Scholars without Stipend

Process of Scholar without Stipend Program (SwS)

The Scholars without Stipend (SwS) program at The American University in Cairo (AUC) welcomes visitors from across the world. This program is designed to provide scholars with an opportunity to engage in research and scholarship. Visiting scholars may be graduate students or faculty conducting research and scholarly work, who come to the University to share their knowledge and expertise for mutual benefit. The University provides institutional affiliation with AUC as a scholar without a stipend for a limited number of visiting scholars who wish to collaborate with AUC faculty and to do research in Egypt and already have a source of funding.

Important Note: A visiting scholar does not hold an official academic appointment at AUC.

Process to Apply

Candidate scholars, who already have a source of funding, and who wish to collaborate with AUC faculty and to do research in Egypt, need to contact one of AUC's full-time faculty and provide him/her with a statement of research objective that has to be approved by this faculty member.

Once the candidate scholar gets the AUC full-time faculty’s approval, the candidate scholar fills in the International Visiting Scholars Application form and Data form to process a work permit for non-Egyptians.

Before reaching the Office of the Associate Provost for Research, Innovation and Creativity (AP-RIC), the application needs to be approved by the AUC full-time faculty member, assuming responsibility for the scholar’s commitment to laws and regulations in Egypt, as well as the department chair (or center director) and the school dean.

The dean’s office sends the AP-RIC office the candidate scholar’s complete file that needs to include the following:

  1. Exact start and end dates of the scholar’s research activities
  2. Copy of a valid passport
  3. Copy of the certificate of the last academic degree
  4. Copy of the CV
  5. Statement of research objectives, including a description of the research methodology and tools the applicant plans to use in Egypt. Indicate where you learned about AUC's International Visiting Scholar program
  6. Letter of reference from current employer or institution
  7. Proof of financial funds or a letter of commitment for self-financing
  8. A recommendation and willingness to consult/supervise from an AUC full-time faculty member assuming informing the scholar with his/her commitment to laws and regulations in Egypt, including obtaining the required permits if and when needed, in addition to filling and signing the acknowledgment form
  9. Endorsement by the chair of the sponsoring department
  10. Endorsement by the dean of the sponsoring School
  11. Receipt of payment of a fee of $250 per quarter for the use of University amenities, including the libraries, medical clinic and athletic facilities. AUC alumni are exempted from these fees, yet they still have to abide by the fees required from AUC alumni to use AUC amenities, in accordance to the alumni office. This receipt may be provided upon arrival
  12. The scholar should begin the application process at least two months in advance. Failing to do so will result in paying a penalty of EGP 15,200
  13. Payment of EGP 5,200 upon arrival for the work permit (for the first year only), EGP 350 for the HIV test and EGP 1,940 for the residency visa, as per the new rules and regulations of the Ministry of Manpower

The applicant must submit (items 1-9) to the chair of the sponsoring department. Applications and supporting documents (items 1-10) should be submitted for final approval to the dean of the school of the sponsoring department before sending them to the Office of the Associate Provost for Research, Innovation and Creativity (AP-RIC) at ap-ric@aucegypt.edu and intramural.grants@aucegypt.edu including in the subject the scholar’s name, school, department and the exact start and end date, to process the application. 

Letter of Invitation

Once approved by AP-RIC Office, a provisional letter of invitation will be sent to visiting scholar applicants from the Office of the Associate Provost for Research, Innovation and Creativity (AP-RIC) when the completed application materials have been received, reviewed, and approved. Manifestation of the final approval is the issuance of AUC ID after work permit (issued by Egyptian Authorities) is secured. This process may take three to six months. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to secure the work permit.

Before Arriving

For questions about visas and appropriate procedures, contact the Office of Business Support by email. For any other inquiries, contact your faculty host.

Upon Arrival on Campus

Go to the business support office to receive your work permit and submit your residence visa documents. 

These documents are:

  1. Memo from the department about the work you will do in AUC
  2. Fees for the HIV test and the work permit
  3. Recent passport copy
  4. Certificate of the last degree
  5. AUC active ID number
  6. Filled data form

Service

A visiting scholar at AUC will be assigned the service title of visiting SwS. These following services are handled and facilitated by the department administration once the letter of invitation by the associate provost for research, AP-RIC has been sent and the visiting scholar accepts the invitation.

A Visiting Scholar:

  • May visit the department for up to one academic year
  • Is assigned a shared office space with access to a computer and printer (if available)
  • Is given a temporary AUC ID card and may sign up for a temporary AUC email address
  • Is given guidance in obtaining temporary residence visas
  • Is given the option to purchase medical insurance through the University
  • Is given access to the University library and recreational facilities for a fee of $250 per quarter
  • AUC alumni are exempted from these fees, yet they still have to abide by the fees required from AUC alumni to use AUC amenities, in accordance with the alumni office
  • University housing may be available at regularly stated rents, and bus passes are available for purchase. Visiting scholars are responsible for securing housing arrangements for themselves, and any accompanying family members. This includes any education placement needs for school-age family members