
The Faculty of Science at Cairo University is the oldest and most prestigious faculty of science in Egypt and one of the foremost in the entire Middle East and Africa. Established in 1925 as part of the Egyptian University (later renamed King Fuad I University, then Cairo University in 1954), it has been a cornerstone of scientific education and research in the Arab world for nearly a century.
The faculty was originally founded with four core departments — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology — mirroring the great European science faculties of the time. Today it has grown to encompass 12 specialized scientific departments covering every major discipline of the natural and applied sciences, from Astronomy and Meteorology to Biophysics and Biotechnology.
With over 300 faculty members, including more than 120 full professors, the Faculty of Science is home to some of Egypt's most distinguished scientists and researchers. Many of its alumni have gone on to become ministers, university presidents, Nobel Prize nominees, and internationally recognized scholars. The faculty has produced over 80,000 graduates since its founding.
The campus spans a significant portion of the historic Cairo University grounds in Giza, overlooking the Nile and the Great Pyramids. Its facilities include more than 150 teaching and research laboratories, a central scientific library housing over 100,000 volumes and periodicals, a natural history museum, a botanical garden, and several specialized research centers.
The Faculty of Science grants Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees, as well as postgraduate Diplomas, Master of Science (M.Sc.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Its programs are accredited by the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE), and the faculty maintains active partnerships with leading universities across Europe, Asia, and North America.
The Faculty of Science has 12 specialized departments covering all branches of natural and applied sciences
One of the founding departments (est. 1925), covering pure and applied mathematics, statistics, computer science, and operations research. Known for its strong tradition in algebra and analysis.
Explore DepartmentA founding department offering programs in solid-state physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, theoretical physics, electronics, and materials science. Equipped with advanced spectroscopy and X-ray labs.
Explore DepartmentA founding department with specializations in organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and industrial chemistry. Home to state-of-the-art NMR, mass spectrometry, and chromatography facilities.
Explore DepartmentStudies animal biology including systematics, ecology, physiology, parasitology, and marine biology. Operates the faculty's Natural History Museum with extensive specimen collections.
Explore DepartmentCovers plant sciences, mycology, algology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Manages the faculty's Botanical Garden and Herbarium with thousands of preserved specimens.
Explore DepartmentSpecializes in mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, structural geology, geophysics, and hydrogeology. Plays a key role in Egypt's mineral exploration and groundwater studies.
Explore DepartmentOne of the few departments in the Arab world dedicated to astronomy, space science, and atmospheric physics. Operates an observatory and conducts climate and weather research.
Explore DepartmentStudies insect biology, taxonomy, pest management, medical and veterinary entomology. Maintains one of the largest insect collections in the Middle East with over 50,000 specimens.
Explore DepartmentAn interdisciplinary department combining physics and biology at the molecular and cellular level. Research areas include radiation biophysics, medical physics, and molecular modeling.
Explore DepartmentFocuses on genetic engineering, molecular biotechnology, bioinformatics, and industrial biotechnology. One of the newest departments, established to meet the growing demand for biotech specialists.
Explore DepartmentSpecializes in seismology, gravity and magnetic surveys, well logging, and environmental geophysics. Contributes significantly to Egypt's oil exploration and earthquake monitoring efforts.
Explore DepartmentStudies the chemical processes within living organisms, including enzymology, protein chemistry, clinical biochemistry, and nutritional biochemistry. Strong links with medical research institutions.
Explore Department