The Central Bank of Egypt said last week that it’s rolling out a first-of-its-kind bachelor’s program in banking sciences in partnership with the Higher Education Ministry and the Supreme Council of Universities. The degree — to be offered by selected universities and institutes to high school graduates — aims to arm students with specialist knowledge, practical skills, and ethical foundations to succeed in an industry being reshaped by rapid digital transformation and mounting economic pressures.

The program is the product of a strategic tie-up between the CBE, the Higher Education Ministry, and the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI). The partnership blends academic know-how with real-world banking expertise to deliver a curriculum tailored to the sector’s evolving needs, ensuring graduates are up to speed with global industry trends and ready to meet future challenges. CBE Governor Hassan Abdalla called the move a strategic, long-term investment in the sector’s future, saying it will help build a pipeline of highly qualified bankers and support economic growth.

The program will launch in the 2025-2026 academic year at faculties of commerce in several universities — including Ain Shams University, Cairo University, Alexandria University, Helwan University, and Galala University — with plans for a broader rollout over the following years. The move follows the Supreme Council of Universities’ approval in May 2025 of a unified curriculum for the degree, which will be taught in English and follow a credit-hour system.

Courses will cover financial inclusion, digital banking and fintech fundamentals, risk management, advanced banking regulations, sustainable banking, and ESG standards, Abdalla said. Students will get intensive training and practical case study work in cooperation with Egyptian banks, ensuring graduates leave with both academic credentials and on-the-ground experience. They will also graduate with accredited professional certificates alongside their bachelor’s degree to boost their employability, Supreme Council of Universities Secretary-General Mostafa Refaat said.

The program responds to shifting labor market needs and aligns with the state’s higher education strategy, Higher Education Minister Ayman Ashour said. It is designed to train young people in the skills most in demand in financial services and banking.

Unlike existing commerce degrees, the new banking sciences program will feature weekly in-bank training and a full year of practical work before graduation. The curriculum adds AI to core subjects like fintech and financial inclusion, and will be taught using innovative, interdisciplinary methods. Students will also get financial support to pursue global professional credentials such as the CFA, alongside modules on ethics and sustainable finance — areas often overlooked in traditional programs.

The program will be taught in English and follow a credit-hour system to ensure its curriculum meets international benchmarks, Supreme Council of Universities Secretary-General Mostafa Refaat said. EBI Executive Director Abdel Aziz Nosseir added that it will blend theory and practice, with courses delivered by experienced banking professionals alongside top faculty members from participating universities.

Through the EBI, the CBE already operates training programs and fixed centers at Nahda University, Deraya University, Alexandria University, and Cairo University, and has signed 14 agreements with other universities nationwide to provide student training.

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