Egypt (EG)

Egypt is one of the world's oldest civilisations — the land of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the mighty Nile River.

Capital: Cairo

Region: Africa

Language: Arabic

Currency: EGP (£)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)

Emergency: 123

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Egypt.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

International Nursery / Pre-school EGP 5,000–20,000/month

Age: 3 months – 4 years

No government subsidies available for foreign nationals. Nursery fees are fully private.

Contact nurseries directly; visit for assessment/interview; provide birth certificate and vaccination record; pay registration fee (EGP 2,000–5,000) and first month deposit.

⏱️ Apply 3–6 months before intended start date for top international nurseries. Nurseries attached to international schools fill quickly. Nanny/au pair alternative: EGP 3,000–8,000/month for a live-in nanny.

Egyptian Public Kindergarten (KG) Nominally free or EGP 200–500/month

Age: 4–6 years

Public kindergarten is technically free for Egyptians but quality is low and language is entirely Arabic. Not suitable for most expat children.

Through local district education office (Mudiriyat al-Tarbiya wal-Talim). Egyptian birth certificate or equivalent required.

⏱️ Not recommended for expat children unless Arabic language acquisition is the primary goal and the family has long-term Egypt plans.

🏫 Schools

International School (Recommended for Expats) Paid

مدرسة دولية

Ages: 5/6 – 11 years (varies by curriculum: British Year 1–6, American Grade 1–5, IB PYP) · Language: English (most international schools); German at DSB; French at Lycée Français

Contact admissions office of target school 3–6 months in advance. Required documents typically: passport copies (parents and child), birth certificate (legalised), previous school reports, vaccination records, and placement test for some schools. Registration fees: EGP 5,000–20,000. Most schools have rolling admissions but popular schools can be full.

Top Cairo international schools for primary (2026): American International School Egypt (AISE) — Maadi, New Cairo and other campuses, AOS/US curriculum; Cairo American College (CAC) — Maadi, IB/US curriculum; British International School Cairo (BISC) — New Cairo, IGCSE/A-Level track; GEMS World Academy Cairo — Sheikh Zayed, IB; Deutsche Schule der Borromäerinnen — German curriculum; Lycée Français du Caire — French Baccalauréat curriculum. Egyptian International School (EIS) is significantly more affordable (EGP 80,000–200,000/year) with an Egyptian-international curriculum in English.

International Secondary School Paid

مدرسة دولية — الثانوية

Ages: 11/12 – 17/18 years · Language: English (main international schools); German; French

Same process as primary. For IGCSE/IB programmes, entry assessments are common from Year 7/Grade 6 onwards. Popular secondary programmes: IGCSE + A-Levels (British system); IB Diploma Programme (IB World Schools); Advanced Placement (AP) at US-curriculum schools.

Annual fees for secondary international schools (2026): AISE: EGP 350,000–700,000; CAC: EGP 400,000–800,000; BISC: EGP 300,000–650,000; GEMS: EGP 400,000–750,000. Many multinational employer packages include school fee allowances up to USD 20,000–30,000/year per child — confirm with your HR before accepting a package. Egyptian Thanaweya Amma (national leaving certificate) is not recognised internationally and is not appropriate for expat children planning to attend university abroad.

International Schools

Cairo has a wide and high-quality international school sector, one of the best in the MENA region. Key schools (2025/26 fees — confirm current rates directly with each school): (1) American International School in Egypt (AISE) — multiple campuses (Maadi, New Cairo, West Cairo), American/AOS curriculum, accredited by AdvancED, fees approximately EGP 160,000–200,000/year (EGP 80,000–100,000/semester); (2) Cairo American College (CAC) — Maadi campus, IB PYP/MYP/DP + US curriculum, excellent reputation, fees EGP 650,000–1,100,000+/year; (3) British International School Cairo (BISC) — Nile Heights, New Cairo, British IGCSE and A-Level, Cambridge accredited, fees EGP 400,000–750,000/year; (4) GEMS World Academy Cairo — Sheikh Zayed, IB, fees EGP 400,000–750,000/year; (5) Deutsche Schule der Borromäerinnen — German curriculum, Baccalaureate, small community; (6) Lycée Français du Caire — French Baccalauréat, French Ministry of Education affiliated; (7) Egyptian International School (EIS) — most affordable, EGP 80,000–200,000/year. Alexandra also has international options including Victoria College. Application deadlines: typically January–March for September start.

University

Tuition fee

Egyptian public universities: EGP 5,000–20,000/year (very affordable but mostly Arabic-medium and limited for expats). American University in Cairo (AUC): USD 20,000–30,000/year — fully English, internationally recognised, many American expat children attend. German University in Cairo (GUC): EGP 120,000–180,000/year — engineering and business programmes, German-affiliated. British University in Egypt (BUE): EGP 100,000–160,000/year — British curriculum, London Metropolitan University validated.

Semester fee

AUC charges per credit hour (USD 800–1,200/credit hour). A full semester (15–18 credit hours) = USD 12,000–21,600. GUC and BUE charge per credit hour in EGP. Additional fees: student activity fees, registration, library, technology — add USD 500–2,000/semester at AUC.

Student visa

Foreign students attending Egyptian universities require a student visa. Apply at the Egyptian embassy in your country with: university acceptance letter, financial proof, medical fitness certificate, police clearance. Student residence permit (Iqama) issued upon arrival.

Health insurance

Not provided by universities automatically. Expat students on private health insurance from home should maintain coverage; or purchase a private plan in Egypt (EGP 8,000–20,000/year for basic coverage). AUC provides basic student health services on campus.

Application process

AUC: Apply via Common App or AUC portal (aucegypt.edu). Deadlines: November 1 (Early Decision), January 15 (Regular Decision). English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) required for non-native speakers. GUC and BUE: apply directly via their websites; less competitive than AUC.

🗣️ Language Courses

Arabic Language Course — British Council Cairo

Provider: British Council Egypt · Duration: 10–12 weeks per level; multiple levels from beginner to advanced · Levels: A1 through B2 (Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic)

EGP 4,000–8,000 per level (10–12 weeks)

British Council Cairo offers structured Arabic courses for foreigners. Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (Ammiya) is more useful for daily life; Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) for formal and literary contexts. Excellent facilities in Agouza.

Arabic Language Course — Kalimat

Provider: Kalimat School of Arabic · Duration: Flexible — intensive (20 hours/week) or part-time (2–3 hours/week) · Levels: All levels, specialisation in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (Ammiya)

EGP 2,500–5,000 per module or USD 100–200/week for intensive

Kalimat is highly regarded among Cairo expats for its focus on spoken Egyptian Arabic rather than classical Arabic. One-on-one and group options available. Popular with NGO workers and diplomats.

Arabic — iTalki / Online Tutoring

Provider: iTalki (online platform) · Duration: Flexible — self-paced · Levels: All levels

USD 5–30/hour depending on tutor

Online Arabic tutoring with Egyptian native speakers. Most affordable option. Great for building conversational Ammiya. Search for tutors specialising in Egyptian dialect.

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