The KAUST Fellowship at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia covers full tuition and bench fees, a yearly stipend, housing, health insurance and relocation support for admitted MS, MS/PhD and PhD students starting in Fall 2027. The Round 2 application deadline is 3 January 2027. At Youth Works Hub, we read the official KAUST admissions pages on funding, entry requirements, the admission process and the timeline, and gathered what the fellowship includes, who can apply and how to submit your application.
What the KAUST Fellowship Covers
KAUST describes the Fellowship as designed so that you can focus entirely on your studies and research. It includes:
🎓 Full tuition and bench fee coverage, worth up to USD $35,000 per year
💵 A stipend worth USD $20,000 per year for M.S. students and USD $25,000 to $30,000 per year for Ph.D. students, depending on qualifications and academic progress
🏠 Base accommodation: shared accommodation for single students and 2-bed accommodation for married students
⬆️ Housing upgrade: eligible students can request one, subject to an additional fee
🩺 Health insurance for students and eligible dependents living on campus
🧳 Relocation support: visa, relocation and travel costs
In total, KAUST calculates the value of the Fellowship at between $70k and $80k per year, depending on your specific situation.
Good to Know About the Funding
📌 Relocation assistance covers only each student's initial move to KAUST and return home upon graduation
📌 Detailed information about the Fellowship is provided to those offered a place at the University
📌 Some students with external sponsorship or funding may not be eligible for the KAUST Fellowship
Programs and Intake
KAUST admission for Fall 2027 is open to MS, MS/PhD and PhD applicants. The fall semester starts on 29 August 2027.
🎓 Master's entry: a bachelor's degree in a subject relevant to the program, from a recognized higher education institution
🔬 Ph.D. entry: a master's degree in a subject relevant to the program, from a recognized higher education institution
⚠️ Professional master's degrees: KAUST does not regard these as directly equivalent to master's degrees, so declare it in your application if this applies to you
Key Dates for Fall 2027 Admission
These dates are tentative and may change based on application volume.
📂 Round 2 application opens: 28 September 2026
⏳ Round 2 application deadline: 3 January 2027
📬 Round 2 decisions released: 25 February 2027
🎒 Fall semester starts: 29 August 2027
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Minimum Entry Requirements
KAUST looks for exceptional students with impressive academic records and well-defined research passions. Its admissions process takes a holistic view and recognizes that academic scores are not the only measure of potential: motivation and potential impact in the scientific community count too.
🎓 A relevant bachelor's degree (for Master's programs) or master's degree (for Ph.D. programs)
🎂 At least 18 years of age on entry
📊 A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent); typically 90% of admitted applicants have a GPA above 3.3 and 75% have a GPA above 3.5
🗣️ Evidence of English proficiency
🌐 KAUST is a community of over 120 nationalities, and the language of instruction is English
Documents You Need to Submit
📜 Official university transcripts from every higher education institution you attended, showing courses, credits, grades, final grade or award and the grading scale
📄 Curriculum Vitae (CV)
✍️ Statement of purpose
🧑🏫 Contact details of 3 referees
🗣️ Official English language test score (if available)
🛂 A clear, unobscured copy of your passport page showing your picture and personal details (Saudi applicants may provide a national ID card instead)
🔤 All supporting documents, including academic transcripts, must be in English
Transcripts
If you have not yet completed your current degree, you may submit your most recent available academic record, such as a partial transcript, an unofficial transcript, a screenshot from your institution's student records system, or other official evidence of progress. If you receive an offer, you must provide your final official transcript before enrolling. If your transcript is not in English, upload both the original and a certified English translation. All transcripts must include the institution's grading scale.
CV and Statement of Purpose
Your CV should be a full but concise record of your personal details, education, relevant experience and interests. At a minimum it contains your full name as written in your passport or national ID, date of birth, correspondence address, phone and email, the institutions attended after high school with dates, qualifications taken and pending, relevant work experience, research and publications (with abstracts where appropriate), and other skills and interests. KAUST is interested in extra-curricular interests because they show how you will engage socially and culturally on campus.
The statement of purpose is approximately 750 words about your past work, preparation for your intended field of study, relevant background and interests, academic plans and career objectives, and your reasons for applying to the program. Our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter can help you structure it.
