Study in Saudi Arabia 2024 | Comprehensive guide

Do you want to enroll in a Saudi university and do not know where to start? We can say that finding information online is not easy regarding everything related to studying in Saudi Arabia, but do not worry.

For international students who want to study in Saudi Arabia, there are great opportunities available. Foreign students can apply for scholarships provided by the Saudi government or enroll in universities and educational institutions at self-paid costs. This gives students the opportunity to complete their higher education in Saudi Arabia and benefit from the modern and advanced academic climate.

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Study system in Saudi Arabia

The education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the advanced and modern educational systems in the Arab world. It provides students with multiple opportunities to develop their skills and achieve higher education in various specializations.

The education system in Saudi Arabia can be divided into two main types: public education and private education.

Public education in Saudi Arabia includes a large group of public universities and educational institutes. This type of education is usually available at low costs or free of charge to Saudi students, and provides diverse opportunities to study in a variety of disciplines.

It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia hosts students of various Arab nationalities, such as Egyptians, Syrians, Algerians, Moroccans, Iraqis, Lebanese, Yemenis, Tunisians, Libyans, and others. This contributes to the diversity and multiculturalism within the university environment and contributes to enhancing cultural understanding.

In short, the study system in Saudi Arabia offers multiple and comprehensive opportunities for students of all nationalities for higher education, whether through scholarships or enrollment in majors that suit their personal and professional interests and goals.

Education news in Saudi Arabia

The education system in Saudi Arabia includes about 29 public universities and 14 private universities, in addition to a large group of private colleges and institutes. This system also includes more than 33,500 schools spread across most regions of the Kingdom.

After passing secondary school, students can choose to continue their studies at either public or private universities, and they also have options to continue their education at vocational education institutes and colleges. For those who could not complete secondary education, there are opportunities to join evening schools or industrial secondary institutes.

It is worth noting that the Saudi government provides free education at all educational levels, including primary, middle, secondary and university education. The government also provides textbooks and transportation to students, in addition to providing stipends to university students and those who enroll in vocational institutes.

The development of higher education in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has witnessed major transformations in its higher education system over the years, with emphasis placed on improving quality, increasing guidance and expanding educational opportunities. Public and private universities and educational institutes represent an important pivot in achieving development in this field.

Saudi universities are distinguished by providing diverse and advanced educational programs in a variety of specializations, which contributes to providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the labor market. In addition, scientific research represents an important part of higher education in Saudi Arabia, as researchers in various fields are supported.

Despite the positive developments, there are also challenges facing the higher education system, such as improving the quality of education and enhancing academic guidance. These challenges require sustained investments in education and directed efforts towards achieving academic excellence.

Education and curriculum bodies

Education and curriculum bodies in Saudi Arabia play a crucial role in organizing and developing the education system. Here is information about these bodies and curricula in Saudi Arabia:

Ministry of education:

The Ministry of Education is the government body responsible for regulating and developing education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It issues and implements policies and regulations that govern the educational system.
It supervises the various levels of education in the country, from primary education to higher education.

educational subjects:

Education curricula in Saudi Arabia are undergoing continuous development processes to meet the needs and aspirations of society and the labor market.
Curricula are carefully designed to be innovative and compatible with technological advances and economic and social transformations.
The curricula include various subjects such as Arabic, mathematics, science, history, geography, and religious education.

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Measurement and Evaluation Authority:

The Measurement and Evaluation Authority works to develop tests and evaluation standards that help determine students’ level and educational quality.
It evaluates students at different stages of education and provides reports and statistics that reflect the performance of the educational system.

The National Authority for Educational Evaluation and Accreditation:

This body works to evaluate and accredit educational institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It aims to improve the quality of education and ensure the delivery of high-quality education in the country.

Studying in Saudi Arabia remotely

The scope of distance education in Saudi Arabia has been expanded to provide educational opportunities available to students throughout the Kingdom.
Online educational programs have been implemented and technology is used to facilitate access to educational content.

These bodies play a crucial role in achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and developing education as a means to achieve progress and prosperity in society.

Features and advantages of studying in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered an ideal destination for foreign students wishing to study, as it welcomes scholars from all over the world and offers them distinctive opportunities. One of these opportunities is the scholarship programs offered by the Saudi government to non-Saudi foreign students.

Studying in the Kingdom gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic Arab culture and fully acquire Arabic language skills. This is especially important for students coming from outside the Middle East or who are non-Arabic speakers.

In addition, modern Saudi universities offer a wide range of master's study programs in a variety of disciplines such as science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, education, computer science and information technology. Many of these programs are offered in English, and this enhances study opportunities for international students, especially in technical fields such as engineering.

