The head of Egypt's Al-Azhar University, the world's highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, has ordered disciplinary probe with a female student after a video of her hugging a male colleague on campus sparked controversy in the conservative Muslim country, local media reported.

A short video showing the first-year student hugging a young man after he got down on one knee to present her a bouquet of flowers went viral online earlier this week.

The woman studies Arabic language at Al-Azhar University but the video later appeared to have been taken at Al-Masnoura University in Nile Delta, where her male colleague studies.

University head Mohamed Al-Mahrasawy ordered the woman be referred to a "disciplinary council" on Thursday and said her action constitutes a "complete deviation from Al-Azhar, community and university values," Akhbar El-Youm news website reported.

A similar measure was taken against the young man on Wednesday by Al-Mansoura University.

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country where the conservative society often shuns public display of affection.