Country: Saudi Arabia
University: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Degree: Master’s, MS/PhD, PhD
Deadline: 2027-01-03
The KAUST Scholarship 2027 offers international students the opportunity to pursue graduate-level study at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia with comprehensive financial support through the KAUST Fellowship. For Fall 2027 admission, KAUST is accepting applications for Master of Science (MS), MS/PhD, and PhD programs across a wide range of science, engineering, technology, and interdisciplinary fields. The official Fall 2027 Round 2 application deadline is January 3, 2027, while the Fall semester is scheduled to begin on August 29, 2027. About KAUST King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is a graduate research university located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea. The university focuses strongly on scientific research, advanced technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation. Its academic environment brings together students and researchers from many countries and provides access to specialized laboratories, research facilities, faculty expertise, and research opportunities. KAUST's graduate programs are designed for students who want to develop advanced knowledge and research skills rather than simply complete classroom-based coursework. Students work in an environment where academic study is closely connected with scientific research, laboratory work, computational methods, innovation, and real-world challenges. KAUST Scholarship 2027 The KAUST Scholarship is provided through the university's fellowship system for admitted graduate students. KAUST states that admitted students receive the KAUST Fellowship, subject to applicable conditions and exceptions such as certain external sponsorship or partnership arrangements. There is no separate application for the fellowship. Students apply for admission to an eligible graduate program, and the fellowship is associated with admission rather than requiring a separate scholarship application. For Fall 2027, the university's official admissions timeline lists MS, MS/PhD, and PhD programs as available for the intake. The Round 2 application period opens on September 28, 2026, and the application deadline is January 3, 2027. KAUST lists February 14, 2027 as the decision-release date for this round, while the Fall semester is scheduled to begin on August 29, 2027. The university notes that admission dates are tentative and may change depending on application volume. Financial Support The KAUST Fellowship is designed to provide substantial financial support throughout graduate study. According to the official KAUST funding information, the fellowship includes full tuition and bench-fee coverage, a monthly living allowance, base accommodation, health insurance, and relocation support. KAUST currently describes tuition and bench-fee coverage as being worth up to approximately US$35,000 per year. The university states that the annual stipend is approximately US$20,000 for MS students and US$25,000 to US$30,000 for PhD students, depending on qualifications and academic progress. Base accommodation is included, with the exact housing arrangement depending on student circumstances. Students may request housing upgrades where available, although additional charges can apply. The fellowship also includes health insurance for students and eligible dependents living on campus. Relocation support covers the initial move to KAUST and the return home upon graduation, with visa, relocation, and travel costs covered according to university policies. Students should carefully review the fellowship terms in their offer because specific benefits can vary in cases involving external sponsorships, partnerships, dependent arrangements, or other funding sources. Graduate Programs KAUST offers a broad selection of graduate programs in science, engineering, computing, environmental studies, energy, biological sciences, and related disciplines. For Fall 2027, the official study page lists programs including Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, Applied Physics, Bioengineering, Bioscience, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Marine Science, Material Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Plant Science, Statistics, and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with availability varying by degree level and intake. Applicants should check the official program page before applying because not every program is available for every degree type. Some programs accept MS applicants, some offer MS/PhD routes, and PhD availability can extend across Spring and Fall 2027 depending on the program. Eligibility Requirements KAUST requires applicants to hold an appropriate academic qualification related to the program they are applying for. Applicants seeking admission to a Master's program must have completed a relevant Bachelor's degree from a recognized higher education institution. Applicants seeking PhD admission must generally have a relevant Master's degree from a recognized higher education institution. KAUST notes that professional Master's degrees may not be considered directly equivalent to academic Master's degrees for PhD admission. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry. The minimum permitted GPA is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. KAUST explains that admission is competitive and that the majority of admitted applicants have substantially higher academic results, with the university reporting that typically 90% of admitted applicants have a GPA above 3.3 and 75% have a GPA above 3.5 or equivalent. Academic performance is not the only factor considered. KAUST states that its admissions process takes a holistic approach and considers academic achievements together with motivation, research potential, personal qualities, and potential impact in the scientific community. English Language Requirement Because English is the language of instruction at KAUST, applicants are required to provide evidence of English proficiency unless they qualify for one of the university's specified exemptions. KAUST currently accepts IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency. The current minimum IELTS requirement is 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in every individual section. For TOEFL iBT, applicants must meet the minimum overall and individual-section scores specified by KAUST. PTE Academic requires 71 overall with at least 67 in each individual section, while Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency requires 185 overall with at least 176 in each individual section. KAUST does not accept an ordinary Medium of Instruction certificate as evidence of English proficiency. Duolingo is not accepted for regular graduate admission. Certain applicants may qualify for an exemption if they completed an in-person degree at an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, subject