In this article, you will learn how higher education works in Saudi Arabia — how much education costs and what scholarships are available, and whether it is possible to immigrate and find a job as a foreigner.
Higher education in Saudi Arabia is a promising direction in the Middle East. The government invests heavily in education, which has resulted in high quality teaching and generous scholarships. Studying in Saudi Arabia is often considered to be conditionally free. Scholarships and grants with full tuition coverage are available for all students, even at the country’s leading universities. At the same time, many of them have rather low admission requirements. What is more, you can study in English.
In this article, you will learn how higher education works in Saudi Arabia — how much education costs and what scholarships are available, and whether it is possible to immigrate and find a job as a foreigner.
Language. Arabic is the official language of instruction in Saudi Arabia. However, universities in major cities offer about 200 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in English[3].
Visa. For a long time, Saudi Arabia was closed to foreigners. Despite this, the process of obtaining a student visa is not much different from that of other countries. In the visa application, you must indicate the contact number of the future university and attach an official invitation letter from the institution.
Education cost. Saudi Arabia is an expensive country, which also applies to the cost of education. On average, a year of bachelor's studies in Saudi Arabia costs 14,000-20,000 USD, and a master's program costs 15,500 USD per year.
Scholarships and grants. You can study for free in Saudi Arabia. Both the government and universities allocate annual grants for both citizens and foreigners. Scholarships cover tuition, accommodation, study materials, medical care, and flights back home during the summer holidays.
Entry requirements.In Saudi Arabia, you can apply for a bachelor's degree after finishing the 11th grade. The required GPA is 3.75 out of 5.0. There is an age limit for applicants of undergraduate programs — 18-25 years old.To study, you need to confirm your language level: for English-language programs, you must present IELTS or TOEFL results, while Arabic programs require the results of the national exam. You can take this exam at university centers and language schools in the country.
Legalization. Before submitting documents to a university in Saudi Arabia, documents on previous education must be legalized at the Saudi Embassy.
Separation by gender. Some universities are gender segregated, being available only to men or women. At coeducational institutions, classes are still held in separate classes, with distinct campuses existing for women. Moreover, not all universities in Saudi Arabia allow women to enroll without the permission of a guardian — an adult male citizen of the country.
Advantages
Active educational development. As part of the Saudi development program, Vision 2030, the government is investing in the country’s education. In addition to generous scholarships, new vocational education institutions are being opened, with such programs being supported at state universities[4]. In addition, universities in Saudi Arabia maintain partnerships with leading Western universities, including MIT, Stanford University, Cambridge, and The National University of Singapore[5].
Generous scholarships and grants. Many scholarships in Saudi Arabia fully cover the cost of tuition and living. Some university grants also cover study materials, medical care, and tickets home for foreigners[6]. In addition, students receive monthly and one-time payments for excellent studies.
English-language programs. At the leading universities in Saudi Arabia, you can pursue bachelor's, master's, or PhD programs in English. They also support academic mobility programs.
Center for Islamic studies. Saudi Arabia is the center of the Islamic world. It is here that the sacred cities for Muslims — Mecca and Medina — are located. There are unique artifacts of the culture and history of the Islamic world in the country’s museums and libraries. This makes Saudi Arabia an ideal destination if you want to connect your life with Islamic studies or the study of Arab countries.
Disadvantages
Strict laws.The political structure of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia law. Men and women do not mix in public places, women wear burqas, and Muslims pray five times a day. Students should carefully study the rules of the country, as well as the special conditions and requirements of the chosen university.
Language. Most programs in Saudi Arabia are taught in Arabic. Mastering it is no easy task. Texts of this language are read from right to left, the same letter can have four spellings, and the alphabet consists only of consonants. Learning Arabic, especially for academic purposes, can take years.
Climate. The climate of Saudi Arabia is sharply continental and very hot. Temperatures in the summer reach 54 °C, and sandstorms are not uncommon. It will be difficult to study in the country if you are not accustomed to such weather.
Accommodation. Most universities in Saudi Arabia do not offer student residences. If accommodation is not included in the scholarship, you will have to rent housing on your own.
