AUC Signs MoU with International Partners for Medical Student Preparation

The American University in Cairo (AUC) has announced a new partnership with St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada, expanding opportunities for AUC’s BSc Biology graduates with a premedical track to pursue an international MD program at SGU and its partner institution, Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK. Under the new partnership, qualified AUC graduates may submit a priority application to SGU’s U.S.-accredited School of Medicine. Accepted students can also qualify for a merit-based international student scholarship upon successful entry into SGU’s four-year MD program. The new partnership underscores AUC’s commitment to preparing undergraduates for competitive medical education according to the highest international standards.

Lotfi Gaafar, Dean of the School of Sciences and Engineering at AUC, said: “We are delighted to establish this partnership with St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. This collaboration will open important new pathways for AUC premedical students interested in continuing their medical education and advancing their academic goals.” He added: “By combining AUC’s rigorous liberal arts education with the SGU’s distinguished reputation in medical training, we offer our students a comprehensive pathway that supports both intellectual development and professional preparation.”

Aurelie Lily Phommarack, associate director of international affiliations at St. George’s University, said: “The American University in Cairo is a well-recognized institution in the region, and this partnership reflects our shared interest in supporting students who wish to pursue studies in medicine. We look forward to facilitating an academic pathway that enables eligible AUC students to apply to SGU as they explore their future career options in the medical field. SGU has welcomed students from Egypt for many years, and we are pleased to continue strengthening opportunities for students from the region.”

AUC’s premedical track has been part of the University’s undergraduate offerings for nearly two decades and is designed to prepare students for medical schools outside Egypt. Rooted in AUC’s liberal arts philosophy, the premedical track integrates intensive study in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics with coursework in the behavioral and social sciences. Students also complete writing-intensive courses that strengthen critical thinking and communication skills that are essential for success in medical school and clinical practice.

“This new agreement is the first of its kind that allows our graduates a facilitated way to secure an interview with the Faculty Student Selection Committee at SGU and potentially get accepted into medical school there,” said Ahmed Abdellatif, associate professor of biomedical and neurosciences at AUC’s Nancy Hopkins Department of Biology and coordinator of the University’s premedical track.

Abdellatif underscored that medical schools are placing growing emphasis on applicants with varied academic and extracurricular profiles. “Anyone, regardless of their major, can join if they’re aiming to study medicine after graduation. To be eligible for medical schools abroad, students must complete all the coursework for their major, plus the premedical track,” said Abdellatif. He added that while strong academic performance remains essential, admissions committees also value sustained commitment, meaningful engagement, and exposure to a range of disciplines.

Through structured coursework and exposure to research in areas such as biomedicine, the premedical track provides students with a solid academic foundation while remaining open to diverse academic pathways. As a result, graduates have progressed to competitive residency programs and medical schools abroad. Alumni have similarly credited AUC’s liberal arts curriculum with preparing them for the demands of medical education and clinical practice. “You have to be a good writer and use logical and critical thinking in order to be a good physician, and I believe AUC’s liberal arts education made me very much ready for that in residency,” said Lina Berika ’14, adding, “Knowing the social and psychological background of your patients is critical to providing great care, especially in pediatrics.”

Through its premedical track and strategic international partnerships, AUC continues to set a benchmark for holistic medical preparation in the region, developing physicians who combine scientific excellence with ethical awareness, communication skills and a deep understanding of society.