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QS Best Student Cities ranking: 107^th

Egypt’s capital, Cairo (or Al Qahirah in Arabic) is located near the Nile Delta and has the largest metropolitan area in the Middle East, home to well over 20 million people. It’s often referred to as Maṣrby locals, the Egyptian Arabic name for Egypt itself, reflecting the city’s national importance.

The area of modern-day Cairo was the focal point of Ancient Egypt, with the famous Pyramids of Giza located only 10 miles away. Today Cairo is hectic and fast-paced, lively and vibrant. Egypt’s recent political instability may make students somewhat concerned about safety, and while Cairo is generally safe, it is advisable to avoid political demonstrations and large gatherings at this time.

In terms of culture, Cairo is home to thriving film and music industries which are some of the largest and oldest in the Arab world. You could enjoy opera, ballet and orchestra performances at the Cairo Opera House, and the city hosts the annual Cairo International Film Festival. The city also has an extensive nocturnal life to explore, including bars, nightclubs, late-night cafés and Western-style venues.

Although Cairo may be slightly more expensive for living costs than other Egyptian cities, it’s still highly affordable, especially if you join in with the local custom of haggling!

Cairo is an education hub, and is home to one of the oldest universities in the world – Al-Azhar University, founded more than a thousand years ago. English is the most commonly used foreign language in the city, and is the main language of instruction at the American University in Cairo.

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Internationally ranked universities in Cairo

More about Cairo

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.