Study in Alexandria, Egypt

Alexandria, Egypt, has been a renowned center of learning since ancient times. In the 3rd century BC, it was home to the legendary Great Library of Alexandria, the single most important meeting place of scholars and philosophers in the ancient world. The Library was tragically destroyed when Julius Caesar accidentally set it on fire, but Alexandria's reputation as a conflux of education and research survived. Today, it is the location of several of Egypt's best colleges and universities, and continues to be one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the Middle East. Both Egyptians and foreign students flock to this city on the sea to take advantage of the educational opportunities that it offers.

The largest of Alexandria's institutions of higher learning is Alexandria University, which caters to the top tier of Egyptian students and also hosts foreign visitors. While study options at Alexandria University are varied, it has a reputation for being particularly strong in the areas of medicine and engineering. Similarly, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport offers some of the best engineering programs in the region. AASTMT competes with the American University in Cairo for the honor of being Egypt's most highly regarded university. Between them, Alexandria University and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport offer programs in nearly any area of science and engineering, including everything from linguistics and computer science to business management and maritime engineering.

While the majority of Alexandria's best institutions focus on science and engineering, students of the arts, humanities, and social sciences can also find a home in this world-class city of scholars. Alexandria's legacy as a beacon of philosophy and literature in the ancient world has abated somewhat in recent decades, but it has not been abandoned. Senghor University, a private university following the French system, specializes in the humanities and politically relevant fields such as global studies.

When it comes to quality of life, this busy cosmopolitan port city is a superb place to be a student. Its balmy Mediterranean climate makes it comfortable year-round (although it has surprisingly high humidity, which can make the summer somewhat less pleasant). In addition, it is easily one of the most modern cities in North Africa, offering such conveniences as Wi-Fi hotspots and reasonably reliable public transportation. While the bus and tram systems can be somewhat confusing at first, they are cheap way to get from place to place in the city and stop at convenient locations for students.

With its prominent place in the country’s history, Alexandria is one of the best places to experience Egyptian culture first-hand. It is more conservative than most first-time visitors expect, so you will likely encounter meticulously-covered young women and men enjoying traditional pastimes such as drinking coffee and smoking in open-air cafés. Spectacular architecture, a busy waterfront, and the picturesque sight of palm trees swaying in the Mediterranean air are just a few of the many features that attract students from all over the world to study in Alexandria.