Al-Azhar University
جامعة الأزهر
ForsaEduforsaedu.comAbout the scholarship program
Al-Azhar University in Cairo grew out of Al-Azhar Mosque, founded in the 10th century, and became a modern university with science faculties alongside its Islamic and Arabic faculties (1001–1200 in the QS World University Rankings 2026). It has faculties in Cairo and the governorates, separate for men and women, in Sharia, theology, Arabic and Islamic studies as well as medicine, pharmacy, engineering and science. It hosts thousands of international students, many on Al-Azhar scholarships allocated to countries through ministries and embassies.
Information last verified: November 3, 2026Official source
Tuition for international students
We found no recent official fee table for self-funded international students. Many international students study on fully funded Al-Azhar scholarships announced through Ministries of Education and Egyptian embassies in their countries.
Admission for international students
Admission for international students
Register online on Al-Azhar University's international students portal. Scholarships for 2026–27 were announced country by country, for example with deadlines of 29 June 2026 in Pakistan and 30 July 2026 in Uganda, with attested documents sent through the national authority. Watch your country's announcement for 2027–28.
Official admission announcementAvailable programmes
Each programme has its own requirements, documents and benefits. Open it to see them in full with the application steps:
- View Details
Al-Azhar Scholarships for International Students 2027–2028: Fully Funded Study at Al-Azhar University and Institutes
Bachelor, Master, PhD, OtherFully Funded51 majorsDeadline varies by university or programme
Life and living
Cairo · Egypt
Life and living
Cairo · Egypt
Living in Cairo
Egypt’s capital and the Arab world’s largest city (figure for Cairo Governorate), home to Ain Shams University and, in New Cairo, the American and German universities.
Student housing
AUC residences in New Cairo per semester (Fall 2026 / Spring 2027): from USD 1,000 for a double room and USD 1,390 for a single.
Transport for students
Quarterly metro student subscriptions by zones: EGP 150 (1 zone), 200 (2), 250 (3), 300 (4) in 2026.
Top landmarks
Giza Pyramids
KennyOMG · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Grand Egyptian Museum
Al-Muizz Street and Islamic Cairo
Last verified: October 2026
Sources:Banker (CAPMAS data) – Population of governoratesAUC – Residences ratesMasrawy – Metro student subscription 2026
Studying and living in Egypt
Costs and living
Public universities: non-Egyptian students pay in US dollars by faculty, and each university publishes its own table, for example: • First-time enrolment fee: about USD 1,500, paid once in the first year, with no discount for any nationality under the July 2023 decision of the Central Administration for International Students’ Affairs. • Assiut University (2023–24): Medicine and Dentistry USD 7,000 a year; Engineering, Computing, Pharmacy and Physical Therapy 6,500; Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Science and Nursing 6,000; other faculties USD 4,500. • Medicine at Mansoura: USD 6,000 a year for most nationalities (7,500 in the first year with enrolment), USD 600 for Sudanese students and USD 3,000 for Palestinians and Syrians who finished secondary school in their own country, while Syrians with the Egyptian Thanaweya Amma pay Egyptian fees. • Postgraduate: for example, Mansoura Medicine charges USD 1,500 enrolment and USD 6,000 a year. Private universities cost much more: the American University in Cairo charges international students USD 735 per credit hour (about USD 11,000 for a 15-credit semester). Living costs: there is no official estimate; daily life in Egypt is relatively inexpensive compared with the Gulf or Europe, but costs rise in New Cairo and in private housing. Also budget for residence fees (EGP 7,100 at AUC in 2026) and health insurance if your university requires it.
Working while studying
A student residence permit does not give you the right to work. Non-Egyptians need a Ministry of Labour work permit under Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 and Ministerial Decision No. 279 of 2025, applied for by the employer, and foreign staff are generally capped at 10% of a company’s Egyptian workforce, so formal jobs during your studies are very limited. The practical alternative is funding that includes on-campus academic work, such as AUC graduate fellowships with 12 hours a week of academic duties and a monthly stipend, and internships built into your study programme. After graduation there is no dedicated post-study job-search visa: to stay and work you need a job offer from an Egyptian employer that obtains your work permit, followed by a work residence permit.
