KAUST is not a normal university. It is a hyper-funded, graduate-only STEM research institute built on the coast of the Red Sea, possessing an endowment larger than most countries' GDPs. It was designed to rival MIT and Caltech, and its financial packages are deliberately engineered to be the most lucrative in the world to attract elite talent.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.5
- Offer Degrees
- Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics
- Seats Available
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 6.5
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Arabic
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- USD 2500/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / Yes
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- Yes
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
The funding is absurd. Every single admitted student automatically receives the KAUST Fellowship. This includes full tuition, an annual stipend ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 USD (completely tax-free), free accommodation in a luxury campus townhome or apartment, comprehensive medical and dental insurance, and relocation support.
You will live like an affluent professional while doing your master's or PhD.
Application Process
You apply for admission to your chosen program. There is no separate scholarship application. However, the process is incredibly intense.
If you pass the initial screening, you will undergo a rigorous academic interview with a faculty panel. If you pass that, you will undergo a secondary 'personal' interview with admissions officers to ensure you can handle living in an isolated, secure compound in Saudi Arabia.
How to Win This Scholarship
Because the financial package is so massive, KAUST only wants students who are fanatical about research. Your statement of purpose must read like a polished grant proposal. You must comb through the faculty directory, identify specific professors, and relentlessly articulate how your background will accelerate their lab's output.
Having prior publications, even as a co-author during your undergrad, is highly recommended.
Benefits After Completing Study
You graduate with zero debt and a massive savings account, along with access to elite global corporate recruiters who routinely visit KAUST.
Understand what you are signing up for. KAUST is a self-contained, highly westernized compound in Thuwal, far from major cities. While the compound itself operates without the strict social restrictions of traditional Saudi Arabia, it is still physically isolated.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source