University Housing (Single-Sex)
Al-Azhar provides student housing, which, in keeping with the University's model, is single-sex, with separate men's and women's accommodation. Places for international students can be limited.
Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
The medical faculty of the world's foremost Sunni Islamic university (Al-Azhar, founded 970 CE), in Nasr City, Cairo. A respected, English-taught medical school with separate faculties for men and women, a distinctive Islamic institution that suits a specific kind of applicant. Read this honest guide before applying.
5000+ Students trust us
Egypt
Country
Nasr City, Cairo
City
~6 Years
Course duration
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
- Study programme:MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery), taught in English. The University is debating Arabising medical teaching
- Language:English at present; some Arabic is useful on the wards, and an Islamic-studies/Arabic background is expected in this environment
- Duration:About 6 years including internship (~5 years study + 1-year internship)
- University type:Public Islamic university faculty (Al-Azhar University); gender-segregated, separate men's and women's faculties
- Tuition fees:Broadly ~₹5.8–6.7 lakh per year (about US$6,000–7,000) is typical for Egyptian public faculties
- Entrance examination:Selective admission; a qualifying NEET-UG score is required for Indian students; eligibility for non-Al-Azhar-certificate / secular applicants is set by the University
- Application deadline:The international intake window is published on the official University site; apply early
- Recognition:Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; NAQAAE-accredited; QS-ranked university (modest band); FMGE pathway for India
A felucca sailing boat on the Nile with the Cairo Tower behind, Cairo city context, not the Nasr City medical campus
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Recognition & Prestige
Rankings & Recognition
Al-Azhar University carries immense religious and historical prestige as the world's foremost Sunni Islamic university, with origins in 970 CE. Its Faculty of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and accredited by NAQAAE in Egypt. As a modern research university, however, Al-Azhar's global academic ranking is modest, so its prestige is best understood honestly: historic and religious eminence, and a respected but mid-lower-ranked medical school.
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
NAQAAE
Accredited by Egypt's quality-assurance authority
QS ~1001–1200
QS World University Rankings band (whole university)
The Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and accredited by NAQAAE in Egypt. Indian students can qualify to practise in India through the National Medical Commission screening/exit examination, subject to meeting the NMC's conditions and to being eligible for admission in the first place. The NMC does not approve individual foreign universities, and no medical school is 'WHO approved'.
Complete Information About Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
Get complete information about studying MBBS at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine, including who it suits, fees, the admission process and recognition for Indian students.
Success stories
Student Success Stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
MBBS at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine: Key Highlights
Al-Azhar offers a respected, English-taught medical education within the world's foremost Islamic university, in Cairo. These are its real strengths, alongside the honest trade-offs that make it a specific, not a general, choice.
Part of a Historic Islamic University
An Islamic Learning Environment
Separate Faculties for Men and Women
English-Taught (for now)
Teaching Hospitals in Cairo
Recognised for Licensing
Choose Honestly
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission Process for MBBS
Admission to the Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine is selective and has a distinctive, Muslim-oriented ethos, with the Al-Azhar secondary-certificate route central for many students. Because of this, eligibility is the first step for an Indian applicant. Indian students must also have a qualifying NEET-UG score. The University publishes its admission process on its official site.
Admission Timeline
- 1Eligibility FirstCheck Whether You Can Apply
The University sets whether, and on what terms, it admits Indian applicants to medicine (its ethos is Muslim-oriented and built around the Al-Azhar certificate route), so eligibility comes before anything else.
- 2Class 12 & NEETQualify Class 12 and NEET-UG
Applicants must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with strong marks, and Indian applicants must have a qualifying NEET-UG score, which is also required for later Indian licensing.
- 3Medium & FacultyEnglish/Arabic and Men's/Women's Faculty
Teaching is currently in English (Arabising is under debate), and you apply to the correct single-sex faculty (men's or women's).
- 4Apply to Al-AzharSubmit the Application
Apply through the official international-admissions route with academic and personal documents; admission is selective.
