List of All Exchange Opportunities

Strengthening Egypt – U.S. Ties through People-to-People Exchanges

Throughout the world, the United States supports programs that focus on people-to-people relations to foster mutual understanding and strengthen ties.  For generations, Egyptians and Americans have benefited from a range of U.S.-sponsored academic and professional exchange programs.  Many of the personal ties forged during these exchange programs endure for decades and alumni of these programs continue to contribute in positive ways to their countries and peaceful dialogue.  Their exchanges and successes symbolize the broad and deep partnership between the people of Egypt and the United States.

Many American students and scholars have had deeply enriching intellectual experiences studying at Egyptian universities, and in addition to working partnerships have contributed to the world’s understanding and appreciation of Egyptian history and culture.  Likewise, the United States has a long tradition of welcoming Egyptians at public and private educational institutions, where they contribute to the intellectual and cultural dynamism of campus life.  These exchanges symbolize the broad and deep partnership between Egypt and the United States, which benefits both countries and bring the nations closer together.

Egyptians interested in U.S. study are urged to visit an EducationUSA  advising center for prospective students managed by AMIDEAST in Cairo and Alexandria. AMIDEAST is a distinguished nonprofit organization engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa.  Many Egyptians who study in the United States, and Americans who study in Egypt, finance their academic programs through private or university-based scholarship or grant programs, which together support more students than government-funded programs.

  1. HEI Local Scholarships for Public Universities:  This activity provides 387 scholarships to Egyptian public school graduates to pursue programs in public universities. As part of this program, students will have dedicated career counselors provide advice and support to enable them to achieve excellence in their programs; English language training to increase their proficiency; and opportunities to broaden and apply their learning through internships, business/entrepreneurship experiences, and U.S. study programs. For more information check: www.amideast.org/hei
  1. HEI Local Scholarships for Private Universities:  This project provides 195 scholarships to Egyptian public school graduates to pursue programs in Egyptian private universities. These scholarships will also provide academic skill building, counseling and support to enable them to achieve excellence in their programs; English language training to increase their proficiency; and opportunities to broaden and apply their learning through internships, business/entrepreneurship experiences, and U.S. study programs. For more information check: iie.org/en/Programs/HEI-Private-University-Scholarships-Program
  1. Fulbright Scholarships:  Under the auspices of HEI, Fulbright scholarships will be granted to 80 Egyptians for master’s degree programs in the U.S. in fields of study critical to the economic development of Egypt. These scholarships will be targeted toward high achieving, economically disadvantaged students from across Egypt, and will help them acquire leadership and employment skills, English language training, and a first-hand understanding of American society. Scholars will return to Egypt to join the public and private sectors, equipped to take on leadership roles and engage in civic participation in their communities.  For more information check:  www.fulbright-egypt.org

Academic and Professional Exchange Programs

The programs listed below are funded by the U.S. government to support exchanges between Egypt and the United States.  Every year, these programs provide opportunities for hundreds of exchange participants:

  1. Youth exchanges for Egyptians in secondary school;
  2. University level students;
  3. Teachers and educators;
  4. Senior scholars; and
  5. Professionals and technical experts.

A. Between the Lines (BTL)

Between the Lines is a component of the International Writing Program that brings young writers to the University of Iowa for creative writing study and cultural interaction. Students live in a dorm on the University of Iowa campus along with university-trained counselors, who help foster a strong sense of creative community. Sessions include literature seminars and language-specific creative writing workshops taught by faculty who are renowned writers in their own right.

Eligibility:  Young writers between the ages of 16-19
Duration of Program:  2 weeks
Contact e-mail:  ExchangesCairo@state.gov

B. Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES)

The Youth Exchange and Study program provides scholarships for high school students (15-17 years) to spend up to one academic year in the United States.  Students live with American host families and attend an American high school.  They engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about Egyptian culture.  For information on eligibility requirements, program duration, contact information and how to apply, please visit the website of AFS Intercultural Programs at http://www.afs-egypt.org/.

