Study Abroad in Egypt
Egypt is one of the most exciting places to visit. You
will be able to see and feel the past mingling with
the present. Knowing more about the customs and conduct
can make your visit more welcome. For example,
Egyptians are deeply religious people and as such religious
principles govern their daily lives
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, country
in northeastern Africa and southwestern Asia. Most of
the country lies in Africa, but the easternmost
portion of Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula, is usually considered
part of Asia; it forms the only land bridge between
the two continents. Most of Egypt’s terrain is desert,
divided into two unequal parts by the Nile River. The
valley and delta of the Nile are the main centers of
habitation. The capital and largest city is Cairo.
Egypt has been a coherent political entity with a
recorded history since about 3200 bc. One of the first
civilizations to develop irrigated agriculture, literacy,
urban life, and large-scale political structures arose
in the Nile Valley. The annual flood of the Nile
provided for a stable agricultural society. Egypt’s
strategic location between Asia and Africa and on the route
between the Mediterranean basin and India and China
made it an important hub of international trade.
Beginning in the 4th century bc, a series of conquerors
brought new religions and languages to the land. However,
Egypt’s rich agricultural resources, pivotal commercial
position, and long-term political unity have sustained
a high level of cultural continuity. Although
present-day Egypt is an overwhelmingly Arabic-speaking and
Islamic country, it retains important aspects of its past
Christian, Greco-Roman, and ancient indigenous
heritage.
Cities
Towns and cities of eygpt include
Alexandria,one of the great ancient cities-
3,891,000; Giza, the site of the Pyramid of Khufu- 2,597,600
(part of Cairo metro. area); Shubra el Khema, 1,018,000
(part of Cairo metro. area); El Mahalla el Kubra,
462,300,Aswan, Asyut, Cairo, the modern Egyptian capital ,
Sharm el Sheikh, Shubra-El-Khema, Suez.
Currency: Egyptian pound.Egyptian Pound (L.E.) = 100
Piasters.
Population
The population of Egypt in 2003 was estimated by the
United Nations at 71,931,000, which placed it as number
15 in population among the 193 nations of the world.
In that year approximately 4% of the population was
over 65 years of age, with another 36% of the population
under 15 years of age. There were an equal amount of
males and females in the country in 2003. According to
the UN, the annual population growth rate for
2000–2005 is 1.99%, with the projected population for the year
2015 at 89,996,000. The average population density in
2002 was 71 per sq km (184 per sq mi). However,
density varies from 32,500 per sq km (84,150 per sq mi) in
Cairo to 23 per sq km (60 per sq mi) in the Suez
governate.
Populated areas constitute only 6% of Egypt's total
area. Some 99% of all Egyptians live in the Nile Valley.
It was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau
that 45% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001.
The capital city, Cairo, had a population of
10,345,000 in that year. Alexandria's metropolitan population
was 3,995,000. Other large cities include Giza
(Al-Jizah), 2,156,000; Shubra El-Khemia, 1,556,000; Port Said,
461,000; and Suez, 392,000. Aaccording to the United
Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000–2005
was 2.3%.
Economy
Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since
the mid 1990s has limited foreign direct investment in
Egypt and kept annual GDP growth in the range of 2-3
percent in 2001-03. Egyptian officials in late 2003 and
early 2004 proposed new privatization and customs
reform measures, but the government is likely to pursue
these initiatives cautiously and gradually to avoid a
public backlash over potential inflation or layoffs
associated with the reforms. Monetary pressures on an
overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to float the
currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in
its value and consequent inflationary pressure. The
existence of a black market for hard currency is evidence
that the government continues to influence the
official exchange rate offered in banks. In September 2003,
Egyptian officials increased subsidies on basic
foodstuffs, helping to calm a frustrated public but widening
an already deep budget deficit. Egypt's
balance-of-payments position was not hurt by the war in Iraq in
2003, as tourism and Suez Canal revenues fared well. The
development of an export market for natural gas is a
bright spot for future growth prospects, but improvement
in the capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does
little to reduce Egypt's persistent unemployment.
The major industries are:textiles, food processing,
tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement,
metals.
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
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.
Arabic is the official language although English and
French are widely spoken are widely spoken.Following
are few words in arabic to help you with the language:
Give me = A'tinee, Haat
God = Allah
God willing = Insha'allah
Hello,Welcome = Marhaba
How are you? = Kaif Halak(to a man) Kaif Halik(to a
woman)
Market = Souk
Milk = Halib
Money = Nuquud
My name is = Ismi
Please = Min Fadlak
No = La
Yes = Na'am
Telephone = Hatif, Talifon
Water = Maa'
Zero = Sifr
One = Wahed
Two = Ithnayn
Three = Thalatha
Four = Arbaa
Five = Khamsa
Six = Sitta
Seven = Sabaa
Eight = Thamania
Nine = Tiss'a
Ten = Ashara
Airport = Mataar
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