- 5Offer & Eligibility CertificateAdmission Letter and NMC Certificate
Successful applicants receive an admission/enrolment letter, and Indian students obtain the NMC Eligibility Certificate now expected before starting an MBBS abroad.
- 6Visa & EnrolmentEgyptian Visa and Enrolment
Students apply for the Egyptian student visa and pay tuition, then enrol at the start of the academic year.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
Applicants must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. The general requirement is a minimum of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology taken together (with the standard relaxation to 40% for SC/ST/OBC and other reserved categories), in line with the National Medical Commission's eligibility norms for studying MBBS abroad. Note that Al-Azhar expects a high school score of about 75%+ and, importantly, has a Muslim-oriented admissions ethos and Al-Azhar-certificate route.
Subjects:
PhysicsChemistryBiologyEnglish
Age Requirement
Applicants must have completed, or will complete, 17 years of age on or before 31 December of the year of admission, in line with the National Medical Commission's rules for MBBS.
- NEET-UG qualification is mandatoryRequired for Indian applicants and by the NMC for later FMGE and Indian practice
Requirements
Indian applicants need Class 12 with PCB, a qualifying NEET-UG score and NEET certificate, an NMC Eligibility Certificate, a valid passport and supporting documents, plus eligibility to apply to Al-Azhar in the first place (documents may need attestation).
Eligibility & Faculty
Eligibility to apply (Al-Azhar's ethos is Muslim-oriented), the medium of instruction for your intake, and the correct single-sex faculty (men's or women's).
NEET & Strong Academics
A qualifying NEET-UG score is required for Indian applicants, along with a strong Class 12 record (Al-Azhar may expect ~75%+).
Admissions Test
Admission is primarily on academic record, the NEET requirement for Indian students and the University's own eligibility rules. Any additional test, interview or Arabic/Islamic-studies assessment for international applicants is set by the University.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step 0: Eligibility | Al-Azhar sets whether, and on what terms, it admits Indian (and non-Muslim / secular-stream) applicants to medicine |
| Application route | Official international-admissions route; correct single-sex faculty (men's or women's) |
| Admissions basis | Academic record (strong Class 12; ~75%+) plus the University's own eligibility rules |
| Medium | English currently (Arabising under debate) |
| India-side requirement | NEET-UG qualification and NMC Eligibility Certificate, for later FMGE licensing in India |
Required Documents
Indian applicants typically provide the following documents for admission and the Egyptian student visa:
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard/certificate and NMC Eligibility Certificate
- Valid passport (with sufficient validity)
- Passport-size photographs and a birth certificate
- Admission/enrolment letter, medical fitness certificate and Egyptian visa documents; documents may need attestation or apostille, plus any Al-Azhar-specific eligibility documents
- + More
Admission Guidance & Eligibility Check
Get help with eligibility for Al-Azhar and the complete document checklist from our experts.
Programme Structure
MBBS Course Structure at Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar's MBBS is currently taught in English, moving from basic sciences to clinical study in Al-Azhar's teaching hospitals, followed by an internship, within an Islamic university environment.
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery) Course
Total Duration:
About 6 Years including internship (~5 years study + 1-year internship)
Degree:
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), the Egyptian MBBS-equivalent qualification from Al-Azhar University
Course Phases at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
Years 1–2
Basic Medical Sciences
The pre-clinical foundation years, currently taught in English (with an Islamic-studies component in the Al-Azhar environment), covering the core basic medical sciences:
AnatomyPhysiologyBiochemistryHistologyMicrobiologyFoundational studiesYears 3–4
Para-clinical & Clinical Subjects
The para-clinical and early clinical years, introducing disease mechanisms and clinical subjects with training in Al-Azhar's teaching hospitals:
PathologyPharmacologyForensic MedicineInternal MedicineSurgeryYear 5
Senior Clinical Subjects
Senior clinical study across the major specialties, with increasing hands-on hospital training under supervision:
Obstetrics & GynaecologyPaediatricsPsychiatryCommunity MedicineSurgical specialtiesMedical specialtiesYear 6
Internship (Housemanship)
The internship phase completing the MBBS in Al-Azhar's teaching hospitals:
Rotational clinical internship across the major departments
Clinical Training & Internship
Clinical training takes place in Al-Azhar's university and teaching hospitals in Cairo. For Indian students, a further internship in India is required for Indian registration (see the FMGE & NExT section). An indicative pattern is:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 3–5 | Clinical training in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Psychiatry and the specialties in Al-Azhar's teaching hospitals (single-sex faculty setting) |
| Year 6 | The internship (housemanship) phase completing the MBBS |
| Back in India | Indian graduates clear the FMGE and complete the required internship in India before registering with the NMC or a State Medical Council |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Faculty & Leadership
Faculty
Teaching is delivered by the men's and women's medical faculties and Al-Azhar's teaching hospitals, within the world's foremost Islamic university.
