Originally published by Egyptian Streets According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Egypt ranks as one of the top 20 destinations for international students in the world. The North-African country ranked as the second destination in the Arab world and 19th among the top 20 destinations for international students, hosting 49,011 students while the UAE, which was ranked 17th, hosts 54,162 students. There are a plethora of reasons international students travel to Egypt including low living costs, well-established universities and the country's unique blend of Middle Eastern, African and Mediterranean cultures. Living costs are an increasingly important issue for many international students, Egypt's low cost of living and ‘affordability' playing a key role in attracting students. In 2012, Egypt's capital was the only African country ranked in the QS Best Student Cities in the world. While affordability continues to be a major factor in attracting students, there's more to Egypt's appeal including well-respected higher education institutions such as the American University in Cairo and Cairo University. Five of Egypt's most established universities were ranked in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings. For many international students, Egypt is also a chance to explore a culture that is unique to their own and unique to the world. Egypt provides a one of a kind fusion of North-East African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures. Egypt, the home of one of the world's most renowned historic civilisations, has attracted many famous figures such as Jordan's Queen Rania.
