http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/casa

Outside Assistance

Other than the opportunities described above, international students in the past have obtained outside support for work at AUC from the following sources:

  1. Rotary Foundation International Scholarships for one year of graduate, or language study. Contact: student's local Rotary Club or Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, 1 Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201. <www.rotary.org>
     
  2. Fulbright grants for one year of graduate study are available to U.S citizens. Contact: student's campus Fulbright Program adviser or Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, New York 10017. <www.iie.org>
     
  3. Federal Stafford Student Loans can be used by U.S. citizens or permanent residents for graduate degree study or to earn a certificate in Arabic language (at least one year of intensive study). Pell Grants are not applicable. Degree and certificate students must obtain instructions from the AUC New York office. (e-mail: aucegypt@aucnyo.edu)
     
  4. Veterans Administration educational benefits are applicable to graduate degree study at AUC. U.S. veterans should contact their regional office of the Veterans Administration. Written approval of benefits from the Veterans Administration should be obtained prior to coming to Cairo. <www.va.gov>
     
  5. Canadian students may inquire about AUCC-Foreign Government Awards for graduate study in Egypt at: Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, 151 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario KIP 5N1, Canada. <homer.aucc.ca>

 

 © 2002-2003, The American University in Cairo