Here is a list of some of the advantages that make studying in Saudi Arabia attractive:

Diversity of majors: Saudi universities offer a variety of academic and professional majors, giving students many options to choose the major that suits them.
Scholarship programs: The Saudi government offers generous scholarship programs for international students, which contributes to reducing the cost of education and encouraging students to study in the Kingdom.
Language and Culture: The opportunity to learn the Arabic language and immerse yourself in authentic Arab culture, which enhances cultural understanding and opens the doors of communication with the Arab world.
Safe environment: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered a safe and stable country, which provides a safe study environment for international students.
Infrastructure development: The Kingdom is investing heavily in improving university and research infrastructure, which enhances the quality of education and research opportunities.
Providing student services: Saudi universities offer a variety of student services, including housing, transportation, and academic support.
Cultural Communication: Opportunities to interact with classmates from around the world can broaden your horizons and increase your understanding of different cultures.
Personal Experience: Living in a new country and gaining a different life experience can be beneficial both personally and professionally.
Job Opportunities: After graduation, the Kingdom offers job opportunities in a variety of industries and sectors.
Cultural Diversity: You live in a culturally and socially diverse society, which contributes to broadening your horizons and understanding of the world.

Disadvantages of studying in Saudi Arabia

Of course, here is a list of some of the negatives you could face when studying in Saudi Arabia:

Language: Interacting in Arabic can be challenging for international students who are not native speakers, and this may affect their understanding of course material and communication with peers and professors.
Social environment: Some international students may have difficulty adapting to local values and social customs in the Kingdom, and this can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation.
Safety: Although the Kingdom is generally considered safe, some students may feel uncomfortable due to cultural restrictions and strict laws in some aspects.
Cultural Diversity: Some universities may be low on cultural diversity, which can lead to a lack of interaction with students from different backgrounds.
Administrative procedures: Some administrative and bureaucratic procedures can be complex and time-consuming, which can be annoying for international students.
Weather: Some areas in the Kingdom are exposed to harsh weather conditions, such as high temperatures in the summer, and this may be a challenge for some students.
Social restrictions: Some social restrictions apply in the Kingdom, such as restrictions on different nationalities meeting and communicating between the sexes in public places.
E-learning: There may be challenges in distance education, especially if there is a heavy reliance on technology and communications.
Performance Evaluation: Some students may find performance evaluations and exams harsh or unfair.
Housing and living costs: Housing and living costs in some major cities in the Kingdom may be high for international students.

Table comparing the pros and cons of studying in Saudi Arabia

Advantages	Negatives
Diversity of specializations	Difficulty communicating in Arabic
Scholarship programs	Social environment
Language and culture	Security
Safe environment	cultural diversity
Infrastructure development	Administrative procedures
Various student services	weather
Cultural communication	Social restrictions
Different personal experience	E-Learning
Find Jobs	Performance evaluation
cultural diversity	Costs and costs of living in some major cities

Study costs in Saudi Arabia

The costs of studying in Saudi Arabia depend on each university individually, which means that there is a large variation in tuition fees from one university to another.

In fact, Saudi Arabia is considered one of the most expensive countries for foreign students. This could be due to the need for accommodation in foreign student complexes, but due to the increase in demand for these complexes, their cost has increased. This makes some students have to look for private apartments.

There are no university halls of residence in Saudi Arabia, so foreign students usually have to rent private accommodation. The cost of housing is often fairly high, ranging between 3500 Saudi riyals and 4500 Saudi riyals per month for a small apartment in the capital, Riyadh. Prices can be lower if the student chooses to live in places far from the city center.

In addition, it is always a good idea for students to take into account an additional daily expense of usually between US$50 and US$100 to cover living costs and personal expenses.

Study costs in Saudi Arabia	The costs of studying in Saudi Arabia depend on each university individually, and vary greatly from one university to another.
study fees	Saudi Arabia is considered one of the high-cost countries for foreign students. This could be due to the need for accommodation in foreign student complexes, which has led to its high cost.
Student accommodation	There are no university housing buildings in Saudi Arabia, so foreign students rely on renting private accommodation. The cost of housing is usually high, ranging between 3500 Saudi riyals and 4500 Saudi riyals per month in the capital, Riyadh.
Daily expenses	It is always a good idea for students to factor in an additional daily expense, usually between $50 and $100, to cover living costs and personal expenses.