Last verified: November 2026· Source
Guide to studying in EgyptFaculties and programmes
23 faculties · 66 programmes
Faculties and programmes
23 faculties · 66 programmes
Programmes taught at each faculty, with study levels and teaching language where the university publishes them. Admission and funding differ per programme.
Faculties of Usul al-Din and Islamic Dawa (Cairo; Tanta, Mansoura, Zagazig, Menoufia, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Philosophy
- Theology & Religious Studies
Faculties of Sharia and Law (Cairo; Tanta, Tafahna al-Ashraf and others)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Corporate Law
- Criminal Law
- Human Rights Law
- International Law
- Theology & Religious Studies
Faculties of Arabic Language (Cairo and branches)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- History
- Languages and Literature
Faculties of Islamic and Arabic Studies (boys and girls; Cairo and regional branches)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Languages and Literature
- Theology & Religious Studies
Show all faculties (+19)Show less
Faculty of the Holy Quran for Qiraat and its Sciences (Tanta)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Theology & Religious Studies
Faculty of Graduate Studies (Cairo)
MasterPhDARArabic- Languages and Literature
- Theology & Religious Studies
Faculty of Languages and Translation (Cairo)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabicENEnglish- Languages and Literature
- Theology & Religious Studies
- Translation
Faculties of Commerce (boys and girls; Cairo, Tafahna al-Ashraf, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabicENEnglish- Accounting
- Business Management
- Economics
- Finance
- Statistics
Faculties of Education (Cairo, Tafahna al-Ashraf, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Curriculum & Instruction
- Educational Psychology
Faculty of Mass Communication (Cairo)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Film & Television Production
- Journalism
- Public Relations
Faculties of Medicine (boys and girls; Cairo, Damietta, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDENEnglish- General Medicine
- Medical Laboratory Sciences· Master, PhD
- Public Health· Master, PhD
Faculties of Dental Medicine (boys and girls; Cairo, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDENEnglish- Dentistry
Faculties of Pharmacy (boys and girls; Cairo, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDENEnglish- Pharmacy
Faculty of Nursing (girls, Cairo)
BachelorMasterARArabicENEnglish- Nursing
Faculties of Engineering (boys and girls; Cairo, Qena)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabicENEnglish- Architectural Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Software Engineering
Faculties of Science (boys and girls; Cairo, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabicENEnglish- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics
Faculties of Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering (Cairo, Assiut)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabicENEnglish- Agricultural Economics & Food Security
- Agricultural Engineering & Crop Science
- Soil and Water Sciences
Faculties of Veterinary Medicine (Beheira, Assiut)
BachelorARArabicENEnglish- Veterinary Medicine
Faculties of Artificial Intelligence (boys and girls, Cairo)
BachelorARArabicENEnglish- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Data Science & Analytics
Faculty of Physical Education (Cairo)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Sports Science
Faculties of Humanities (girls; Cairo, Tafahna al-Ashraf)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Geography
- History
- Journalism
- Languages and Literature
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Theology & Religious Studies
Faculty of Home Economics (girls, Tanta)
BachelorMasterPhDARArabic- Fashion Design
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Languages and Literature
- Theology & Religious Studies
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps.
Funding type: Self-Funded. Announced benefits: Fully funded place, Islamic and scientific fields.
Eligible levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD.
Deadline varies by university or programme. Follow the official website for updates.
Required documents: Printed online application from the international students portal, Secondary certificate attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a statement of subjects, Birth certificate, passport copy and six photos, Approved medical certificate certified by the Egyptian embassy, and good-conduct certificate.
There are two routes depending on your country and programme: nomination through the host country's embassy or your home ministry, or an application through a participating university where available. Each route has its own deadlines and quotas, so check which route is open for your country on the official website (https://www.azhar.edu.eg/). ForsaEdu does not receive applications or charge any fee.
QS World University Rankings 2026
Rank1001–1200
Track your academic readiness
Use the checklist in your profile to prepare your documents and make sure you meet this scholarship’s requirements.
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