to KAUST's stated conditions. Application Materials Applicants are required to prepare several documents before submitting their application. These include official university transcripts, a curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose, referee information, an English-language test score where applicable, and a clear copy of the passport identification page for international applicants. Academic records must cover every higher education institution previously attended. If documents are not in English, applicants must provide the original documentation together with a certified English translation. Transcripts should include information such as courses taken, credits, grades, final award information, and the grading scale. The CV should provide a concise but complete record of the applicant's education, relevant experience, research interests, publications, skills, and other appropriate information. KAUST specifically asks applicants to include their full name, date of birth, contact details, educational history, qualifications, relevant experience, research and publications where applicable, and other skills and interests. The statement of purpose should be approximately 750 words. It should explain the applicant's preparation for the intended field, previous work or experience, relevant interests, academic plans, career objectives, and reasons for applying to the selected KAUST program. Applicants must provide contact information for three referees. KAUST normally expects academic referees, although professional referees may be appropriate when an applicant completed their most recent higher education qualification more than three years before applying. Recommendation requests are sent directly to referees through the admissions system. Research Environment One of the defining characteristics of KAUST is its research-focused academic environment. Students have access to advanced facilities and work with faculty members whose research spans areas such as artificial intelligence, computational science, energy, water, food, health, environmental science, materials, and Red Sea research. Students should examine faculty research profiles and research groups before applying. Selecting a program that closely matches an applicant's academic preparation and research interests can help the applicant present a more focused application and statement of purpose. Application Process The KAUST application process begins with selecting an appropriate graduate program. Applicants should review the academic program, faculty research interests, admission requirements, and available intake before starting the application. After identifying the appropriate program, applicants should review the official admissions timeline and prepare the required documentation. The application is completed through the KAUST online admissions system. Applicants create an account, enter their information, upload the required documents, provide referee details, and submit the completed application before the applicable deadline. KAUST states that applicants can submit the application without an English test score, but admitted students must provide a qualifying score before enrollment. Nevertheless, the university encourages applicants to include valid English-test results at the application stage because the admissions process is competitive. Once an application is submitted, KAUST reviews the application materials. Applications may proceed to faculty review, and shortlisted applicants can be invited for an academic interview and/or test. The university then communicates the final admissions decision by email. Fall 2027 Admission Timeline For Fall 2027, KAUST lists the Round 2 application opening date as September 28, 2026. The Round 2 deadline is January 3, 2027. The university currently lists February 14, 2027 as the date for decisions from this round, followed by the Fall 2027 semester start on August 29, 2027. Applicants should not wait until the final day to submit their applications. References and supporting documentation require coordination, and KAUST advises applicants to ensure that required documents are submitted so that the application can be processed without unnecessary delays. Application Fee KAUST's official FAQ states that there is no cost to submit an application to study at KAUST. This means applicants do not need to pay an application fee when submitting the regular graduate admissions application. Applicants should still consider their own costs for English-language examinations, document translations, certification, and other personal application-related expenses. KAUST specifically states that English-test costs are not covered by the fellowship. Important Funding Note Although the KAUST Fellowship is described by the university as fully funded for admitted graduate students, applicants should understand that fellowship benefits are connected to admission and applicable funding conditions. Students receiving substantive external sponsorship may not receive the KAUST Fellowship in addition to that external sponsorship. Dependent-related housing and medical arrangements can also involve additional charges depending on the circumstances. For this reason, applicants should rely on the official KAUST offer and fellowship information for the exact terms applicable to their individual admission. Why Applicants Consider KAUST KAUST combines graduate education with a strong research orientation and provides students with access to advanced academic and scientific infrastructure. The university's international environment allows students from different countries and academic backgrounds to work together on scientific and technological challenges. The combination of graduate-level study, research opportunities, financial support, housing, health coverage, and relocation assistance makes KAUST an important option for students seeking funded graduate education in Saudi Arabia. Applicants interested in artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, biological sciences, environmental research, energy, materials, and related areas can explore the programs available for Fall 2027. Applicants should carefully compare their academic background with the selected program's requirements before submitting an application. A strong application should clearly connect the applicant's previous academic preparation, research interests, proposed field of study, career objectives, and reasons for choosing KAUST. The KAUST Scholarship 2027 is therefore an admission-based graduate funding opportunity rather than a separate scholarship form. Students interested in the opportunity should select an eligible graduate program, prepare the required documents, meet the academic and English-language requirements, provide their referees' information, and submit the application through the official KAUST admissions portal before the January 3, 2027 Fall 2027 Round 2 deadline.
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