Scholarships in Saudi Arabia for International Students 2023: Benefits, UG & PG Eligibility Criteria, Application Process and Selection Process

Scholarships in Saudi Arabia

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Syed Yusuf Ashraf

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Scholarships in Saudi Arabia for international students are offered by many reputed colleges in Saudi Arabia for pursuing Bachelor's, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees. The validity of the scholarship ranges from one to a maximum of 4 years, depending on merit. Around 26 universities in Saudi Arabia are offering scholarships for international students funded by the Government of Saudi Arabia. Also, international students seeking admissions in King Abdulaziz University are providing allowance for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in various fields. 22% of the international students receive an allowance at King Abdulaziz University. 

Saudi Arabia Scholarships Benefits for International Students

  • Accommodation
  • Full tuition fee waiver
  • Meals
  • Travel expenses
  • Healthcare
  • Application expenses
  • Textbooks

Highlights

Scholarship TypeMerit-Based
Offered byInstitution
OrganizationN/A
Application Deadline Dec 07 ,2024
Number of ScholarshipsN/A
AmountVariable Amount
RenewabilityNo
International Student EligibleYes
Scholarship Website LinkN/A

Eligibility Criteria

Scholarships in Saudi Arabia: UG Eligibility Criteria

Interested applicants must comply with the following entry requirements, including language proficiency tests and establishing their eligibility using additional documents to secure Saudi Arabia scholarships for undergraduate degree:

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Age limit: Under 25 years
  • Completed secondary high-school from institution outside KSA
  • GPA: 2.75/4.0
  • English language proficiency:

Documents Required:

  • Transcripts
  • Language proficiency certificates
  • Statement of purpose 
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • CV
  • Identity proof
  • Passport
  • Recent photograph
  • Health certificate
  • Police clearance

Undergraduate Scholarships in Saudi Arabia for International Students Specific Requirements:

Scholarship Name Awarded By Eligibility Requirements Scholarship Period Award
King Abdulaziz Scholarship King Abdulaziz University Academic record graded as “very good” | IELTS: 5| TOEFL (pbt): 500 | TOEFL (iBT): 61 | CV| LOR (2) | SOP | Health certificate 1 year Transportation| Arrival allowance| Flight ticket | Emergency grants | Tuition fees waiver | Visa renewal | Accommodation | Meal subsidies | Healthcare | Academic assistance | Grants for shipping textbooks after graduation| Preparation allowance
Scholarships for Indian Students Government of Saudi Arabia Hold a citizenship of India| Age limit: Under 25 years | Consent from Government of India | Female applicants to be accompanied by a guardian | LOR (two) | Medical certificate | Offer letter from the university 1 year Healthcare for applicant and guardian | Preparation allowance (two months) | Textbook allowances (three months) | Meal subsidies| Accommodation for applicant and guardian | Airfare | Cultural and social training

Scholarships in Saudi Arabia for International Students: Graduate Eligibility Criteria

International applicants for Master’s and Ph.D. programs should adhere to the requirements providing the documents essential to acquire the scholarships in Saudi Arabia for International Students and receive their benefits:

Eligibility requirements:

  • Age limit: Master’s- Under 30 years | Ph.D.- Under 35 years
  • Completed UG or PG degree
  • GPA: 2.00/4.00
  • GMAT/GRE (not obligatory)
  • 2-4 years Work experience (MBA)
  • English language proficiency:
    • IELTS - 5.0
    • TOEFL PBT - 500 
    • TOEFL IBT - 45-61

Documents required:

  • Transcripts
  • Language proficiency certificates
  • Statement of purpose
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • Portfolio
  • CV
  • Identity proof
  • Passport
  • Recent photograph
  • Health certificate
  • Police clearance

Postgraduate Scholarships in Saudi Arabia for International Students Specific Requirements:

Scholarship Name Awarded By Eligibility Requirements Scholarship Period Award
King Abdulaziz Scholarship King Abdulaziz University Academic record graded as “very good” | IELTS: 5 | TOEFL PBT: 500 | TOEFL (iBT): 61 | CV| LOR (2) | SOP | Health certificate 1 year Transportation| Arrival allowance| Flight ticket | Emergency grants | Tuition fees waiver | Visa renewal | Accommodation | Meal subsidies | Healthcare | Academic assistance | Grants for shipping textbooks after graduation| Preparation allowance | Thesis printing grants
IDB-KAUST PhD Scholarship Program King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Must hold citizenship of IDB approved nation | Under 35 years | Full-time employment in academic, research or developments | LOR from the institution | Offer letter from KAUST | Research proposal | Entrance exam | 4 Years Full tuition fee waiver | Monthly stipends from $20,000 (INR 16.63 lakh) up to $30,000 (INR 24.95 lakh) | Housing (on-campus) | Resettlement cost | Healthcare (dental and medical)
Scholarships for Indian Students Government of Saudi Arabia Hold a citizenship of India| Age limit: Under 25 years | Consent from Government of India | Female applicants to be accompanied by a guardian | LOR (two) | Medical certificate | Offer letter from the university 1 year Healthcare for applicant and guardian | Preparation allowance (two months) | Textbook allowances (three months) | Meal subsidies| Accommodation for applicant and guardian | Airfare | Cultural and social training

Application Process

Prospective students can access the university application on the official Study in Saudi Arabia portal and apply online. To apply for scholarships in Saudi Arabia, the applicants can register using the online portals of the host institution. The applicants can seek assistance from the Embassy of India or apply to the universities eligible for scholarships awarded by the Government of Saudi Arabia. Applicants must determine their eligibility by providing authentic documents. Some universities may require students to appear for online entrance exams or interviews.

Deadlines: 7 December, 2024


Selection Process

The acceptance of applicants for the scholarships relies on satisfactory performance in the previous institutions attested by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. The applicants can provide National exam scores or equivalent since the scholarships are highly dependent on merit. These are the parameters the applicants will get judged during admission:

  • Thesis, dissertations, or research proposals
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Certificates for participation in extracurricular activities
  • Community service
  • Resume with internship experience

Saudi Arabia is popular for providing undergraduate degrees, with 80% applicants, with the country determined to allot 18.79% of the total budget to higher education. The King Abdulaziz University is offering scholarships for 2000 undergraduate and 160 graduate courses. With 8.74% annual GDP, the country produces vacancies in various industries with 126,878 SAR (INR 28.14 lakh) average salary for freshers annually. Saudi Arabia has nearly 1 lakh international graduates and faculties from 170 countries and is adamant about accommodating diversity.

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