Specify the exact prices and requirements on the university websites.
Additional expenses
Expenses
Avg. monthly cost
Groceries
71 USD
Accommodation
275-400 USD
Public transportation
53 USD
Internet (60 Mbit)
70 USD
How to enroll to a Saudi university
You can enroll at a university in Saudi Arabia after completing the 11th grade. There is no single service for the application process. You can email documents directly to the selected university. Before that, they need to be translated into Arabic and certified by a notary.
Briefly about the enrollment process at Saudi universities
Choose a suitable program and university
Complete an enrollment application and submit the necessary documents to the selected university
Apply for a scholarship
Legalize your previous documents on education at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia
After enrolling at a university and receiving scholarship approval, submit documents for a visa.
Some universities in Saudi Arabia require applicants to complete a preparatory year. During this year, students study English, segments of their future profession, and also master academic skills — writing essays, conducting research, critical thinking, and so forth.
Many universities in Saudi Arabia require you to pass a single GAT exam upon admission, which is needed to assess the knowledge and analytical abilities of applicants. It consists of two parts: oral and written.
The admission process and list of required documents may differ depending on the university. Some universities in Saudi Arabia have special requirements. For example, Medina Islamic University only admits Muslim applicants. Specify the requirements and exact list of documents on the official website of the selected university.
You also need to confirm your language proficiency in Arabic or English. For English-language programs, you need to provide TOEFL or IELTS results, while Arabic programs require you to pass a national language proficiency test at a university center or language school.
If you decide to study in Arabic, but do not have a strong enough command of the language, you can take language courses at the university. These programs last 1-2 years. Upon completion, you will not only be able to write, read, and fluently speak Arabic, but also pass the entrance exams and receive a language proficiency certificate.
At many Saudi universities, women can study only with the consent of a guardian — a father, husband, brother, etc. Medina is completely closed to women. Saudi Arabia has all-female universities. Some government institutions, such as King Abdulaziz University, allow women to enroll on their own. However, the admissions committee will still require the passport data of an adult male guardian.
Documents for admission
Passport
Birth certificate
Medical certificate
Completed application form (found on the university website)
Previous documents on education (certificate or diploma with all attachments)
Arabic or English language proficiency certificate
Some universities may require you to pass an entrance exam and interview, as well as provide other documents — for example, a passport and iqama (residence permit) of the guardian for women.
All documents, except for the passport, must be translated into Arabic and notarized.
As part of Vision 2030, the government of Saudi Arabia is developing vocational education in the country — funding new technical colleges and supporting vocational education programs at private universities[4].
Vocational education in Saudi Arabia is available through colleges. They offer programs in economics (accounting, sales, secretarial business), agriculture, and industry. The curriculum combines general education subjects with professional practice. The programs last 3 years. For admission, it is necessary to provide a certificate of secondary education.
There are also programs of higher professional education and applied bachelor's degrees in the fields of mechanical engineering, health care, agriculture, pedagogy, accounting, and so on. Most of them are designed for 2-3 years, requiring you to collect 60-90 credits. At the end of the program, the student receives an associate’s degree. After that, you can enter the 2nd year of a bachelor's program in a related field and receive a degree in applied sciences.
Higher professional education is available to foreigners and can be obtained at public and private universities, branches of Western universities, and educational centers.
Bachelor's programs in Saudi Arabia
A bachelor's degree is the first stage of higher education in Saudi Arabia. Programs last 3-4 years, for which you need to collect 128-136 credits. For medical specialties, programs last 6 years and require 223 credits. Upon completion, the student receives a doctorate in medicine.
The credit system in Saudi Arabia is similar to that of the United States: a credit hour consists of 1 hour of classroom work and 2 hours of student self-study (homework, reports, abstracts, essays). The curriculum also includes seminars and colloquia, laboratory and research projects, term paper writing, internships, and field trips for applied specialties.
There is an age limit at Saudi universities — only applicants from 18 to 25 years old can enroll in a bachelor's program. Teaching takes place in Arabic and English. Almost every university in Saudi Arabia has English-language programs — for example, in the humanities, economics and management, medicine and pharmaceuticals, engineering, and more.
