Alexandria University

Alexandria, Egypt · founded 1938 · 200,000 students · public research university

Known for: Alexandria University is a major public research university and a leading institution in the Mediterranean region, known for its strong programs in medicine, engineering, and humanities. It plays a key role in Egypt's higher education and research landscape.

Rankings

QS World: #651
Times Higher Education: #801

Top programmes

Medicine
Engineering
Pharmacy
Dentistry
Arts and Humanities
Law

Notable alumni

Ahmed Zewail — Nobel Prize-winning chemist, pioneer of femtochemistry
Nawal El Saadawi — Renowned Egyptian feminist writer, psychiatrist, and activist
Mohamed ElBaradei — Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Farouk El-Baz — Renowned space scientist who worked with NASA on the Apollo program
Youssef Chahine — Influential Egyptian film director
Hosni Mubarak — Former President of Egypt
Mustafa Mahmoud — Prominent Egyptian physician, philosopher, and author

Traditions

Annual Faculty of Engineering competitions
University cultural weeks and festivals
Student union elections and activities
Celebrations of national and academic events

If Alexandria University were…

As a food: sayadieh — Alexandria's signature fish-and-rice dish—Mediterranean flavors with Egyptian spices, reflecting the city's position between cultures. Like the university, it's less about Cairo's intense hustle and more about cosmopolit
As an athlete: Kylian Mbappé — Elite talent from a major port city (Bondy near Paris), combines speed with sophistication, represents a more international outlook than provincial competitors. Alexandria University similarly attracts Egypt's ambitious
As a person alive today: Youssef Chahine — The legendary Egyptian filmmaker from Alexandria whose work bridged East and West, combining Egyptian stories with European cinematic sophistication. Embodies Alexandria University's identity—rooted in Egypt but facing o
As a historical figure: Cleopatra VII — The Ptolemaic queen who ruled from Alexandria, multilingual, politically savvy, navigating between Egyptian tradition and Hellenistic culture. Alexandria University similarly balances Egyptian identity with its Mediterra
As a movie or TV show: The Alexandria Quartet — Lawrence Durrell's novels capturing Alexandria's cosmopolitan, multilayered past—Greek merchants, Egyptian nationalists, European exiles, all mixing in a Mediterranean port. The university inherits this legacy, still mor
As a US president: John F. Kennedy — Coastal sophistication, international outlook, intellectual glamour mixed with practical politics, represented a more cosmopolitan vision than inland alternatives. Alexandria University offers similar appeal—Egypt's 'Med
As a city: Marseille — Historic Mediterranean port that's grittier than the capital, more diverse, facing the sea rather than inland. Alexandria University shares this vibe—Egypt's second city's flagship university, less prestigious than Cairo
As an element: Sodium — Essential component of salt water, reactive and energetic, found abundantly in the sea. Alexandria University is similarly defined by its Mediterranean location—drawing intellectual energy from its coastal position, more
As a car: Fiat 124 Spider (1970s) — Alexandria University has the Mediterranean sophistication and competitive edge of this Italian roadster built for Egypt's coastal elite. It's academically sporty, historically significant, and thrives in the sea breeze

Campus life

The university has a vibrant, large-scale campus life with a diverse student body from across Egypt and the region. It features active student unions, cultural events, and a strong focus on academic and professional development.