Graduate Admissions

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Graduate Admissions
Non-degree Admissions
Other Admissions

Graduate applicants must complete the Graduate Admission application by the set deadlines, including all required documents/credentials. A file for each applicant is prepared, and evaluated by the Office of Graduate Admission to ensure that the applicants have met the minimum requirements as indicated by the university catalog. The file is then evaluated by the relevant program for recommendation. The relevant school dean then reviews the file and the program recommendation, and sends his/her recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for review and final recommendation. The Office of Graduate Admission finalizes the admission evaluation, and an admission letter is then sent out to the applicant specifying the type of admission, along with details on advising, registration, and tuition payment. The files of those applicants who enroll at AUC are sent to the Office of the Registrar by the second week of the term for which they enroll

The Graduate application form is prepared and finalized by The Office of Graduate Admission, and The Office of Recruitment and Student Services Center.

Criteria for Admission of Graduate Students

The university requires the following minimum standards in admitting graduate students. Actual admissions for a given program may be at a higher level as specified by this program.

Qualifications for graduate programs

Applicants for graduate study must have an accredited Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree with an academic record at a level sufficient to qualify for full or provisional admission as described under “Categories of Admission” below. Additional criteria such as the following may also be considered when evaluating a candidate for admission to the graduate program:

1. Evidence of academic English proficiency as required by the relevant graduate program.
2. Test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.).
3. Maturing time since undergraduate experience.
4. Work experience in a field related to the program applied for.
5. Strong faculty advocacy with written intent to mentor the student.
6. References from instructor and/or employer speaking to motivation and maturity.
7. Personal interview.
8. Departmental Arabic language test for specific programs.
9. Any post high-school academic records showing evidence of being prepared for graduate level courses.

Qualifications for Ph.D. Degree programs

Applicants must have completed both an accredited Bachelor of Science degree and Master’s degree with an academic record at a level sufficient to qualify for admissions. In additional to the criteria mentioned above for MA and MS degrees the following may also be considered when evaluating a candidate for admission to the PhD program:

1. Academic performance showing evidence they are prepared for PhD level courses.
2. GRE test scores that suggest potential.
3. Thesis abstract.
4. Research interest and objectives
5. Evidence of academic English proficiency prior to enrollment.

English Language Proficiency
An applicant must demonstrate knowledge of adequate English language for graduate studies. For full admission to the university, a graduate applicant must attain the required score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (International TOEFL with TWE), (iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS) examination. An applicant who does not attain the minimum test score required for full admission, but who is otherwise qualified for admission is placed in an English language course for further language study.
 

Exemptions from English Test

The University does not exempt applicants from the English test solely on the basis of citizenship or graduation from an international university in the region. An applicant may be exempted from these examinations if :

• He/she is currently enrolled in an accredited university where English is the sole language of instruction.
• He/she holds degrees from an accredited university where English is the sole language of instruction.
• He/she has recently completed at least one continuous year of full time academic studies at an accredited university where English is the sole language of instruction

Computer and Library Skills

Graduate students may be asked to demonstrate a minimum competency in use of computers and academic libraries as they relate to graduate study and research.

Entrance Examination

The program of major may require applicants to sit for a graduate entrance examination. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to the PhD program, the master programs in Economics and Economics in International Development. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required for the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Either the GRE or the GMAT is required for the master of Science in Finance.

GRE and GMAT exams must be valid past the first day of classes of the first semester of registration in the relevant graduate program.

Medical Examination

Recent medical report indicating that the student is physically and mentally fit for conducting university studies work is required from admitted students. This is to be submitted prior to registering for classes. Non-Egyptian students are required to submit a recent HIV test results for of student visa student visa purposes, as mandated by the Egyptian authorities.

Medical Insurance for Non-Egyptian Applicants

It is recommended that non-Egyptian students have health and accident insurance which will cover them while they are in Egypt. In addition, all non-Egyptian students are required to enroll in the medical insurance service plan offered by the American University in Cairo which provides for limited care at a specified hospitals in Cairo. Exemptions are made only for those non-Egyptian students who reside in Cairo with their families, or who are provided for by their companies, embassies or sponsoring agencies in Cairo. The medical service fee will be announced by the Office of Student Financial Affairs and Scholarships every year.

Admission Deferral

An applicant who is granted full admission may defer his/her admission to a subsequent semester. This privilege may be exercised only once, and the deferral can be for a maximum of one academic year. Full admission that is conditioned by the submission of original documents or satisfactory test results will not be considered for deferral if these requirements are not submitted within the deadlines set by the Office of Graduate Admission.

In cases where test results expire before the start of the semester to which admission is to be deferred, applicants must submit new satisfactory test results.

Applicants granted provisional admission cannot defer their admission, but may re-apply in a subsequent semester. The request for admission deferral must reach the Office of Graduate Admission at least one week before the first day of classes.

Categories of Admission

There are two categories of graduate admission, depending on the qualifications of the applicant.

1. Full Admission: Full admission may be granted to applicants who have met any of the following requirements:

a. A bachelor’s degree with an overall grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 or its equivalent, and 3.0 or its equivalent in the major.

b. An overall average of gayyid giddan on a bachelor’s degree from an Egyptian national university.

c. A graduate degree with a minimum overall average of gayyid giddan or ‘B’ if the degree is closely related to the intended major.

