Internationalisation Through Dual Degrees

As part of its 2030 vision for sustainable development and to become a transnational higher education hub, Egypt has increasingly established new branch campuses for international universities.

Across the country, universities are embracing internationalisation as a key strategy to attract diverse student cohorts and enhance global recognition.

In fact, advancing local universities in international rankings is a key part of Egypt's education strategy, with the government working towards having at least 28 Egyptian universities on the QS World University Rankings by the end El Sisi’s third term in 2030.

And Egyptian universities are gaining ground in global rankings with 20 Egyptian universities making it to the 2026 QS World University Rankings, up from 19 universities in 2025 and 15 in 2024.

Multilingual degree programmes for universities with an international focus are becoming more common, while dual and joint degrees with international partners offerings are expanding rapidly.

For students, this means access to internationally recognised credentials without the usual heavy financial burdens of studying abroad. For employers, it signals graduates trained to international benchmarks, with the problem-solving and intercultural skills associated with a UK education, but grounded in the local context.

At the British University in Egypt (BUE), the Faculty of Business Administration, Economics and Political Science (BAEPS) exemplifies this shift, with Professor Hadia FakhrElDin, Dean of the Faculty noting its mission “is to deliver a student-centred business education with a global perspective, serving as a leading private business school in the region.”

BUE has partnered with London South Bank University (LSBU), Manchester Metropolitan University and Queen Margaret University. More than 2,000 students have already graduated with dual degrees, receiving both Egyptian and UK qualifications.

A key pillar of BUE’s strategy is internationalisation through global partnerships, the development of our international student body, summer programmes abroad, and the recruitment of international experts.

BUE is a member of the International Association of Universities (IAU), a signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum, joining 950 universities from more than 90 countries in their dedication to the principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, community service, preservation of humanity and sustainability and the promotion of prosperity and enlightenment across the globe, with the university also holding the award of International Membership of Advance HE.

In a competitive higher education marketplace, dual degrees and multilingual programmes are seen as vital for attracting international students, particularly from Africa and the wider Arab region, while also retaining local students who might otherwise look overseas.

Partnerships, Research Networks and Rankings

Partnerships with global institutions are not limited to programme delivery, they extend into research collaborations, faculty exchanges and student mobility schemes. These strengthen Egypt’s academic ecosystem while also impacting international rankings, especially the QS International Research Network indicator, which rewards institutions that engage with diverse global partners.

According to FakhrElDin, BAEPS’s 2023-2028 strategy centres on “deeper internationalisation and global collaboration, expanding its research impact and increasing recruitment of outstanding students from Egypt and around the world.”

For the academic year 2025-2026, the BAEPS Faculty has a growing body of international students, currently around 10 percent of the intake, which is higher than average across Egypt’s universities.

The Faculty is developing a recruitment strategy targeting more international students and has established partnerships with universities across Europe and Asia to increase mobility and attract international students. This trend reflects Egypt’s growing visibility as a cost-effective, globally competitive study destination.

For private universities like BUE, these initiatives serve both institutional and national ambitions.

By embedding international quality assurance frameworks - BUE is the first Egyptian and North African university accredited by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) - they raise standards across the system and enhance Egypt’s credibility as a regional higher education hub.

Innovation in Curriculum and Research

Internationalisation is also accelerating innovation within Egypt’s curricula and research priorities, responding to both employer demand and government strategy, new programmes are emerging at the intersection of business, technology and sustainability.

Demand for business graduates in Egypt is being shaped by several high-growth industries, with The Faculty of BAEPS recently launching a Business Information Systems (BIS) specialisation, designed to prepare graduates who can bridge the worlds of business and digital technology.

“It was launched in response to Egypt’s national digital transformation strategy and the growing demand for graduates who can bridge business and technology,” explains Professor Hadia FakhrElDin, Dean of the Faculty of BAEPS.

Looking ahead, Professor FakhrElDin says future programmes are being designed in line with national sustainable development strategy, Egypt Vision 2030 and employer needs, with a strong focus on AI, digital business and sustainable development.

Research and initiatives at Egyptian universities increasingly targets challenges with immediate social and economic impact.

Why Choose Egypt for Business Education?

For international students, Egypt presents an attractive value proposition: globally validated degrees at a fraction of the cost of studying in Europe or North America.

“Costs are significantly lower than studying in the UK or Europe while still providing British-validated degrees,” Professor FakhrElDin notes.

The Faculty of BAEPS, like other leading private institutions, highlights Egypt’s cultural richness, central geographic position and dynamic emerging economy as part of the appeal.

Students benefit from hands-on training in areas such as finance - BUE’s Financial Lab is the largest in Egypt, with 23 Refinitiv terminals directly linked to the stock exchange - and global trends such as sustainability, digital transformation and internationalisation are reflected across programmes.

Private universities are playing a pivotal role in Egypt’s ambition to become a regional higher education hub.

Their agility in forming international partnerships, adopting new technologies and embedding sustainability into curricula makes them central to reform efforts.

“Our international partnerships will ensure deep knowledge and application of global standards, attract international students for richer cultural exchange, and enhance graduate employability,” says Professor FakhrElDin.

The future of Egyptian higher education will likely be defined by this dual identity: deeply rooted in its national and regional context, but increasingly outward-facing, connected and internationally validated.

Looking ahead

Over the next decade, Egypt’s higher education sector aims to expand international student recruitment, especially from Africa and the Arab world; deepen joint degrees and research partnerships with European, Asian and Western universities; strengthen innovation ecosystems, linking research and entrepreneurship with national development goals.

If these ambitions are realised, Egypt could establish itself as a bridge between regions, offering international students not only affordable, high-quality education but also immersion in one of the world’s most dynamic emerging economies.

For students, in Egypt, it is now possible to access an education validated to UK and European standards, engage in applied research with real social impact, and benefit from an affordable, culturally rich academic experience.

As Professor FakhrElDin concludes: “Egypt is an attractive destination for international students because it combines affordable tuition and living costs with the opportunity to earn a dual British–Egyptian degree that is internationally recognised, giving graduates global mobility and strong employability.”

Egypt is laying down the foundations to welcome more international students to its own campuses - a transformation that could reshape the higher education map of Africa and the Middle East in the years ahead.