Upon graduation, students take a final exam and receive a diploma. They are awarded a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree.
Due to the rapid economic development of the country, technical specialties, as well as the economics and management fields, are especially developed in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, economic education in the country has its own characteristics — for example, you can study "Islamic banking" at Dar Al-Hekma College. In Islam, usury — receiving interest on a loan — is prohibited; in the Islamic banking program, students learn how to organize financial activities in accordance with Sharia law.
Saudi Arabia is also a center for theological education and Islamic studies. The Islamic University of Medina and Al Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University specialize in the study of Islamic law, the foundations of religion, and the Arabic language. The library at the University of Medina contains unique artifacts of Islamic culture — including about 3500 manuscripts more than a thousand years old[7].
The cost of bachelor’s programs is from 3,700 USD to 17,500 USD per year. Check the current prices and conditions of scholarship programs on the official university websites.
Documents for admission
Passport
Birth certificate
Medical certificate
Completed application form (found on the university website)
Previous documents on education (certificate or diploma with all attachments) with at least a GPA of at least 3.75
Arabic or English language proficiency certificate: TOEFL (PBT — 380) or IELTS (3.5)
Some universities may require applicants to pass a unified entrance exam and an interview. Women may need to provide the passport information and residence permit of a guardian.
All documents, except for the passport, must be translated into Arabic and notarized.
Master’s programs in Saudi Arabia
The next stage of education in Saudi Arabia is a master's degree. Programs last 2 years and consist of 36 credit modules. They include lectures and seminars, term paper writing, midterm tests, and a final exam. Teaching takes place in Arabic and English. Compared to bachelor's programs, there are many more programs offered in English.
For admission to master's programs in Saudi Arabia, you must have a GPA above 3.0 and pass a standardized GAT test (Graduate Aptitude Test) with a minimum of 65 points. Some programs require GRE results. Minimum language exam scores for English-language programs: TOEFL — 400 or IELTS — 4.5.
Final certification in Saudi Arabia takes place in two ways. You can write and defend a master's thesis, or do an internship and conduct a practical case study from the company's activities. Upon graduation, students receive a master's degree.
Most universities have June and January deadlines. Some, however, do not set deadlines. Check on the official university websites.
The cost of a master’s program averages at 15,500 USD per year.
MBAs in Saudi Arabia
MBA programs are intended for entrepreneurs and managers aiming to work in business. Programs last from 2 to 5 years. The curriculum consists of real case studies, research, and development of models for real businesses.
All documents, except for the passport, must be translated into Arabic and notarized.
The list of required documents and entrance examinations may vary depending on the university. Check the official university website for the exact requirements.
The final stage of academic education in Saudi Arabia is a PhD. Programs last from 2 to 5 years depending on the field of study.
As a rule, doctoral studies are conducted in Arabic. However, you can find programs in English at the leading public and private universities in Saudi Arabia.
Acceptance of applications usually begins at the beginning of the fall semester one year before the start of the program, and ends in January of the following year.
At the end of the program, students take a state exam and defend a research dissertation. Graduates are awarded with a PhD degree.
Doctoral studies in Saudi Arabia cost an average of 16,200 USD per year, with some programs reaching up to 20,000 USD per year.
Documents for admission
Completed application form
Bachelor’s or master’s degree (GPA of at least 4.0)
Arabic or English language proficiency certificate: TOEFL (PBT — 500) or IELTS (6.0)
Passport
Medical certificate
Legalization certificate of educational documents
All documents, except for the passport, must be translated into Arabic and notarized.
Academic career
In Saudi Arabia, academic careers are divided into three levels.
First, a graduate student becomes a Teaching Assistant or lecturer. For this position, it is enough to have a master's degree with an exceptional GPA. An assistant can conduct lectures, but may not evaluate student work.
The next step is that of an Associate Professor. To reach this position, you must receive a PhD and work as an assistant for 4 years. The university rector appoints a candidate for the position on the basis of faculty and academic council recommendations. After 4 years of work, an associate professor can become a Professor.