Eligibility:  High school students or recent graduates
Duration of Program:  One academic year, September – June
Contact e-mail:  info@afs.org

C. TechGirls

Tech Girls is an international summer exchange program designed to empower and inspire young girls to pursue careers in science and technology. The centerpiece of the program is a weeklong technology camp that provides participants with an in-depth examination of technology-related topics, such as Java C++ programming, and engages them in 45+ hours of hands-on instruction. The camp is complemented by additional activities such as site visits to technology companies, leadership clinics, community service opportunities, job shadowing, and cultural events. As part of program follow-on, the TechGirls implement at least one peer training program or service project within their schools and/or communities.

Eligibility:  Girls between the ages of 15-17
Duration of Program:  3 weeks
Contact e-mail:  ExchangesCairo@state.gov

ِِA.  Global UGRAD Program

This international educational and cultural exchange program brings future leaders of a selected group of 250 undergraduate’s students representing diverse disciplines, from architecture to engineering, biochemistry to literature and education, to the United States for one academic semester of undergraduate, non-degree study to experience the U.S.

Eligibility: Egyptian students, enrolled as undergraduates in good standing at any university, public or private; not enrolled in his/her final year of studies at the time of application; with limited or no travel experience to the United States and between the ages of 18-25, has a solid command of written and spoken English.

Duration of Program: one academic semester of undergraduate, non-degree study.
Contact e-mail:  CairoGUGRAD@state.gov

B.  Model American Congress Exchange 

Hosted by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), the Model American Congress exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State.  It includes an intensive introduction to the U.S. Congress, an educational study tour to Philadelphia – the historic ‘birthplace’ of American government – local community service activities, and an opportunity to see the workings of the U.S. Congress first hand, by working as an intern in a congressional office.

Eligibility:  Egyptian students in their second and third year of undergraduate study with demonstrated English-language proficiency, leadership and potential are selected on a competitive basis from participants in Egypt’s Model American Congress (MAC) program.  The Model American Congress programs at Cairo, Fayoum, and Pharos universities are open to interested students from any Egyptian university.

Duration of Program:  Two-week summer program
Contact e-mail: Cairoculture@state.gov

C.  Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders (SUSI)

Hosted by academic institutions throughout the country with funding from the U.S. Department of State, these student leader institutes focus on developing a better understanding of the United States, including an intensive academic component, an educational study tour to other regions of the country, local community service activities, and unique opportunities to get to know American peers.

Eligibility: Egyptian students in their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study with demonstrated leadership and English proficiency

Duration of Program: Four to six week summer program
Contact e-mail: CairoSUSIStudents@state.gov

A.  Secondary School Educators Institutes Program

The Secondary School Educators Institutes provide secondary educators with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, education, and culture, past and present.  Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the programs are organized around a central theme or themes in U.S. studies and have a strong contemporary component.

Eligibility: Highly-motivated, experienced secondary school educators or teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, or Ministry of Education officials.
Duration of Program: 6 weeks
Contact e-mail: CairoSUSI@state.gov

B.  Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)

This program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, brings outstanding secondary teachers to the United States to further develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States.

Eligibility: Secondary-level, full-time teachers with five or more years of classroom experience in either English as a Foreign Language, Social Sciences (social studies, civics, history, or geography) or Math and Sciences.

Duration of Program: Six weeks of professional development including a two-week internship.
Contact e-mail: CairoTEA@state.gov


C.  Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP)

This program enables primary and secondary schools in the U.S. to strengthen their teaching of Arabic and Mandarin by bringing Egyptian teachers of English as a Foreign Language to teach Arabic language and culture for an academic year.

Eligibility: Egyptian, full time teachers of English as a Foreign Language or Arabic as a Foreign Language in a primary or secondary (K-12) school in Egypt; 4 years of teaching experience; firm understanding of Modern Standard Arabic (fus’ha); at least a Bachelor’s degree; with English-language proficiency in written and spoken English.