The most important specializations of study in Saudi universities

Saudi Arabia is home to a large number of universities and educational institutions that offer a wide range of study majors. Choosing the appropriate major depends on your personal interests and professional goals. However, there are some specializations that are very popular in Saudi Arabia due to the needs of the labor market and economic and social developments. Here are some of the most important specialties in Saudi Arabia:

1- Engineering: includes engineering specializations such as civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. Engineering is one of the most in-demand majors in Saudi Arabia due to infrastructural developments and large infrastructure projects.

2- Computer Science and Information Technology: The technology sector in Saudi Arabia is witnessing rapid growth, making specializations such as computer science and information technology highly in demand.

3- Medicine and health sciences: There are many medical universities and health schools in Saudi Arabia, which offer excellent medical studies programs and various health specializations.

4- Business and Management: You can study in the fields of management and business administration to acquire management and entrepreneurship skills, and this is considered important in the labor market.

5- Media and Communication Sciences: With the increasing demand for media, communication and digital marketing, these specializations are increasingly popular.

6- Social sciences and humanities: It includes specializations such as psychology, social sciences, translation, and languages, which offer various opportunities in fields such as education, research, and social service.

7- Environmental science, technology and engineering: specializations that work to solve environmental and sustainability problems, and play an important role in preserving the environment.

8- Law and Legal Sciences: Law and legal sciences are considered important specializations for work in the fields of judiciary, law, and legal consultation.

Remember that choosing a major depends on your personal interests and career goals, and it is always important to research and consult with an academic advisor or university admissions staff to learn more about available majors and necessary requirements.

Conditions for studying in Saudi Arabia

Conditions for studying in Saudi Arabia vary between levels of education and different educational institutions, whether they are government universities or private universities. Here's an overview of some common conditions:

High School Diploma: You must have a high school diploma or equivalent from another country and have successfully passed the Academic Achievement Test (Tawjihi).
Aptitude test and English language test: You must pass the aptitude and English language tests required by the universities.
Application and admission: You must submit your application for admission to the university and wait for the admission decision.

Conditions for studying in Saudi Arabia for foreign students

To study at other stages, such as secondary education and vocational education, there may be additional conditions such as moving from one stage to another and passing the relevant examinations.

If you are an international student interested in studying in Saudi Arabia, the requirements usually include:

Study visa: You must obtain a valid study visa to enter and study in the Kingdom.
Acceptance from the university: You must apply to the university and receive official acceptance.
Language: In some cases, there may be language requirements, as students must demonstrate their skills in Arabic or English, depending on the study program.
Certificates and Documents: You must submit certified copies of academic certificates and necessary documents with your application.
Health certificate: Sometimes, you may need to undergo a medical examination and obtain a health certificate proving your health readiness to study in Saudi Arabia.

Conditions for studying a master’s degree in Saudi Arabia

Thanks for the clarification. Indeed, for postgraduate studies such as Master's and PhD, the requirements are usually more specific and specialized. Here are additional details about the conditions for graduate studies in Saudi Arabia:

Bachelor’s: You must have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to the program you wish to enroll in.
Admission test: Universities usually require you to pass their own admission test, which can include language, aptitude and subject tests.
Letters of Recommendation: You are usually asked to submit letters of recommendation from people who know you academically and can provide positive recommendations about your abilities and merit.
CV: You may be asked to submit a CV outlining your academic and professional background and your goals for graduate study.

Conditions for studying a doctorate in Saudi Arabia

Master's: A doctorate often requires that you first obtain a master's degree in a related discipline.
Admission Test: You are usually required to pass a university entrance exam and program-specific requirements.
Letters of recommendation and CV: You usually need to submit letters of recommendation and a CV that demonstrate your experience and interest in the field of research.
Research Project: Often, you will need to submit a proposed research project that addresses a specific topic of doctoral study.

Please review the postgraduate requirements for your universities and programs carefully before applying, as these requirements can vary significantly between universities and courses.

As registration in Saudi universities is done through a unified platform, learn more about the registration details here Study platform in Saudi Arabia.

The most important universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

This university is considered one of the most important and prominent Saudi universities. Its headquarters are located in the city of Dhahran. The founding of this university dates back to the year 1965. The language of study at this university is English, and this university is considered the best in the Middle East.

2- King Saud University:

This university is considered one of the most prominent Saudi universities. The founding of this university dates back to the year 1957, and it is considered one of the largest universities in the world in area. It is distinguished by the quality of its teaching and its teaching of a large number of scientific subjects. This university conducts a large number of scientific research annually.

3- King Abdulaziz University:

This university is considered one of the most prominent universities in the Kingdom. This university is located in the city of Jeddah. Its founding dates back to the year 1967. This university was opened as a private university, but King Faisal transformed it into a government university. This university is distinguished by the quality of education and the strength of the certificate it provides.

