Study in Egypt for International Students

International students apply to Egyptian public, ahliya, private and technological universities through one official portal. This guide explains who runs it, the steps, the documents and what to check before you pay.

By the ILEAP team · October 12, 2026 · 6 min read

Many Arab and international students want to study in Egypt, and most of them now start in the same place: one official online portal. This guide explains who runs international admissions, which universities the portal covers and how to apply step by step. It also tells you what we could not confirm, such as current fees and deadlines. We checked the official sites in October 2026. However, procedures change from year to year, so always follow what the portal itself shows.

Who runs admissions to study in Egypt?

Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research handles international students through its Central Administration for International Students (Wafedeen). This office belongs to the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector, and its university-education unit handles the placement (tansiq) of international students who hold a foreign or an Egyptian secondary certificate. After admission, it also offers services such as:

Changing a nomination, or a new nomination.
Moving or deferring an enrolment.
Transfers from inside or outside Egypt.
Withdrawing your file.

Which universities can you choose to study in Egypt?

On 29 June 2026, the State Information Service (SIS) announced that applications for 2026/2027 were open through Study in Egypt. It then updated the page on 4 September 2026. The announcement covers four types of universities: public, ahliya (often translated as “national”), private and technological.

The announcement does not mention Al-Azhar University. So, if Al-Azhar interests you, ask the university directly about its admission route.

The two official websites

There are two official sites, and both use hyphens in the address:

study-in-egypt.gov.eg is the information site, in Arabic, English and French. You can search programmes there and filter them by tuition in US dollars.
admission.study-in-egypt.gov.eg is the application platform.

Check the address before you enter any data, because a similar name without hyphens did not work when we tested it. Also, never send money to a website or agent you cannot verify.

How to apply to study in Egypt: the portal step by step

The portal’s official illustrated guide, in Arabic, lists these steps:

Create an account on the platform.
Confirm your email.
Log in and choose “Register now”.
Browse the study programmes.
Open “University education services”, then “Submit a university application”.
Enter your basic data.
Enter your certificate data.
Rank your preferences in order.
Upload your documents.
Pay, then wait for the review.

The guide itself says it is for guidance only, and the real procedure is whatever the platform shows. So read each screen carefully, and keep a copy of every page you submit.

Documents to prepare

According to the SIS announcement for 2026/2027, you need:

Copy of your school certificate.
A valid passport or a valid refugee card.
Personal photo.
Aptitude-test result, if you have one.
Birth certificate.

The platform may ask for more, so check its own list before you upload.

What happens after you apply

The steps after you apply depend on the current cycle, so treat this as a general picture. First, the authorities review your application. Then you receive a placement (a nomination) to a university and faculty. Next, you pay the nomination fees and hand your file to the university, which confirms it.

For example, Benha University’s page, dated July 2024 and so from an older cycle, said the initial review took up to 5 working days. It also warned that students who did not pay within 14 days would lose their nomination. Rules may differ today, so watch your account and your email after each step.

Fees to study in Egypt: what we could confirm

Tuition for international students is in US dollars, and it varies by university and faculty. Because the information site lets you filter programmes by tuition, compare them there before you apply.

However, we found no current official fee table for 2026/2027. University pages and older documents give different amounts, so this guide does not print a single figure. Before you pay anything, check the amount on the official platform and with the university. We also found no official closing date for 2026/2027 and no opening date for 2027/2028, so check the portal regularly.

Then build your full budget: tuition, housing, food, transport, insurance, flights and the residence permit. Our family budget plan for studying abroad gives a template. In addition, our guide to the cheapest countries to study abroad helps you compare Egypt with other options. For funding, see our fully funded scholarships guide.

Residence permit and recognition

After you enrol, your university’s international-student office explains how to get a student residence permit. We found no official step-by-step page for it, so follow that office’s instructions and keep copies of everything. Our student visa guide also explains the documents most countries ask for.

Recognition is the other question to settle early. Your home country’s ministry decides whether it recognises an Egyptian degree, so check with it before you enrol, especially for regulated careers such as medicine. Parents can also read our guide for families whose child wants to study abroad.

How ILEAP helps you compare before you study in Egypt

If you are comparing Egypt with other countries, ILEAP’s university awareness sessions explain majors, university systems, admission requirements and costs before students apply. In partner schools, optional International University Open Days also bring university representatives from different countries to the school. ILEAP works with more than 200 universities in Türkiye, Germany, Spain, Malaysia, the UK, China and Malta. As a result, students can weigh Egypt against these destinations with clear information. Learn about university awareness or see our international universities. Then plan every step with our study abroad after high school checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a deadline to study in Egypt in 2027/2028?

We found no official date when we checked in October 2026. So check the Study in Egypt portal and the SIS website regularly, and apply as soon as the new cycle opens.

Can I see tuition fees before I apply?

Yes. The information site lets you search programmes and filter them by tuition in US dollars. Still, confirm the exact amount on the platform before you pay.

Can I change my university after placement?

The Central Administration for International Students lists services such as a change of nomination, a re-nomination, a transfer and a deferral. Ask it which options apply to your case, and check the deadlines.