Why Saudi Arabia is expanding scholarship opportunities

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in higher education and research, with universities such as King Saud University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and KAUST gaining global recognition. There are also private universities and government schemes providing scholarships for Saudi and international students, especially in STEM fields.

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1. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) & King Saud University

Most popular for:
Engineering, Petroleum, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science and related degrees.

Coverage

• Scholarships for Saudi nationals can cover:
  • Full tuition
  • Monthly stipend
  • Accommodation and other benefits
• Limited scholarships for selected international students may also be available.

Eligibility

• Excellent high school grades (including A Levels/IB for international curricula).
• Strong performance in Maths and Sciences.
• Meeting university‑specific entrance and English requirements.

How to apply

• Apply directly to the university and follow instructions for any scholarship or sponsored programme.

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2. KAUST (Primarily Postgraduate but Influences Undergraduate Pipelines)

While KAUST is mainly a postgraduate research university, its scholarship ecosystem and partnerships encourage undergraduates in Saudi Arabia to pursue STEM fields and further study. Some undergraduate pipeline and summer programmes may include funding.

For undergraduate students, focus on strong STEM degrees at Saudi universities that can later feed into KAUST’s fully‑funded postgraduate scholarships.

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3. Private Universities & Ministry of Education Scholarships

Most popular for:
Business, IT, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy at private universities such as Alfaisal University, Prince Sultan University, and others.

Coverage

• Partial merit scholarships based on high school grades and admission test scores.
• Some Ministry of Education schemes and professional bodies support specific degrees.

Eligibility

• High academic performance, particularly in Science and Maths for STEM and Health programmes.
• For some schemes, Saudi nationality is required; others may be open to regional/international students.

How to apply

• Apply to the university and then to the relevant scholarship/aid office with transcripts, test scores and supporting documents.

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4. Overseas Scholarship Programmes from Saudi Arabia

Saudi government scholarship programmes have historically funded Saudi students to study abroad in priority disciplines (e.g. through the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme and successors).

For Saudi nationals following IGCSE/A Levels/IB, these can be major funding sources for degrees in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Asia.

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What % of fees do Saudi scholarships cover?

• For Saudi nationals, top schemes can be fully‑funded, covering tuition, stipends and travel.
• For expatriates and international students, partial scholarships and discounts (e.g. 25–75% tuition) are more common.

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Eligibility, competition and timing

• Eligibility: strong academic records, especially in STEM, and satisfaction of any citizenship or residency conditions.
• Competition: intense at leading public universities; slightly more accessible at some private institutions for partial merit awards.
• Timing: scholarship cycles are tied to Saudi academic calendars and Ministry announcements; plan at least 12–18 months ahead.

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How Tutopiya can help

Tutopiya supports students in the Gulf and beyond by:

• Raising performance in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science for competitive Saudi programmes.
• Helping families understand how Saudi scholarships compare with options in Qatar, UAE and abroad.

If you are considering Saudi Arabia, we can help you align subject choices, grades and exam timelines to keep both local and overseas routes open.