Study in Saudi Arabia for Free: Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
Saudi Arabia is offering fully and partially funded scholarships to international students as a part of their broader Vision 2030 framework, which focuses on driving the country's economy away from reliance on oil. This includes plans to transform the Kingdom into a global education hub by attracting talent from all around the world and support the growth of local industries.
What is the Saudi Scholarship?
The Saudi scholarship refers to the educational opportunities granted by the Government of Saudi Arabia and other universities in the Kingdom. Both fully-funded and partially-funded scholarships are available under this program.
Scholarships are available from undergraduate level to PhD. On top of the education, accommodation, health insurance, travel allowance, and monthly stipend are included in the scholarship.
Key Types of Saudi Scholarships
There are two main types of scholarships granted in Saudi Arabia.
1) Government Funded Study in Saudi Scholarships
This is a broad program overseen and funded by the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia and includes fully funded scholarships to various public universities in the Kingdom.
Degree Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD
Funding: Full tuition coverage, accommodation, health insurance, monthly living stipend, and travel support(mostly annual free return airfare tickets).
Fields: STEM, humanities, business, arts, IT, Islamic studies, etc.
2) University Specific Scholarships
Some universities in Saudi Arabia offer their own scholarship programs, both fully funded and partially funded. These may have their own rules and eligibility criteria. Below are a few examples.
KAUST(King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) Scholarship
This is a fully-funded scholarship by KAUST, one of the leading, top-tier research universities in Saudi Arabia. It is focused on postgraduate research in fields related to Science and Technology and hence is only available for Master's and PhD programs.
Funding: Fully-funded, research funding, health insurance, housing, travel allowance, etc.
Programs: Master's and Phd
KFUPM(King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals) Scholarship
This is a fully-funded scholarship by KFUPM, a top-ranked research university in the world. As of 2026, it is ranked 67th in the world by the QS university rankings. It offers a wide range of specialized programs primarily focused on engineering, computer science and business.
Funding: Fully funded, research funding, health insurance, on-campus housing, relocation support, etc.
Programs: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
IUM(Islamic University of Madinah) Scholarship
This is a fully-funded scholarship by the Islamic University of Madinah, offering programs primarily on Islamic studies, Arabic Language, and recently specialized technical fields like engineering and computer science. It is to be noted that, unlike the universities mentioned above, IUM only accepts Muslim males, and those who wish to study the Islamic degrees must know the Arabic language.
Funding: Fully funded, research funding, health insurance, on-campus housing, airfare allowance, etc.
Programs: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Key Benefits of the Saudi Scholarship
King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals
1. Fully funded
Most of the Saudi Scholarships for international students are fully funded for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. This includes tuition fees, free textbooks, housing, medical services, transport support, free annual two-way return airfare tickets, and a monthly stipend.
2. Access to World-Class Facilities and Research
Most of the Universities in Saudi Arabia are well-funded as they come under the broader Vision 2030 program. Especially the research universities mentioned above have cutting-edge laboratory facilities, global research collaborations, and world-class tuition opportunities.
3. Safe Environment
Saudi Arabia is generally considered a very safe place to live, outperforming several Western, developed nations in security metrics. Violent crime is very rare, and petty thefts are very uncommon. The strict law enforcement and heavy penalties keep the public safe.
Women, especially, feel safe walking around at night and can move around freely. It is frequently ranked as the safest country among the G20 nations.
4. Cross-Cultural Learning Environment
The scholarship program is granted to international students from around the world, and students have the opportunity to interact with people of various different cultures.
Eligibility Criteria
Below is the list of conditions a student must fulfill to have a chance of obtaining the undergraduate scholarship in Saudi Arabia:
The student should not be below the age of 17 or over the age of 25
The student should have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
The student should not have obtained a scholarship from any other university in the Kingdom
The student should not have been dismissed from an educational institution in the Kingdom
The student should be cleared by the security services in his/her country
For Master's and PhD programs, the age limit moves up to 30 and 35 respectively. On top of that, while specific criteria vary by university, the following are generally expected to obtain a fully-funded scholarship.
Academic Excellence: Strong GPA and academic records
Language Proficiency: TOEFL or IELTS for English-medium studies, and relevant records for Arabic proficiency.
Main Methods to Apply
There are three main methods to apply for the Saudi Scholarship.
1. Through the Study in Saudi Online Portal
This website is directly run by the Kingdom's Ministry of Education, and hence is the primary, centralized methods for international students to apply for scholarship programs.
This is the link to the online portal: https://studyinsaudi.moe.gov.sa/
2. Directly to the University
Some universities in Saudi accept applications directly to their institution.
3. Through the Saudi Embassy
In some cases, the application can be submitted through the Saudi Embassy in a country.
Application Process
Regardless of how the application is made, most of the following documents are asked for: Academic certificates, Transcripts, CV, statement of purpose, recommendation letters, health certificates, security clearance, character certificates, passport, etc.
Particular emphasis is given to recommendation letters, as the Kingdom is careful about the characters of the students it admits.
If the application is accepted, the student will have to participate in an interview before any final decisions are made.
Conclusion
The Saudi Scholarship program offers a great opportunity for students looking to obtain world-class education and cutting-edge research facilities for little financial cost, living in a safe and rich cultural environment, and visiting their loved ones at least once a year. Whether obtained through the government portal or individual universities, these programs continue to enhance Saudi Arabia's role in the global academic stage.