Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Cairo University has approved a broader financial assistance program aimed at helping students from economically vulnerable families remain enrolled and continue their studies without interruption.
Under the decision, eligible students who are unable to pay their tuition fees will receive full coverage of their academic expenses, provided they meet the requirements established under the university’s social solidarity regulations. The support package will also cover accommodation and meal fees for qualified students living in university housing for a six-month period extending from December through May.
The measure is part of the university’s efforts to strengthen its social support system and reduce the financial pressure placed on students and their families. University officials said the program is intended to ensure that economic hardship does not force students to suspend their education or abandon their university careers.
Cairo University President Mohamed Sami Abdel Sadek said social solidarity represents a fundamental part of the institution’s responsibility toward its students. He emphasized that no eligible student should face academic difficulties simply because of an inability to pay tuition or because a family is struggling to meet basic financial obligations.
“The university does not want economic or social circumstances to become a reason for a deserving student to fall behind or be deprived of completing their education,” Abdel Sadek said.
The president explained that the university is working to expand the reach of its assistance programs while also improving the mechanisms used to identify students most in need. Applications will be assessed through established criteria, social investigations and supporting documentation, with the aim of ensuring that available resources are directed to students facing the most serious challenges.
The approved assistance will cover the full tuition costs of eligible regular-enrollment students. For students who qualify for support and live in university residences, the program will additionally cover housing and meals for six months. University officials said the arrangement would provide greater stability during the academic year and ease the burden on families already dealing with rising living costs.
Students may qualify for assistance in a range of social and humanitarian circumstances. These include orphans, students whose families receive benefits through Egypt’s Social Security Pension or the Takaful and Karama programs, and students affected by chronic illness involving themselves or a family member who provides financial support.
The eligibility categories also include cases involving parental abandonment, divorce and households with limited incomes. Each application will be considered according to the requirements and financial thresholds established for the relevant category. The university’s social solidarity administration will be responsible for examining the applications and determining whether the applicants meet the applicable conditions.
Ahmed Ragab, Cairo University’s vice president for education and student affairs, said the university had established clear procedures for students seeking assistance. Applicants must submit their requests personally to the social solidarity administration and specify the type of support they need. They must also provide official documents demonstrating their social and economic circumstances.
Following submission, university officials will conduct a social assessment and review the documents before making a decision under the regulations governing the university’s social solidarity fund. The process is intended to balance the need for rapid assistance with the importance of ensuring that financial support reaches students who genuinely qualify.
University officials said the program goes beyond paying tuition fees. It forms part of a wider approach designed to create a stronger support network for students who face economic, family or health-related difficulties. By helping with education, accommodation and meals, the university hopes to allow students to concentrate more fully on their studies and improve their chances of academic success.
Abdel Sadek said the university would continue reviewing and developing its social solidarity programs based on the changing needs of its student population. He added that students who had earned admission to Cairo University should receive every possible form of institutional support necessary to complete their education.
The president has previously emphasized the university’s broader role in supporting students and strengthening its educational and social mission. He was appointed president of Cairo University in 2024 after serving in several academic and administrative positions, including vice president for community service and environmental development.
The latest decision reflects a growing emphasis on student welfare within Egypt’s higher education sector, where universities are seeking ways to protect enrollment and academic continuity amid economic pressure. By covering essential costs for qualifying students, Cairo University aims to reduce the risk that financial hardship will interrupt the education of students who might otherwise be unable to remain at the university.
