StudyDesk Scholarships
About the VSRP
The Visiting Student Research Program at KAUST places you inside a faculty-led research project for 2–6 months (most projects run 3–6 months), with access to core laboratories and major research and community facilities. With 100+ active projects across STEM fields and flexible start dates, it is one of the few genuinely rolling, fully funded research internships in the world — and the official page confirms it is accepting applications now.
Benefits (official)
- USD $1,000 monthly stipend — paid during the internship.
- Round-trip airfare to and from KAUST.
- On-campus housing: a private bedroom and bathroom (the official wording — not a full apartment).
- Social and cultural activities and access to core laboratories and community facilities.
- No application fee.
Note: some third-party listings claim visa fees and health insurance as VSRP benefits, but these do not appear on the current official benefits page — they are not stated officially and are omitted here. The official page also does not promise tuition coverage or a furnished apartment.
Eligibility
- Degree: 3rd year or above of a bachelor's programme, or currently enrolled in a master's programme, in a STEM field. Students who graduated within one year of the internship start date are also eligible.
- Grades: minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0 (or 14/20 ECTS B equivalent).
- English: strong verbal and written English; official materials recommend around TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.0 (some newer sources quote 6.5 — confirm the current minimum on the official page). You may apply without an English test score; official scores are only required if your application succeeds. Exemptions apply for in-person degrees from the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
- Not eligible: current PhD candidates, current KAUST students, and KAUST alumni.
- Passport: valid for at least 6 months.
Documents required
- Official transcripts in English (current and previous institutions).
- One faculty recommendation — KAUST contacts your recommender through the portal; you do not upload the letter yourself.
- Valid passport; CV and statement of purpose as listed by the project/portal.
How to apply
- Browse the research project listings on vsrp.kaust.edu.sa and choose one project aligned with your background — only one application to KAUST at a time.
- Apply online through the KAUST admissions portal and upload your documents.
- Faculty review: complete applications are reviewed, and shortlisted candidates may be contacted by the faculty member for a Zoom interview about their research background.
- Admissions interview: progressed candidates have a second Zoom interview with the Office of Admissions (about life at KAUST).
- Acceptance: approved candidates receive an email acceptance letter, and a travel advisor assists with relocation.
FAQs
No fixed deadline. The programme runs year-round on a rolling basis with flexible start and end dates, so you can apply any time. Because selection is ongoing, apply well before your preferred start date.
These appear on some third-party listings, but the current official benefits page lists only the stipend, housing, airfare, activities and lab access — so visa and insurance are not stated officially and should not be counted on.
Official KAUST materials describe recommended levels (TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS around 6.0–6.5); newer sources quote IELTS 6.5 overall. You can apply without a test score — official scores are only required if your application succeeds.
No. Current PhD candidates, current KAUST students and KAUST alumni are explicitly not eligible.
A USD $1,000 monthly stipend, plus round-trip airfare and private on-campus housing with bathroom.
No. The official process allows only one application to KAUST at a time — pick the single project that best matches your background.
Verified 18 Oct 2026 against the live official pages at vsrp.kaust.edu.sa (programme page + internships FAQ: $1,000/month stipend, private bedroom and bathroom, round-trip airfare, social/cultural activities, lab access, no application fee; eligibility: 3rd-year+ bachelor’s / master’s in STEM, GPA 3.5/4.0, recommended TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.0; rolling year-round applications; one application at a time; PhD candidates, current KAUST students and alumni ineligible). Visa/insurance benefits claimed by third-party listings are not on the official page and are omitted.