Duration of Program: Nine months
Contact e-mail: tclp@americancouncils.org & TCLP-info@amideast.org

A. Study of the United States – Scholar Institutes (SUSI)

Study of the United States Scholar Institutes are programs supported by the U.S. Department of State to strengthen curricula and improve the quality of teaching about the United States in educational institutions around the world.  Egyptian participants interact with American scholars, meet with experts in their disciplines, visit civic institutions and explore the diversity and culture of the United States.  Programs are offered on American Politics and Political Thought, Contemporary American Literature, Journalism and Media, Religious Pluralism in the United States, U.S. Culture and Society, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.S. National Security Policymaking, and Secondary Education

Eligibility:  Highly-motivated and experienced professionals from institutions of higher education seeking to introduce or enhance aspects of U.S. studies in their curricula or to offer specialized seminars/workshops in U.S. studies.

Duration of Program:  6 weeks
Contact e-mail:  CairoSUSI@state.gov

Additional opportunities for scholars are offered through the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt fulbright-egypt.org   

A.  Borlaug Program

The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program aims to promote food security and economic growth by increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity.  It accomplishes this by:

  • Providing research opportunities for early and mid-career academics, researchers, and policymakers from developing and middle-income countries;
  • Fostering collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity;
  • Facilitating the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practices
  • Addressing obstacles to the adoption of technology, such as ineffectual policies and regulations.

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service: fas.usda.gov.

Priority Research Areas:  Areas of training and research can be in any agriculture-related field including plant pathology, entomology, veterinary sciences, microbiology, agricultural economics, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary topics, natural resources management, agricultural biotechnology, global climate change, and agricultural policy. Allowable training topics vary by country and year and can be found in the country-specific application announcements posted on the website.

Training Venues:  Training venues include U.S. universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or other U.S. government agency research facilities, and not-for-profit institutions.

Duration of Program:  Fellowships can run from six to twelve weeks depending on research topic and funding available.
Contact e-mail:  agcairo@fas.usda.gov

B.  Cochran Fellowship Program

The Cochran Fellowship program provides high quality training to help middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies improve their agricultural systems and strengthen and enhance trade links with the United States.

The program provides U.S.-based agricultural training opportunities for agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets and emerging democracies.

Priority Areas:  Training opportunities are for agricultural professionals, including senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas.  Since its inception in 1984, the Cochran Fellowship Program has provided U.S.-based training for over 14,300 international participants from 123 countries worldwide.  Approximately 30 Egyptians will participate in the Cochran Fellowship program in 2016.

Training Venues:  State universities, with field visits to farms and ranches.
Duration of Program:  2-3 weeks in the United States.
Contact e-mail:  agcairo@fas.usda.gov

C. Community Solutions

The Community Solutions Program is a professional development program for the best and brightest global community leaders working in the fields of transparency and accountability, tolerance and conflict resolution, environmental issues and women’s issues. Community Solutions provides four-month-long fellowships at U.S. community-based non-profit or other organizations, government offices or legislative bodies. Fellows will work with community leaders to enhance their practical expertise, leadership skills and professional contacts to address societal issues in their home communities.

Eligibility:  Community leaders, ages 25-38, currently working on a community engagement initiative in Egypt.

Duration of Program:  Four months
For More information: irex.org/application/community-solutions-information-applicants
Contact e-mail:  communitysolutions@irex.org

D.  Fortune/State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Program

Fortune, a leading American business magazine and the U.S Department of State established the Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership in May 2006.  This public-private partnership places talented, emerging women leaders from all over the world in mentoring programs with some of the women identified by Fortune as America’s Most Powerful Women Leaders.  The program includes a three-day orientation in Washington, D.C., where the participants meet with senior women in government, academia and business.  The international participants are then paired with one of the women leaders for an approximately three-week mentorship assignment in cities across the United States.  During the three weeks, American and international participants work together in mentoring relationships to share the skills and experiences necessary for strengthening women’s leadership.  Each participant will have the opportunity to shadow a senior executive and engage in activities specifically designed by the company to meet the needs and interests of the participant.

