Is enrollment in a school like the American University in Cairo considered direct enrollment?
No. Although many students directly enroll at AU Cairo, they follow a program at the university designed specifically for international students. NSEP considers students to be directly enrolling in foreign institutions only when they opt to enroll directly as a full time student at a university unaccustomed to accepting foreign students. As this type of enrollment necessitates coordination between the student and the foreign university, NSEP requires letters of support outlining the foreign institutions support of the enrollment and the home institutions willingness to accept such study as a for-credit experience for the student. Enrollment at AU Cairo does not require such letters, as the program is well established and known by most American universities. As an applicant, you would only need to include a one-page description of the program to supplement your application.
