Fully Funded Scholarships in Saudi Arabia for International Students (2027)

Saudi Arabia funds two very different tracks for international students: a research-focused fellowship at a single elite university, and a nationwide government scholarship open across dozens of faculties and degree levels. Both are fully funded — tuition, stipend, housing, and health insurance included. Here's each one broken down, followed by a side-by-side comparison.

1. KAUST Fellowship

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is a graduate-only research university on the Red Sea coast, funding MS and PhD study across 17 programmes with no separate scholarship application — admission itself carries the funding.

Students who already have substantial external sponsorship may not receive the fellowship on top of it, so declare any sponsorship to KAUST. To prepare your statement of purpose, use our free SOP Outliner, and since KAUST asks for a high IELTS score, start with a free IELTS Reading practice test and IELTS Writing practice test.

2. King Abdulaziz University (KAU) Scholarship

KAU's fully funded scholarship targets non-Saudi students living outside the Kingdom, without a Saudi residency permit, across Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and diploma levels in over two dozen faculties. Applications go through the Study in Saudi platform.

3. Other Fully Funded Options Through Study in Saudi

KAUST and KAU are not the only routes. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education runs a unified platform called Study in Saudi where non-Saudi students apply to many public universities during windows announced each year. Two examples are worth checking:

• King Saud University (Riyadh): offers external scholarships to applicants living outside the Kingdom. According to its international admissions page, you must not hold another scholarship from a Saudi institution or be enrolled at another university.
• Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (Riyadh): offers external scholarship seats to non-Saudi female students, with applications through Study in Saudi. Its scholarships page lists the benefits and the documents required.

Rules, benefits and dates differ by university and change each cycle, so read each university's current announcement before applying. You can also browse more funded options in our scholarship database and compare destinations in guides such as the Türkiye Bursları scholarship guide and the Stipendium Hungaricum guide for 2027/28.

4. Why Saudi Arabia Is Becoming a Tech & Engineering Study Destination

KAUST ranks 78th worldwide in the QS Engineering & Technology subject rankings for 2026 and 11th in petroleum engineering, and it places in the global top 100 in eight subjects. According to KAUST, it is also first in Saudi Arabia for materials science, chemistry, natural sciences and electrical engineering. Saudi Vision 2030 prioritises science, technology and the digital economy, which is pulling research funding and lab investment into engineering and computer science programmes.

5. Quick Comparison

How to Apply in 2027

KAUST Fellowship (Fall 2027)

1. Check your eligibility. You need a relevant Bachelor's (for MS) or Master's (for PhD) and a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
2. Prepare your documents. Gather transcripts, CV, a statement of purpose of about 750 words, three referees with academic or professional email addresses, a passport copy, and an English test score if you have one.
3. Apply on the KAUST admissions portal before 3 January 2027. Referee requests are sent as soon as you enter their details, so tell your referees first.
4. Wait for the review. The admissions team checks your file, a faculty committee ranks applicants, and shortlisted candidates get an online interview.
5. Receive your decision. Decisions are scheduled for 25 February 2027, and you will have a limited time to accept your offer.

King Abdulaziz University and other Saudi universities

1. Create an account on Study in Saudi and check which programmes are listed as full scholarships.
2. Check the age and language rules for your degree level before you invest time in the application.
3. Upload your documents during the announced application window and keep your application number to track the status.
4. Watch for the 2027/28 announcement. KAU's latest window opened in mid-September, but the next dates are only confirmed when the university publishes them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Saudi Arabia

Official Sources

Dates, funding and entry requirements above come from the official pages below, checked on 26 October 2026. Universities can change dates and rules, so confirm the details before you apply.