Academic Expertise
Part of Al-Azhar University (origins 970 CE)
Separate men's and women's medical faculties
English-taught MBBS (Arabising under debate)
Teaching hospitals in Cairo
NAQAAE-accredited and WDOMS-listed
Student Support & Mentorship
An Islamic learning environment
Single-sex faculties
Guidance for Indian students on FMGE
A specific fit: eligibility comes first
About University
History Information
The skyline and minarets of Islamic Cairo, where Al-Azhar's 970 CE origins lie, heritage context, not the Nasr City medical campus
Origins in 970 CE
A Modern University from 1961
Separate Medical Faculties in Nasr City
A Global Islamic Faculty Today
Get all information about Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine in our free brochure
Read on to find out whether you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine.
Role in medicine
Role in medical education
Anatomy Department corridor inside the Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine, with bilingual Arabic and English signage
A Medical Faculty for the Muslim World
Training Doctors in an Islamic Setting
Recognised, English-Taught (for now)
Get all information about Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine in our free brochure
Read on to find out whether you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine.
Cost of living
Living Cost in Cairo
Cairo is a large, comparatively affordable capital city. Here is an approximate monthly breakdown for a student, separate from tuition.
Monthly Living Cost
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (hostel/rental) | ₹9,500 – ₹20,000 |
| Food & Groceries | ₹8,600 – ₹15,000 |
| Transport & Personal | ₹2,600 – ₹5,200 |
| Utilities & Extras | ₹3,000 – ₹6,000 |
Get free MBBS guide
Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
₹23,000 – ₹46,000
Housing
Accommodation
International students at Al-Azhar live in University housing or private rentals in Cairo; note that Al-Azhar's housing, like its faculties, is single-sex.
University Housing (Single-Sex)
Private Apartments
Furnished Homes
A Muslim-Majority Community
Indian & Halal Food
A Historic Capital City
Moderate Costs
Arrival Support
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Indian, Halal and Vegetarian Food in Cairo
Cairo is a large city where halal food is standard and Indian and vegetarian food is available, alongside Egyptian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
As a large Muslim-majority city, Cairo has halal food as standard, especially fitting in the strongly Islamic Al-Azhar environment.
Cairo has Indian and international restaurants and eateries, so Indian students can find familiar food.
Egyptian cuisine is rich in vegetarian-friendly dishes: koshari, ful, ta'ameya (falafel), breads, salads and vegetables, so vegetarian students eat well and affordably.
Supermarkets, local markets and some Indian and international grocery stores stock produce, spices and Indian items, so students can cook their own food.
University housing and rented apartments typically have kitchen facilities, an economical option for students who prefer to cook their own vegetarian or home-style meals.
Location
How to Reach Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
Address
Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Medicine, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt (the men's and women's faculties are at separate addresses in Nasr City)
Nearest Airport
Cairo International Airport (CAI), the main gateway, is close to Nasr City. Indian students typically fly one-stop via a European or Gulf hub. Egypt is not sanctioned, so flights and banking are normal; Indian students need an Egyptian student visa. Egypt is on Eastern European Time, about 3.5 hours behind Indian time
Local Transport
Cairo has a metro, buses and taxis or ride-hailing; Nasr City is a large district of eastern Cairo well connected to the airport and the city, so students can travel easily to the faculties and teaching hospitals
Your Roadmap to Success
Career Pathways After MBBS at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
The MBBS from the Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, supporting licensing pathways in India, the Gulf and other countries, subject to each authority's requirements.
