International students admitted to Egyptian universities with lower grades than domestic applicants do not occupy seats reserved for Egyptians, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.
Speaking during an education panel at Egypt Forum 2026 in the New Capital, Madbouly addressed family concerns regarding overseas students entering competitive faculties, such as medicine, with lower scores than local requirements.
He explained that overseas applicants are admitted through a separate mechanism, ensuring that the quota designated for Egyptian students remains untouched. International enrollment currently accounts for approximately six percent of the student population in Egypt.
Madbouly noted that attracting students from abroad aids university standing and supports national goals to establish Egypt as a regional educational hub. He added that the policy helps improve the global recognition of Egyptian qualifications and creates lasting diplomatic and cultural ties.
During the same session, Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Abdel-Aziz Konsowa reported that Egyptian universities host 138,000 international students from 119 nationalities. Cairo University alone accommodates more than 33,000 international students representing over 110 countries.
The government has announced plans to boost foreign enrollment by 150 percent over a five-year period, supported by recruitment efforts such as the EGYAID initiative introduced in 2023.
