Masters and PhD Study in Egypt: Admission, Costs and Funding

How Admission Works

Postgraduate admission in Egypt runs outside the Tansiq system that places undergraduates. You apply directly to the graduate studies office of the specific faculty you want, at whichever public or private university offers it. Most faculties require a bachelor's degree with a minimum overall grade, commonly rated good or higher on Egypt's grading scale, and some departments add an entrance interview, written exam, or English proficiency requirement, especially for programs taught in English or for PhD tracks.

Expect faculty-specific variation. A department with more applicants than seats sometimes adds a competitive interview stage on top of the grade minimum, while less oversubscribed departments admit anyone who clears the baseline grade.

What It Costs

Public university postgraduate fees stay far below private tuition, though they vary by faculty rather than following one national rate. At Cairo University's Faculty of Agriculture, the published postgraduate fee schedule (in force from the second semester of 2018/2019, the most recent version the faculty publishes) sets Egyptian masters fees at EGP 4,834.50 in the first year, EGP 3,034.50 in year two and EGP 1,034.50 in year three, plus EGP 300 per course. Assume the current figure is higher and confirm with the faculty. Professional masters tracks there cost more, around EGP 11,514.50 a year. On the same 2018/2019 schedule, international masters and PhD students at that faculty were charged USD 6,500 for the first year and USD 5,000 for each remaining year.

Treat these as one faculty's example, not a universal rate. Confirm the specific figure for your target faculty and university before budgeting, since fees differ by field and by whether you hold Egyptian or international student status.

Choosing a Program and Supervisor

Your choice of supervisor matters more at postgraduate level than your choice of university brand. Contact potential supervisors directly before applying, ask about their current research funding, and confirm whether they are accepting new masters or PhD students that cycle. A well-funded supervisor with an open project often shortens your funding search considerably compared with applying blind to a department and hoping a stipend appears later.

Language of Instruction

Public university postgraduate programs mostly teach in Arabic, with English used for specific courses, journal readings, and thesis writing in technical fields. Private and international universities such as AUC and GUC teach postgraduate programs in English throughout. If you plan to publish internationally or continue studying abroad afterward, weigh this alongside cost when picking a university.

Funding Your Postgraduate Study

Misr El-Kheir Foundation funds masters and PhD research grants in agriculture, engineering, sciences, social studies, education, and scientific research, through its postgraduate grants program , alongside its separate support program for final-year undergraduate graduation projects. Many public universities also run internal research assistantships or teaching assistant posts that cover a stipend alongside reduced or waived tuition, though availability depends on your department's budget and faculty vacancies, so ask your prospective supervisor directly rather than assuming a standard package exists.

Timelines

Most masters programs in Egypt run two to three years, combining coursework with a thesis defended before a faculty committee. PhD tracks generally run three to five years on paper, though actual completion often runs longer depending on your research area, funding continuity, and how quickly your committee schedules your defense. Build in buffer time when planning around a masters or PhD, particularly if you rely on external funding with a fixed grant period.