Indian graduates can appear for the Indian screening examination (currently the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), complete the required internship and register with the National Medical Commission, provided they qualified NEET before starting and meet the NMC's licentiate conditions.
A recognised MBBS from Al-Azhar is well regarded across the Gulf and Muslim-majority countries, supporting licensing pathways there, each with its own requirements.
Graduates may pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE for the United States, or the GMC's routes for the UK; eligibility depends on the school's listings and the applicant's exams.
After qualifying, graduates can pursue postgraduate specialisation in Egypt, in India (through NExT and the PG entrance route), or in other countries.
A recognised degree from Al-Azhar, within its global Islamic network, gives graduates pathways to build clinical careers in their home country, the Gulf and internationally.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
FMGE & NExT Details
An Indian graduate of the Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine who wants to practise in India follows the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC): qualifying NEET before starting, completing a course and internship that meet the NMC's conditions, clearing the NMC screening examination (currently the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), completing the required internship in India and registering with the medical council. The NMC does not approve individual foreign universities; it sets conditions, and the Al-Azhar MBBS structure and medium should be checked against them.
Step 1
NEET Before You Start
An Indian student must have qualified NEET-UG before beginning the course abroad to be eligible later for Indian licensing. A qualifying NEET score is required, and an NMC Eligibility Certificate is now expected before starting.
Step 2
Meet the FMGL 2021 Conditions
The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 require the course and internship to meet the NMC's minimum duration (about 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship), completed in the same institution, taught in English (the medium matters, given Al-Azhar's Arabising debate) with a degree that entitles the holder to practise in Egypt. Al-Azhar's MBBS runs roughly five years plus one.
Step 3
Clear the FMGE / NExT and Register
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination for foreign medical graduates, currently the FMGE, which India is replacing with the National Exit Test (NExT), then complete the required internship in India and register with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council. FMGE pass rates for foreign graduates are generally low, so students should prepare seriously.
Student Life Style
Student life at Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine
Being a medical student at Al-Azhar is a mix of demanding study within a historic Islamic university, single-sex campus life, and living in Cairo, one of the great cities of the Arab world.
An ancient Egyptian heritage site in Upper Egypt: travel context for students in Egypt, not the campus
Academics
A painted ancient Egyptian papyrus from the Book of the Dead on museum display, Egyptian heritage context, not the campus
Life in Cairo (Single-Sex Campus)
Challenges and Growth
Social Life
Overall Experience
Fees & Financial
Fees & Financial Planning
Al-Azhar is an affordable option like other Egyptian public faculties, so realistic financial planning matters; banking and payment from India are straightforward as Egypt is not sanctioned.
International tuition at Egyptian public medical faculties is broadly ₹5.8–6.7 lakh per year (about US$6,000–7,000), so with Cairo living costs a realistic all-in is roughly ₹45–55 lakh across the course: affordable, and far below Western medical degrees.
- ~₹5.8–6.7 lakh per year (about US$6,000–7,000) typical for Egyptian public faculties
- Cairo living costs about ₹23,000–₹46,000 per month
- Roughly ₹45–55 lakh all-in across the course
- Al-Azhar sets its own international fee schedule
- Straightforward payment from India (Egypt is not sanctioned)
Al-Azhar historically offers scholarships to students from Muslim-majority countries as part of its global Islamic mission; eligibility is specific.
Indian students can often fund the course through savings or an education loan; the modest total cost makes loans easier to service than for high-fee destinations. We can guide families on documentation for loans and the Egyptian visa.
