KAUST Fellowship Guide: Full Funding for MS and PhD Students

What the KAUST Fellowship is

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is an international, English-taught graduate research university in Saudi Arabia focused on science, engineering, and technology. KAUST offers a fully funded fellowship to its admitted master's (MS) and doctoral (PhD) students.

The KAUST Fellowship is awarded as part of admission rather than as a separate competition: when you are admitted to a full-time, on-campus MS or PhD programme, the fellowship package is extended to you. In practice this means admission and funding are tied together. KAUST notes that some applicants who already hold external sponsorship or other funding may not be eligible for the KAUST Fellowship, so confirm your situation on the official KAUST source.

What the package covers

According to KAUST, the fellowship for admitted full-time graduate students covers the cost of tuition along with a monthly living stipend, on-campus housing, and medical and dental coverage. Relocation support is also part of the standard package.

The exact stipend amount and the full list of benefits are published by KAUST and can change from year to year, so confirm the current figures and inclusions on the official KAUST website before you rely on any number.

• Full tuition support
• Monthly living stipend (amount published by KAUST — verify the current figure)
• On-campus housing
• Medical and dental coverage
• Relocation support

Who is eligible

KAUST admits students from around the world into its MS and PhD programmes in fields such as computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, bioscience, chemistry, environmental science, and materials science. Eligibility is based on secular academic and research criteria — your prior degree, academic record, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and (where required) standardised test scores such as the GRE, plus English proficiency evidence such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Specific entry requirements differ by programme and division and are updated each admission cycle. Always check the requirements for your chosen programme on the official KAUST admissions pages.

How to apply

There is no separate application for the fellowship. You apply for admission to a KAUST graduate programme through the official online application, and admitted students are extended the fellowship package as part of their offer.

Prepare your transcripts, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, English proficiency results, and any programme-specific materials in advance, and submit by the published deadline. Review the current application steps and deadlines on the KAUST website.

• Apply for admission via the official KAUST online application
• Submit transcripts, statement of purpose, and recommendation letters
• Provide English proficiency evidence (e.g. IELTS or TOEFL) and any required test scores
• Admitted MS/PhD students are extended the fellowship — no separate funding application

Important cautions

Admission to KAUST is competitive and selective, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer or the fellowship. No genuine university scholarship is ever sold — never pay any third party who promises a "guaranteed" KAUST admission or fellowship.

For anything to do with living in Saudi Arabia as a student — the student visa or residence permit, arrival procedures, and on-campus rules — follow the official KAUST guidance and the relevant official Saudi government source, and verify the current requirements before you act. This is general information, not immigration advice.