Program Duration
Academic Year: Early September - Mid-June
Fall semester: Early September - Late January
Spring semester: Late January - Mid-June
Program Description
UW-Madison works with the American University in Cairo (AUC) to offer students this academic program in Cairo, Egypt. Participants pursue an American-style education in the dynamic environment of the contemporary Arab world. The gateway to the ancient crossroads between Africa, Europe, and Asia, Cairo is the cultural capital of the Arabic-speaking world. With a population of over six million, Cairo is also the largest urban center in both the Arab world and Africa. Starting in the Fall of 2008, AUC will open a new technologically advanced campus located in the suburb of New Cairo.
As one of the world’s oldest cities, Cairo features an unparalleled wealth of monuments from over 5,000 years of civilization: the Pyramids, the mosques and minarets of the medieval city, and the treasures of a dozen museums. Cairo holds a unique place in the modern history of the Middle East. A leading power among the developing nations since the 1950’s, Egypt was among the first nations to undergo economic modernization. Egypt has also been a leader among Middle East countries in promoting peaceful relations with Israel. Today, students will find a mix of the ancient and the modern in everyday life. Muslim religion and culture play a dominant role in shaping Egyptian political and social life. Arabic is the official language, although English and French are widely understood as well.
Academics
AUC was founded in 1919 by Americans who wanted to create an academic environment to serve the people of Egypt and the Middle East. Egyptians make up over 80% of the 4,200 undergraduates and while just under 20% of the student body represents some 60 nationalities. Students directly enroll in courses at AUC with Egyptians and other international students. All classes but foreign language courses are conducted in English and vary from courses offered in the humanities and social sciences as well as select courses from the professional programs of management, engineering, computer science, and communication arts. Participants are required to take an Arabic language course.
Housing
Students choose to live in AUC residence halls or find off-campus housing. For on-campus housing, students can live either downtown or on the New Cairo campus. The downtown housing is located on Gezira, a large island in the residential district of Zamalek. The downtown campus is a 1.5 hours ride by shuttlebus from the AUC campus is New Cairo. The New Cairo campus housing features cottages and townhouses with single, double and apartment-style living. The residence halls are staffed with Resident Directors and assistants. Meal plans are available in the residence halls.
Excursions and Activities
AUC has active student organizations which regularly sponsor trips and tours to more distant sites. Students may have opportunities to explore the Nile Valley, the remote western oases, the Red Sea with its fascinating coral beds, and the austerely beautiful peninsula of Sinai. Students may also participate in a number of different sports and a diverse range of academic, social, and cultural student organizations at AUC. One of the organizations, Friends of International Students, is composed of Egyptian students who serve as mentors and friends to help international students integrate into Egyptian life. Students attend an orientation conducted at AUC that includes lectures about Cairo, tours of medieval and ancient Egyptian sites, and sessions on cultural adjustment.