Referees
🧑🏫 Provide an academic or professional email address for each of the three referees; personal email addresses are not accepted
🎓 Applicants are normally expected to nominate academic referees, but if your most recent higher education qualification was completed more than three years before you apply, you may nominate professional referees
💬 Referees are asked to describe how they know your work, give comparative statements (for example top 1% of class or best in past five years) and give insight into your research ability
📤 Reference requests are sent automatically as soon as you enter the referee details, so contact your referees first; you do not upload letters yourself
⏱️ KAUST expects all references within seven calendar days of the application deadline
🔧 After submitting, you can add or replace referees, update their details, send reminders and track the status through the admissions portal
English Language Requirements
KAUST accepts the following official academic English tests:
🇬🇧 Academic IELTS: 7 overall, with at least 6.5 in each section (IELTS Online is accepted)
💻 TOEFL iBT: 5 overall, with at least 4.5 in each section (Home Edition is accepted); the KAUST Admissions code is 4107
📝 Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 71 overall, with at least 67 in each section
🎓 Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency: 185 overall, with at least 176 in each section
Scores are valid for two years from the test date, and only official academic results are accepted. Tests administered by an educational institution for admission to that particular institution are not acceptable.
🚫 Not accepted: Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificates, the Duolingo English Test (except for Visiting Student applicants), TOEFL MyBest scores and IELTS One Skill Retake results
✅ Exemptions: no score is needed if you earned a degree through in-person study at an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, or if you previously completed a degree on KAUST's campus in Thuwal; distance learning, satellite campuses, joint programs and branch institutions outside those countries do not qualify
📌 You may submit your application without an English score, but if admitted you must provide results meeting the minimums before enrolment; KAUST strongly encourages including valid scores because admission is highly competitive
🎓 Saudi nationals and Ph.D. students with slightly lower scores (IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6 in each section, TOEFL 4.5 overall with at least 4, PTE Academic 64 overall with at least 61, Cambridge 176 overall with at least 169) may still be admitted on the condition that they take the Academic English Language Communication Course (AELC) in their first semester
GRE and PGAT
Applicants may submit a GRE or a PGAT score. Test scores are not compulsory, but a strong score may enhance your application. Official score reports must be submitted for all standardized examinations, both GRE and PGAT scores are valid for 5 years, and the scores you provide are treated as unofficial and verified during the admissions process.
The 5-Stage Admission Process
1️⃣ Submit your application: log into the application portal and submit before the deadline
2️⃣ Admission review: the Admissions team checks that your documents are in order and contacts you about anything missing
3️⃣ Faculty review committee: your application is evaluated and ranked against others, and the most promising candidates are shortlisted for interviews
4️⃣ Academic interview and/or test: selected candidates receive an invitation to an online interview with KAUST faculty from their subject area, focused on academic background, interests and career goals
5️⃣ Decision: you are notified by email; wait until the round's notification date before asking for updates
If you are accepted, you have a limited time to respond to secure your place, or the decision may be withdrawn. All admission decisions are final and will not be reconsidered, and KAUST cannot provide individual feedback on applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the KAUST Fellowship cover?
It covers full tuition and bench fees (worth up to USD $35,000 per year), a stipend of USD $20,000 per year for M.S. students and USD $25,000 to $30,000 per year for Ph.D. students, base accommodation, health insurance for students and eligible dependents on campus, and relocation support.
What is the deadline for Fall 2027 admission?
The Round 2 application deadline is 3 January 2027, and decisions are released on 25 February 2027.
What GPA do I need?
The minimum permitted GPA is 3.0 on a 4-point scale or equivalent. Typically 90% of admitted applicants have a GPA above 3.3.
Do I need an English test score to apply?
You may submit your application without one, but if admitted you must provide results that meet the minimum requirements before enrolment. Some degrees completed in person in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand are exempt.
Do I need to upload recommendation letters?
No. You enter the contact details of three referees, and they submit their references directly through the admissions system.
Are all students eligible for the Fellowship?
Some students with external sponsorship or funding may not be eligible for the KAUST Fellowship.
Deadline
⏳ 03 January 2027
Link
🔗 How to apply: https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/how-to-apply
