It’s the Blackboard run-down of unusual (but interesting) university degree courses available in Egypt: Throughout the world, it’s becoming more common to see non-traditional university degree programs crop up. Durham University’s education department offers a module on Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion, and Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University offers modules on cannibalism and civilization. London Metropolitan University’s School of Art has a course called “Forgetting of Air,” looking at how air is understood by the body and mind. Carnegie Mellon University allows students to major in bagpipe performance, Japan’s Kyoto Seika University opened the world’s first faculty for studying manga, and in India’s Assam Agricultural University, you can get a degree in tea husbandry and technology.

Today, we look at some of the weird and wonderful university degrees that can be studied in Egypt. Here’s our round-up:

Physical computing and the Internet of Things B.Sc. (EUE): The European Universities in Egypt (EUE) offers a B.Sc. in physical computing — which involves creating or using hardware devices that interact with the world around them — and one of its key applications, the Internet of Things (IoT). Core modules include introductions to programming, databases and advanced data techniques, and intelligent signal processing. Other modules include numerical math, web development, software design, and computer security.

Virtual reality B.Sc. (EUE): EUE’s B.Sc. in virtual reality prepares students to enter jobs in sectors spanning creative industries, video games, education and training. Along with modules in programming, web development, and the fundamentals of computer science, the degree program offers dedicated modules in areas like 3D graphics and animation, mobile development and interaction design.

Game development B.Sc. (EUE): The EUE games development B.Sc. is not all fun and games, drawing on a range of subject areas, including computer graphics, interaction design and AI. In addition to the standard computer science modules of numerical and discrete math, algorithms and data structures, web development, there’s object-oriented programming, computer security, and graphics programming. The degree program also has modules dedicated to AI, VR, games development, 3D graphics and animation, and interaction design.

Ethical hacking and cybersecurity B.Sc. (The Knowledge Hub): TKH’s B.Sc. in ethical hacking and cybersecurity aims to provide knowledge and skill sets on how to protect computer networks and the commercially-sensitive information stored in them. The course offers training in the theory and practice of cybersecurity, hacking, digital forensics, and the computer science that underpins them all. Foundation-year modules include math, statistics, applied science and engineering, and academic English. Year two offers modules in the law and ethics of cybersecurity and the fundamentals of digital forensics. Year three involves an even deeper dive into web security, applied forensics, platforms and operating systems, and cybersecurity careers. The final year includes modules in security auditing and monitoring, practical cryptography and reverse engineering.

Robotics, control and smart systems (RCSS) M.Sc. of engineering (AUC): This M.Sc. at the American University in Cairo (AUC) is designed to prepare graduate students for careers that use RCSS in industry, education and research. As smart systems become more widely available and robotics becomes more deeply integrated into different industries — whether in the form of drones delivering packages, mechanical arms sorting products on a supply chain, or self-driving cars — the demand for roboticists will reach unprecedented heights. Courses in AUC’s M.Sc. include robotics, kinematics, dynamics and control, mechatronics, intelligent automated manufacturing, computational intelligence, and the design and application of networked control systems.

Motorsports engineering B.Eng. (EUE): In this degree program, students learn strategies to design and develop motor vehicles used for racing, as well as products in the automotive sector. They’re also given a solid grounding in general engineering — including engineering analysis, mechanics, and fluid dynamics. The degree’s foundation year offers courses in basic math, ICT, and design. Year one focuses on engineering science. Year two has courses in instrumentation and interfaces, software development, design and manufacture. Year three has compulsory modules in areas including engineering simulation and advanced computer-aided design, and optional modules in areas including computer-aided tribology.

This degree is highly practical, with designing and manufacturing a race car a key part of the final year requirements. Students travel to major motorsports events like Formula Student and the Shell Eco-Marathon. And they’re strongly encouraged to undertake a 48-week industry placement between their second and third years of study, to gain practical experience, the website notes.

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Your top education stories for the week:

• Canada’s Ryerson University is officially coming to Egypt: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi approved a bill bringing Universities of Canada to Egypt, starting with Ryerson University’s flagship branch in the new administrative capital.
• Ditto University of Texas Medical Branch, which is setting up a campus in Sheikh Zayed or Al Salam City in cooperation with Egyptian medical tech company Teams.
• Applied tech school to get an uplift: The Education Ministry signed a cooperation protocol with Schneider Electric, IECD and the National Investment Charity Education Fund to develop and expand Electro Misr School for applied technologies, reported Masrawy.
• 13 Egyptian scientists were included in Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% of scientists, according to a cabinet statement.
• Call for historians: The Richard Plaschka Grant, a scholarship from Austria Agency for Education and Internationalization providing research posts for post-doc historians in Austria, will soon be accepting applications, the Higher Education Ministry announced.