Studying in Germany: The DAAD Cairo Study Information Day

On 29.11.2022, the DAAD Regional Office Cairo organized the Study Information Day or “Studieninformationstag” on the premises of the Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule Kairo (DEO). For the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been organized and conducted in a presence format, utilizing and building upon the long partnership that the DAAD Regional Office Cairo entertains with the DEO.

The DAAD Kairo Study Information Day is an annual event targeting students in grade eleven and twelve at German schools in Egypt. Through their education, they have the unique opportunity to graduate with a German International graduation certificate (Deutsches Internationales Abitur) or equivalent degrees which enable them to enroll at a German higher education institution directly, without the need to undergo a prior university entrance qualification check. For this reason, they require access to information about all topics relevant to their university admission: What types of higher education institutions are there in Germany? Which steps do I have to take in order to enroll? Where can I get more information about my preferred study programme? These questions, among many others, were answered during the Study Information Day.

In an introduction to the event, greeting words were held by Dr. Christian Dern – the principal of the DEO – Ms. Lorena Mohr – head of the science department of the German embassy in Cairo – as well as Ms. Fatma Soliman – Deputy Director of the DAAD Regional Office Cairo. They pointed at the exciting phase that the students can look forward to in their lives which they advised them to enjoy while also elaborating on the responsibility that they have as mediators between Germany and Egypt in the intercultural dialogue.

More than 550 students from seven schools participated actively in the event’s activities: On the schoolyard, they had the chance to visit the booths of 15 institutions from the German and Egyptian higher education landscapes in order to inquire about their offers for Undergraduate students as well as to ask individual questions and engage in insightful conversations with the university representatives. Additionally, each institution was given the opportunity to introduce themselves to interested students in presentations, in which they elaborated on their particular study programmes and their unique offers for international students. More than 30 higher education representatives were present in order to introduce their institutions to the young students, some of whom made the effort of travelling to Cairo while others conducted their presentations online, concluding the hybrid format of the Study Information Day. With their participation, they contributed to the success of the event and created a great benefit for the young aspiring scholars which could only barely be replaced by a digital format in the past years.

We appreciate the availability of the Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule as a location for this important event. The DAAD Regional Office Cairo is furthermore deeply grateful for the contributions of the various institutions which provided their support in the form of presentations and counselling. The participating institutions were: