Study in Egypt - Education System

Egypt Educational System

Pre-higher education
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14

Structure of school system

Primary School
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 6 to: 11
Certificate/diploma awarded: Primary School Certificate

Preparatory School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 11 to: 14
Certificate/diploma awarded: Basic Education Completion Certificate

General Secondary School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 14 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Thanaweya a' Amma (General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC)

Technical Secondary School (for technicians)
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 14 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Technical Education Diploma

Technical Secondary School (for high level technicians)
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 14 to: 19
Certificate/diploma awarded: Advanced Technical Diploma

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Secondary Education

Compulsory education lasts for eight grades and is known as "basic education", split into two stages, primary school (Grades 1 - 5) and preparatory school (Grades 6 - 8). It leads to the award of the Basic Education Completion Certificate. Following the eight-year basic education, pupils have the choice of entering a general secondary school (academic option) or a technical option including three- and five-year technical schools as well as experimental schools teaching languages, education and physical education. Only general secondary school graduates (academic option) may be admitted to university after obtaining their General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) or an Advanced Technical Diploma with scores above 75%. However, since 1991, some graduates from technical schools have been allowed to enter higher education.

Higher Education

Higher education is provided by some 20 universities and by higher institutes of technical and professional training, both public and private. Responsibility for higher education lies mainly with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Organization and administration, as well as academic programmes, are determined by laws, decrees and government regulations. The State universities are under the authority of the Supreme Council of Universities. Universities have full academic and administrative autonomy. They also carry out scientific research. The higher institutes of professional and technical training award qualifications equivalent to the first qualification conferred by the universities. Open college education was introduced at the universities of Cairo, Alexandria and Assiut in 1991. Private universities are entitled to implement their own criteria of admission and to set fees without intervention from the Ministry.

Foreign Students Admission

Admission requirements: Foreign students should have qualifications equivalent to the Thanaweya A'amma or a university degree.

Entry regulations: Foreign students must obtain a student visa.

Language requirements: Knowledge of Arabic is essential for regular university studies. English is the language of instruction at the American University in Cairo, some faculties of Helwan University and at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Alexandria. French is the language of instruction at Senghor University.