AUC WELCOMES FOURTH COHORT OF EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSWITH RECORD NUMBER OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
The American University in Cairo (AUC) welcomes 363 recipients of its Excellence Scholarship Program for Fall 2026, marking the fourth year of a program that recognizes outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in academic and non-academic fields, regardless of their financial circumstances. This year’s cohort includes the largest number of Egyptian public school students in the program’s history, with 126 students among the scholarship recipients. They come from Thanaweya Amma, Nile, and STEM schools, underscoring the program’s commitment to identifying and supporting exceptional talent across Egypt’s diverse educational backgrounds.
AUC President Ahmad Dallal highlighted the caliber of this year’s scholarship recipients and the University’s broader commitment to supporting outstanding students. “Now in its fourth year, the Excellence Scholarship Program continues to ensure we attract top performers, including Egypt’s highest achievers in IB, IG, and Thanaweya Amma, as well as students from all other diplomas and international students.”
He added that AUC awarded scholarships to more than 530 students this year, with 292 top achievers receiving full-tuition coverage. “We also awarded more than 290 First-Year Achievement Scholarships to high-performing students. These students, along with other outstanding scholarship recipients on campus, represent almost 40% of our student body.”
Since its establishment in Fall 2023, the program has enrolled 1,156 students, opening pathways to an AUC education for talented students from diverse educational backgrounds, governorates across Egypt and countries around the world. In addition to graduates of Egyptian public secondary schools, the scholarship brings together students holding a wide range of secondary school certificates from education systems worldwide. These include 80 students with IGCSE, GCSE, and GCE certificates, 52 with International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas, 48 with American Diplomas, 38 with French Baccalaureates, 10 with Canadian qualifications, six with German Abitur certificates and three with Thanaweya Amma certificates from Arab countries. The program also welcomes students with disabilities, underscoring AUC’s commitment to an inclusive campus where talent can thrive.
Recipients are selected based on excellence in one or more scholarship categories, reflecting AUC’s broad understanding of achievement and potential. These categories include academic achievement, international diversity, talents in art, music and athletics, leadership and community service, and commitment to liberal arts majors. The amount of tuition coverage awarded is based on the number of categories in which the student demonstrates excellence, with students who excel in more areas eligible for a higher percentage.
Mechanical engineering ranks as the most popular major among Excellence Scholarship recipients, followed by computer engineering, electronics and communications engineering, architecture, and construction engineering. Beyond these top five choices, scholarship recipients are pursuing a wide variety of academic disciplines, including computer science, data science, mathematics, business, finance, economics and actuarial science, as well as biology and chemistry. Their academic interests also extend to the humanities, social sciences and creative fields, including anthropology, Egyptology, history, Middle East studies, philosophy, film, graphic design, music technology, and multimedia communication and journalism.
Yousef Mohamed El Saadany, a STEM graduate and Excellence Top Achiever Scholarship recipient, said: “I had wanted to join AUC for a long time, but I never imagined the opportunity would actually come my way. When AUC called to invite me to apply for the Excellence Scholarship, it felt like a dream was finally within reach. For me, AUC represents an entire ecosystem of opportunity. Its academic rigor, global networking opportunities and unparalleled campus experience made it my first choice.”
Drawing on his STEM background, with its strong foundation in advanced mathematics and physics, El Saadany is considering electronics or mechanical engineering as his intended field of study. “My STEM education has equipped me with strong analytical skills and a solid scientific foundation. I look forward to building on that experience at AUC, where the rigorous, project-based curriculum and emphasis on independent research will help me further develop my skills and prepare me for future challenges,” he added.
Mariam Safeyedin, an architecture freshman and recipient of the Excellence Top Achiever Scholarship, holds an IB Diploma and chose AUC for the opportunities it offers beyond the classroom. “I have always had many interests and hobbies, and I wanted to be part of a university where I could continue pursuing them while developing new skills. I see AUC as a place where I can grow not only as an architecture student, but also as a well-rounded individual.”
Ziad Adel, another Excellence Top Achiever Scholarship recipient and computer engineering freshman, holds an American High School Diploma. He said that receiving this scholarship brought him a sense of happiness and accomplishment because it meant becoming part of a community he had admired. “I am especially excited about the professional opportunities AUC offers and hope to gain specialized internship experience in computer engineering while using the Career Center to develop my skills and prepare for my future career.”
Three Excellence Scholarship recipients have graduated from AUC so far, earning degrees in Middle East studies, music technology and political science. Their achievements highlight the scholarship’s role in supporting outstanding students throughout their university journey.
The Excellence Scholarship Program is only one of several scholarship programs at AUC, including the many AUC-funded and donor-funded scholarships that help make an AUC education accessible to outstanding students.
To apply to AUC’s Excellence Scholarship Program, click here