Academic careers require effort and extensive work. Therefore, representatives of this profession are valued in Saudi Arabia. The average salary of a professor is 7,000 USD per month[8]. Depending on the situation, the amount of experience and previous salaries may affect this rate.
Scholarships and grants
Scholarships for studies at a Saudi university are provided by the government and private universities. As such, education in the country can be obtained for free or with a large discount.
There are three types of funding:
Full scholarship — tuition coverage and other student expenses
Partial Scholarship — may cover tuition only or accommodation and tuition
In addition, students in Saudi Arabia receive coupons for discounted meals at university canteens and a monthly stipend of 224-266 USD. Sometimes, an allowance of 453 USD/month is allocated upon arrival so that the student can settle into the environment. For excellent grades in previous studies, you can receive up to 266 USD at a time.
Students in Saudi Arabia can receive funding by becoming a teaching assistant — the position covers the cost of tuition, living expenses, and monthly payments. In return, the student must teach and conduct research at the university.
Conditions for obtaining funding, as well as the amount of the scholarship, depend on the specific university. You can find the exact requirements on the official websites of universities and the Saudi Ministry of Education.
A student visa to Saudi Arabia does not grant permission to work.
However, you can do internships while studying in the country, which are often paid. For example, Aramco University organizes internships for international students in engineering, law, medicine, and business. Students with at least a 2.5 GPA can apply. Admission is conducted on a competitive basis. The internship includes practice at a company, a monthly stipend, accommodation on campus, travel expenses, and medical insurance.
Degrees obtained at Saudi universities are recognized all over the world. Upon completion, you will be able to find a job in many countries.
The Saudi labor market has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of 2021, the unemployment rate in the country was 6%[10]. For comparison, the rate in the neighboring Arab Emirates was 5%[11], in Israel — 4%[12], and in Europe as a whole — 6.5%[13].
Students can find an employer in Saudi Arabia only upon receiving a master's degree. The chances of finding a job in Saudi Arabia are quite low, especially if you do not speak Arabic and are not a citizen of the country. Saudi Arabia has a list of prohibited jobs for foreigners. Among these are drivers, policemen, secretaries, catering workers, along with managerial and leadership positions in various fields[14]. When applying for a job in Saudi Arabia, you need to pay a "tax on the poor", which compensates for the loss of a position by a citizen of the country.
About 13 million foreigners live in Saudi Arabia[15]. Almost all of them are from neighboring countries and perform the functions of laborers. Foreigners note that it is very difficult to get a qualified job in Saudi Arabia.
However, technical professions are highly valued in Saudi Arabia: data analysis, digital marketing, engineering, personnel management, and project management[16].
Opportunities to stay and immigration
Foreigners can work in Saudi Arabia only if they have an iqama (residence permit) and a work permit. Moreover, a foreign worker needs a sponsor: a citizen of the country or a Saudi company. The employer issues an invitation to the employee, which is then submitted to the embassy along with other documents to obtain an iqama. The application processing time is 3-7 business days. The cost is 60-150 USD.
Saudi Arabia has strict citizenship laws. You can get it by birthright, through marriage, or after 10 years of residence in the country — 5 of which must be permanent residence. Moreover, applicants must fill out a form. Points are awarded for each question — education, religious affiliation, knowledge of the language. The request is considered on an individual basis by the king.
You have more chances to obtain citizenship if your profession is in the following list: doctors and nurses, clergymen, scientists, programmers and engineers.
After several years of residence with an iqama, a foreigner can obtain permanent residence. To do this, you need to confirm Arabic proficiency and pass exams on the laws and traditions of the country. After 10 years of residence in the country, you can apply for citizenship. Dual citizenship is prohibited.
Required documents for citizenship:
Passport and photo
Сonfirmation of 10 years of residence in the country
Non-conviction certificate
Medical certificate
Family documents
Proof of income and place of residence
Confirmation of Arabic proficiency in Arabic and results of law examinations
Recommendations from local religious institutions
All documents must be in Arabic. Term of consideration — 6-12 months.
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