Additionally, the program of the major may require satisfactory performance on an examination.

Full admission is also attained when fulfilling the conditions specified under the provisional admission category below.

2. Provisional Admission: Provisional admission may be granted to applicants not qualifying for full admission but who have additional attributes that give them a high potential for success in a given graduate program.
Applicants offered provisional admission may be required to take English courses or a number of specified prerequisite courses. Students are required to achieve a minimum of ‘B’ average in these prerequisite courses or else their admission at AUC will be discontinued. Students may repeat one of the prerequisite courses to maintain a ‘B’ average, to fulfill admission conditions.

In some instances, applicants may not be required to fulfill any prerequisite courses while on provisional status. However, in this case, they are considered on probation and must achieve a minimum ‘B’ average in the first three graduate courses, or more, or they will be dropped from the relevant program.

Graduate Diploma Programs

The university offers several graduate diploma programs for which the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and a high grade-point average are normally required.

When recommended by program faculty, students may be accepted for diploma programs without commitment or expectation of future admission for a master’s degree.

Diploma applicants follow the same requirements and procedures for admission as master degree-seeking students.

An applicant not seeking an AUC degree but who wishes to register for AUC courses for academic credit may be admitted as a non-degree student if he/she meets the minimum criteria for graduate admission. A number of places are set aside each year for this category of such students, most of whom take a year away from their home institution for study and living experience in Egypt. Since AUC is a U.S. accredited institution following an American system, students from U.S. universities are usually able to transfer their AUC credits to their home institutions, but they are advised to check in advance. Non-degree applicants follow the same procedures for admission as degree-seeking applicants. Non-Degree applicants are not admitted if they do not meet the minimum requirements of the English language test that correspond to full admission: Students assigned ELNG or ELIN courses will not be admitted as graduate non-degree students.

If a graduate non-degree student should apply for and become a degree candidate, the program of major may consider accepting credit for courses taken under the non-degree status. A period of five years should not be exceeded between the dates of completing these credits and the start of the degree of concern. All Any academic regulations that are normally applicable to degree students will apply with such change of status.

Transfer of Credits

Upon the recommendation of the student’s program to the school dean in consultation with the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Office of the University Registrar, a graduate student may receive a number of transfer credits equivalent to up to one-third of the credit hours of graduate course work required for his/her graduate degree. Transfer course work is applied as credit (TR) toward the degree and is not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Graduate transfer credits will not be granted for credits earned by examination or for completing required thesis or dissertation credit hours.

A graduate degree program may establish lower limits on the number of transfer credits than those of the university. Degree programs establishing lower limits may waive their own policy, but within the university specified limit, by approval of the concerned school dean.  Course work credits to be transferred, and taken prior to matriculation to a current AUC degree program, must have been completed within five years of admission to this degree program.

Types of credits allowed to transfer encompass graduate-level course work taken at another institution and meeting the following conditions:

• They have not been previously used to earn another degree or transcripted certificate.
• They are for graded graduate level course work from an accredited institution, for which the student has achieved a grade of “B” or better.
• They are of relevance to the student’s program of study.
• They have been completed within a period of five years from the date of the start of the degree to which they are to be transferred.

Any request for the acceptance of transfer credit towards an AUC degree shall be carefully considered by the program concerned before submitting a recommendation to the school dean for approval.

Summer and Winter Admissions

The University does not admit degree students during the summer and winter sessions.

Readmission

AUC students who withdraw from the University in good standing and subsequently wish to return after an absence of one or more semesters may apply for readmission. Application must be made before the appropriate application deadline, and the applicant must meet all the admission requirements prevailing at the time of readmission. Readmission is offered on a space-available basis and is not guaranteed.

Disqualified or suspended students must petition for readmission in addition to the required readmission application and must meet all the admission requirements prevailing at the time of readmission.

Students who are suspended because they have not passed Intensive English courses (ELIN 0301 or ELIN 0302 ) in two semesters and a summer (or three semesters if a summer course is not offered) are required to submit a recent International TOEFL with TWE, (iBT) or Academic IELTS and they must demonstrate a level of proficiency for direct admission to Academic English for Graduates (English modules) or higher. Students who are disqualified because they have failed any other Academic English module (ENGL 0310, ENGL 0311 or ENGL 0312) three times are required to demonstrate a level of English language proficiency for direct admission without any English requirement.

English Level at Time of Withdrawal		Lapse of Time		TOEFL /Academic IELTS Required
Completed required		Less than 24 months		No
Academic English modules successfully or satisfied English requirement		More than 24 months		Yes
Enrolled in Intensive English or Academic English		Less than 6 months		No
		Between 6-12 months		Optional
Enrolled in Intensive English or Academic English		More than 12 months		Yes

Auditing

Those who wish to attend individual classes may apply as auditors; however, they may not sit for final examinations, nor receive academic credit or any university certificate of enrollment. Auditors do not have to meet all requirements for regular admission but must apply to the Office of the University Registrar by the announced deadlines. Since permission to audit is on a space-available basis, applicants are not permitted to register until after the registration of regular students has been completed. Auditors are not allowed to enroll in language courses.