4- Umm Al-Qura University

A distinguished Saudi university. The history of this university dates back to the year 1975. The headquarters of this university is located in the Al-Ahsa region. This university is distinguished by the presence of a large number of scientific colleges, and it also contains sixteen colleges that teach various specializations. The official website of Umm Al-Qura University.

5- King Faisal University

Saudi public universities with the lowest tuition fees

The cheapest universities in Saudi Arabia	Quarterly fees in dollars
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology	500
Tabouk university	799
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals	800
Bisha University	852
Northern Border University	1300
Taibah University	1865
Islamic University of Medina	2452
Umm Al Qura University	2500
Al-Farabi College	3200
University collected	3923
University of Jeddah	4798
Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz University	5600
Shaqra University	7800
King Faisal University	7996
Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University	7996

The most important study scholarships in Saudi Arabia

1- International training at King Abdullah University

Students from all over the world can apply for the KAUST internship. KAUST will host eligible international BA/BSc (3rd or 4th year) and MS students or those who have completed their BA. get to know me Details of this scholarship

2- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Scholarship

King Fahd University Full Scholarship for Study in Saudi Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) for Master’s and PhD students for outstanding applicants for graduates who demonstrate high potential to conduct original research in the fields of engineering, science and business. Learn about Details of this scholarship

3- Taibah University Scholarship in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

It is the academic seat obtained by a non-Saudi student (male or female) from outside the Kingdom in order to study at the university regularly. get to know me Details of this scholarship .

You can also follow the appropriate date for registration in Saudi universities, moment by moment, through the following special page On university dates.

Scientific research and innovation in Saudi universities

Scientific research and innovation play an important role in developing Saudi universities and enhancing their position on the global stage. Here is information about scientific research and innovation in Saudi universities:

Investing in scientific research:

The Saudi government has paid great attention to promoting scientific research and innovation, and has increased funding for research projects and research programs in universities.
Specialized research centers have been established to support research in a variety of scientific fields.

Research and innovation programmes:

Saudi universities offer programs and initiatives to encourage professors and students to engage in scientific research and develop research projects.
Programs have been implemented to support young researchers and enable them to make important contributions in the field of research.

International participation:

Saudi universities cooperated with international universities and institutions in the field of scientific research and technological development.
International workshops and conferences are organized to exchange knowledge and experiences among researchers.

Innovation and entrepreneurship:

Saudi universities encourage creative thinking and entrepreneurship by establishing innovation centers and supporting entrepreneurial projects.
Partnerships have been formed with the private sector to stimulate innovation and apply research in industry.

Tangible contributions:

Scientific research in Saudi universities has contributed to the development of many fields such as health, technology, and the environment.
Scientific research and articles have been published in international peer-reviewed journals and patents have been registered.

Kingdom Vision 2030:

Research and innovation play a key role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, by developing technological capabilities and stimulating the knowledge economy.

These efforts reflect the dedication and great interest that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attaches to developing the field of scientific research and innovation, and contribute to strengthening its position in the global scientific and economic arena.

Government initiatives to support education and scientific research in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking a group of government initiatives to support education and scientific research as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to achieve sustainable development and intends to diversify the country’s economy and improve the standard of life for citizens. Here are some of these initiatives:

Education program for the future:

This program aims to improve the quality of education, increase educational opportunities, and develop curricula and educational methods.
It includes launching more universities and colleges and providing more scholarships and financial support to students.

Research and development programme:

This program aims to promote scientific research and technological development in various sectors.
It includes funding research projects and encouraging cooperation with the private sector to implement research.

“Preparing National Competencies” Initiative:

This initiative aims to develop the workforce and increase qualification and training to meet the needs of the labor market.
It includes providing vocational training and skills development programs and career guidance support.

“Distance Education” Initiative:

Distance education has been enhanced to provide educational opportunities for all age groups and communities.
The initiative includes online educational platforms and educational content available to everyone.

“Launching Research Places” Initiative:

This initiative aims to build and develop modern, well-equipped research facilities in universities and research institutions.
It seeks to make the Kingdom an attractive destination for international researchers.

“Science and Technology Conferences” Initiative:

This initiative promotes international interaction and knowledge exchange by organizing international scientific and technical conferences and events in the Kingdom.

Scholarship Program for Foreign Students:

The Kingdom grants scholarships to foreign students to study in Saudi universities and colleges in various specializations.

These government initiatives play an important role in promoting scientific research, improving the quality of education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing its position in the international scene in the fields of science, technology, and education.

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Scholarships in Saudi Arabia

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