King Abdullah University Scholarship 2027 in Saudi Arabia (Fully Funded)

About the scholarship

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, is a graduate-only research university, and its scholarship model is unusually simple: there is no scholarship competition to enter. The KAUST Fellowship is awarded automatically to every student admitted to an MS, MS/PhD or PhD programme, which means the real contest is the admission decision itself. Apply well, and the funding follows.

The package is comprehensive. Beyond full tuition and bench fees, it pays a living allowance (about USD 20,000 a year for MS students and USD 25,000–30,000 a year for PhD students), provides free on-campus housing, covers medical and dental care, and adds relocation support and an annual return flight home. Scholarship guides value the whole package at roughly USD 70,000–80,000 a year. Because the fellowship is automatic, the application effort goes entirely into the admission file — transcripts, test scores, references and a statement of purpose.

Eligibility

• Open to all nationalities.
• For MS entry: a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM field.
• For PhD entry: a Master’s degree, or a Bachelor’s degree for the MS/PhD track.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• English proficiency of IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79–81, with exemptions where applicable.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old at entry.
• The GRE is not required but is encouraged.

Benefits

• Full tuition and bench fees (up to about USD 35,000 a year).
• A living allowance of about USD 20,000 a year (MS) or USD 25,000–30,000 a year (PhD).
• Free on-campus housing.
• Medical and dental cover.
• Relocation support and an annual return flight home.
• No separate scholarship application — the fellowship is automatic for admitted students.

Documents to prepare

• Transcripts from previous degrees.
• An up-to-date CV.
• A statement of purpose.
• Contact details for three referees.
• An English test score (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79–81), unless exempt.
• A passport or national ID.
• GRE scores, if you have them — encouraged but not required.

How to apply

1. Check the official KAUST admissions pages (admissions.kaust.edu.sa) for the programme and entry requirements of your chosen degree.
2. Prepare your transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and three referee contacts, and take the English test if you need one.
3. Submit your application through the official KAUST admissions portal.
4. Remember there is no separate scholarship form — the KAUST Fellowship is considered automatically with your admission application.
5. Apply by 3 January 2027 for Fall 2027 entry; the semester begins on 29 August 2027.

FAQs

Verified 25 Oct 2026: admissions.kaust.edu.sa (official KAUST admissions portal) — MS, MS/PhD and PhD entry, fellowship automatic for admitted students; Opportunities Nexus, EduTimes Africa, Opportunities for Youth — Fall 2027 deadline 3 January 2027 (Spring 2027 PhD-only deadline 27 September 2026 passed), fellowship value breakdown (tuition and bench fees up to about USD 35,000 a year, living allowance about USD 20,000 a year MS / USD 25,000–30,000 a year PhD, housing, medical and dental cover, relocation, annual flight home), GPA 3.0/4.0, IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 79–81, documents list, semester begins 29 August 2027.