American University in Cairo (AUC) Scholarships 2026

Overview

The American University in Cairo (AUC) is an English-language, American-accredited university in Egypt and one of the most respected higher education institutions in the Middle East and Africa. It offers a wide range of scholarships and fellowships meant to make an AUC education reachable for talented students from Egypt, across Africa, the Arab world, and internationally. The awards cover undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships, and they run from partial tuition support to fully funded packages with a monthly stipend, housing and other benefits.

"AUC Scholarships 2026" is a collective term for the institutional and sponsored financial awards open to prospective and current students. At undergraduate level, programs like the Excellence Scholarship, Egyptian Public Schools Scholarships, and donor-funded scholarships provide partial to full tuition coverage. At graduate level, AUC's fellowships, including the African Graduate Fellowship, university fellowships, and the Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate program, support master's and doctoral students with substantial benefits. Cycles and availability change, so always check current offerings on AUC's official admissions pages.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Host institution: The American University in Cairo (AUC)
• Host country: Egypt
• Levels: Undergraduate scholarships and graduate (master's/PhD) fellowships
• Types: Merit-based, need-based, and donor/sponsored awards
• Coverage: Varies, from partial tuition to full tuition plus stipend, housing, and medical insurance
• Flagship graduate awards: African Graduate Fellowship, University Fellowships, Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate (TLG)
• Eligibility: Egyptian, African, Arab, and international students depending on the award
• Fellowship categories: Institutional (university-funded) and sponsored (donor-funded)
• Application route: AUC admission application plus program-specific fellowship/scholarship forms

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility depends on the specific award, the level of study, and your nationality. Each award sets its own rules for applying and for renewal.

• You must apply for and be admitted to an eligible AUC degree program, undergraduate or graduate.
• The African Graduate Fellowship is for non-Egyptian nationals of African countries doing a master's at AUC.
• University Fellowships are open to applicants of any nationality in any graduate field.
• The Egyptian Graduate Fellowship supports Egyptian nationals in graduate programs; international graduate fellowships support non-Egyptian students.
• Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate eligibility covers nationals of countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, the West Bank, and Gaza. Note that TLG currently has no new intakes.
• Diploma-seeking and non-degree students generally don't qualify for fellowships, and some programs such as Master of Engineering and Master in Computing are excluded.

Scholarship Benefits

Benefits vary a lot across AUC's awards. Undergraduate scholarships often cover a percentage of tuition, while the flagship graduate fellowships can be fully funded.

• Tuition support from partial coverage to full tuition for the fall and spring semesters.
• Monthly stipend toward living expenses for fellowship recipients.
• Student housing or a housing allowance for eligible full-time students, particularly international and African fellows.
• Medical insurance during the award period.
• Extra support such as a laptop and book allowances under certain fully funded fellowships.
• Combinable undergraduate awards, for example under the Excellence Scholarship Program, can reach up to 100 percent of tuition.

How to Apply

Most AUC scholarships and fellowships ask you to apply for admission first, then complete any award-specific materials.

• Submit your AUC admission application for the undergraduate or graduate program you want.
• Read the individual scholarship or fellowship pages to find the awards you qualify for.
• Complete any required fellowship forms, statements, and supporting documents by the stated deadlines.
• For graduate fellowships, make sure your academic department gets any required materials, especially for assistantships submitted to departments.
• Provide evidence of financial need where the award is need-based, and academic records where it's merit-based.
• Keep an eye on the official AUC scholarships and fellowships pages for cycle openings, since availability and intakes change year to year.

Required Documents

• Completed AUC admission application for your chosen program.
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• Standardized test scores and English-language proficiency results as required.
• Personal statement or statement of purpose, plus a CV/resume for graduate applicants.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Proof of nationality and, for need-based awards, financial documentation.
• Any program-specific fellowship forms.

Important Dates & Deadlines

AUC runs separate admission and fellowship cycles for fall and spring intakes, and fellowship deadlines often come before or line up with admission deadlines. The specific dates change each year, so confirm them on the official AUC site.

• Fall 2026 intake: applications usually open and close in the months before the academic year; check current deadlines.
• Graduate fellowship applications: generally due alongside or shortly after the graduate admission deadline.
• Donor-funded scholarships: have their own posted deadlines per program.
• Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate: no new intakes right now; watch the page for updates.

Because deadlines vary by program and cycle, verify the exact dates directly with AUC's admissions and fellowships offices.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Work out which awards you qualify for early, since eligibility differs sharply by nationality and level.
• Tailor your statement of purpose to the fellowship's mission, for example leadership and development themes for Tomorrow's Leaders.
• Get specific recommendation letters from people who know your academic and professional work.
• Show academic strength and, where it matters, financial need with clear supporting documents.
• Apply for admission and fellowships as early as you can to make the most of limited annual quotas.
• Proofread everything and make sure your documents meet AUC's English-language and formatting requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are AUC scholarships only for Egyptians? No. AUC has awards for Egyptian, African, Arab, and international students. The African Graduate Fellowship, for instance, is specifically for non-Egyptian African nationals.

Are the fellowships fully funded? Several graduate fellowships are, covering full tuition plus a monthly stipend, medical insurance, and sometimes housing and a laptop. Undergraduate scholarships more often cover part of tuition.

Can I combine scholarships? Some undergraduate awards, like those under the Excellence Scholarship Program, can be combined up to 100 percent of tuition. Fellowship recipients generally can't combine support with tuition remission benefits.

Is Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate accepting applications? Not right now. TLG has no new intakes, so check the official page regularly for updates.

Do non-degree students qualify? Diploma-seeking and non-degree students generally aren't eligible for AUC fellowships.

Related Scholarships

• African Graduate Fellowship at AUC
• Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate (TLG) Program
• AUC University Fellowships and Egyptian Public Schools Scholarships
• NYU Abu Dhabi Scholarship (UAE)
• Other fully funded master's scholarships in Egypt and the wider MENA region