Compare
Compare Colleges
Compare the Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine vs AIIMS New Delhi
| University | Al-Azhar University Faculty of MedicineCairo, Egypt | AIIMS New DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Public Islamic university faculty (gender-segregated) | Government institute of national importance |
| Medium | English at present (Arabising under debate); some Arabic useful | English |
| Course Duration | ~6 years (MBBS; ~5+1 structure) | 5.5 years including internship (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹5.8–6.7 lakh (about US$6,000–7,000); ~₹45–55 lakh all-in | Nominal (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Admission | NEET-qualified plus eligibility to apply (Muslim-oriented ethos); selective | NEET-UG (extremely high rank) |
| Recognition | WDOMS-listed; NAQAAE; India via FMGE | NMC-recognised |
| World Ranking | QS ~#1001–1200 (modest); immense religious and historical prestige | India's top-ranked medical institute (NIRF #1) |
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Our blog
Medical Education Insights
Articles that turn complex MBBS-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Short, honest answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying MBBS at the Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine.
Not straightforwardly. Al-Azhar is an Islamic university with a Muslim-oriented admissions ethos, built around the Al-Azhar secondary-certificate route and drawing students especially from Muslim-majority countries. Whether, and on what terms, it admits Indian applicants (and specifically non-Muslim or secular-stream applicants) to medicine is set by the University. Eligibility is the first hurdle.
No. Al-Azhar runs separate Faculties of Medicine for men and for women, so students study in a single-sex environment (the campus photo in this guide is the women's faculty). This is a defining feature to know before applying.
Currently English. However, Al-Azhar University is actively debating Arabising (switching to Arabic) medical teaching, so the medium for future intakes may change. Some Arabic is useful for the wards regardless.
The MBBS is about five years of study plus a one-year internship, roughly six years in total. International tuition at Egyptian public faculties is broadly ₹5.8–6.7 lakh per year (about US$6,000–7,000), or roughly ₹45–55 lakh all-in with living costs.
The Faculty is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and accredited by NAQAAE in Egypt. Indian students can qualify to practise in India by clearing the NMC screening examination (FMGE, transitioning to NExT), provided they qualified NEET before starting, their programme meets the NMC's conditions (including the English-medium and duration requirements), and they were eligible to enrol in the first place.
Yes. A qualifying NEET-UG score is required for Indian applicants, and NEET is mandatory for any Indian student who wants to study MBBS abroad and to sit the FMGE to practise in India.
They are very different. Cairo University, Ain Shams and Alexandria are mainstream, co-educational, English-taught Egyptian medical faculties open to a broad range of international students. Al-Azhar is the medical faculty of an Islamic university, gender-segregated, with a Muslim-oriented ethos and an Arabising debate. For most Indian aspirants, the mainstream faculties are the more natural choice; Al-Azhar suits a specific applicant.
It is a genuine fit for a practising Muslim student who values studying medicine within the world's foremost Islamic university, is comfortable in a single-sex, Islamic environment, has (or is willing to build) an Arabic and Islamic-studies background, and meets its eligibility terms. For students who do not fit that profile, other Egyptian or abroad options are usually better.
Egypt is a normal, accessible study destination and is not under the sanctions that affect Russia, so flights and paying tuition from India are straightforward. Indian students need an Egyptian student visa; Cairo International Airport is the main gateway, close to Nasr City.
Potentially, yes: if you qualified NEET before starting, your programme meets the NMC's FMGL-2021 conditions (English medium, the required duration and internship at the same institution, and a degree that permits practice in Egypt), and you clear the FMGE and complete an internship in India. The Arabising debate means the English medium matters for FMGL compliance.
Campus photographs supplied by the client (two genuine Al-Azhar views: the Women's Faculty of Medicine entrance with Arabic signage and the faculty emblem, and the Anatomy Department interior with bilingual signage). City and heritage images courtesy of Unsplash: the Islamic Cairo skyline, photo by Omar Elsharawy; the Nile with the Cairo Tower, photo by Hatem Ramadan; the Giza Pyramids, photos by Simon and Rosario Janza; ancient Egyptian temples in Upper Egypt, photo by Calin Stan; and a painted Egyptian papyrus (Book of the Dead) in a museum, photo by Lea Kobal. Only the two client campus photos show the Al-Azhar Faculty of Medicine in Nasr City, Cairo; the Islamic Cairo image is genuine heritage context but not the medical campus, and the remaining images are Cairo city, Giza and Upper Egypt or museum scenery.