Eligibility: Emerging self-motivated women leaders in the business and non-profit sectors, between the ages of 28 – 43 with good English language skills.

Duration of Program:  Four weeks
Contact e-mail:  CairoProfExchanges@state.gov

E. Global Sports Mentoring Program

The U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program  is the flagship component of the Empowering Women and Girls through Sports Initiative that pairs emerging women leaders from around the world with top American female executives in the sports industry.

Eligibility:  Emerging women leaders in the sports world, between the ages of 25 and 40
Duration of Program:  Four weeks
Contact e-mail:  Exchanges@state.gov

F.  Iowa International Writer’s Workshop

This summer program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, is a globally-renowned ten-week residency program at the University of Iowa for international writers who participate in activities in the fields of writing, translation, and the arts.

Eligibility:  The program is designed for established and emerging creative writers, poets, dramatists, and nonfiction writers.

Duration of Program:  Three months
Contact e-mail:  CairoProfExchanges@state.gov

G.  OneBeat

OneBeat is an international music exchange that celebrates musical collaboration and social engagement through innovative people-to-people diplomacy. Musicians (ages 19-35) from around the world come together in the U.S. for four weeks to collaboratively write, produce, and perform original music, and develop ways that music can make a positive impact on our local and global communities. More than a performance program, OneBeat balances three principles: dialogue, creation, and social engagement to foster mutual understanding and cooperation among citizens of the world, one unexpected musical piece at a time.

Eligibility:  Musicians (ages 19-35)
Duration of Program:  Four weeks
For More information: http://1beat.org/mission/
Contact e-mail:  1beat@foundsoundnation.org

H.  Professional Fellows Program

The Professional Fellows Program brings emerging leaders in the fields of legislative process and governance; civic engagement; NGO management; economic empowerment and entrepreneurship; and journalism from around the world to the United States for intensive fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise.

Eligibility:  professionals between the age 25 to 40
Duration of Program:  4 weeks
Contact e-mail:  Exchanges@state.gov

I.  TechWomen

The TechWomen initiative identifies emerging women leaders with expertise in technology to attend a five-week program that includes project-based mentorships at leading companies in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Eligibility:  Women in professional careers that require significant knowledge of, and skill in technology. “Technology” should be interpreted broadly to include – but not be limited to – the fields of science, education, and business.

Duration of Program:  Five weeks
Contact e-mail:  CairoProfExchanges@state.gov

Fulbright Commission Programs:

The Fulbright program is the largest U.S. government program for academic exchanges, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.  In Egypt, the program is administered by the bilateral Fulbright Commission, which is the oldest and largest Fulbright program in the Arab world.  Since 1949 nearly 5,000 Fulbright scholars have been selected for grants in Egypt or the United States.  The Commission has pursued the same mandate for the last six decades:  to cultivate mutual understanding through mutual educational exchange.

For information on eligibility requirements, program duration, contact information and applications for all exchanges administrated by the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt, please visit the website: http://www.fulbright-egypt.org/

  • Scholar Grants
  • Student Grants
  • Professional Programs – Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
  • Community College Initiative

The American Research Center in Egypt Fellowships:

The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1948 by a consortium of educational and cultural institutions to support research on all aspects of Egyptian history and culture, foster broader knowledge among the general public, and strengthen American-Egyptian cultural ties.  ARCE is administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and the American Councils for International Education.  It administers research fellowships for students enrolled in doctoral programs at North American universities, and for postdoctoral scholars and professionals affiliated with North American universities and research institutions.  Through the fellowship program ARCE also has the capacity to fund Egyptian scholars to conduct research for up to six months in the United States.

Contact e-mail: cairo@arce.org