The KAUST Global Fellowship Program offers early-career researchers something genuinely rare at the postdoctoral stage: a fully funded, independent research position — not a role working under someone else’s grant, but your own three-year project, your own budget, and your own direction, at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.
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For a researcher who’s finished their PhD and isn’t ready to just slot into an existing lab’s agenda, this is a real chance to establish an independent research identity early. The current cycle — Call 2027 — opens for its first application stage on 1 September 2026, closing that stage on 1 October 2026.
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KAUST Global Fellowship Program Summary
| Fellowship Name ⇒ | KAUST Global Fellowship Program |
| Host Country ⇒ | Saudi Arabia |
| Host ⇒ | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) |
| Study Level ⇒ | Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| Fellowship Duration ⇒ | 3-year research project |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Reward ⇒ | $75,000/year stipend, research budget, medical insurance, family housing, schooling support |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Stage 1 (1 September – 1 October 2026 – Concept Note) |
About the KAUST Global Fellowship Program
Founded in 2009, KAUST is recognised as the most acclaimed postgraduate research university in the Middle East, sitting on the eastern shores of the Red Sea. The Global Fellowship Program targets outstanding postdoctoral researchers with genuinely novel research ideas, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and KAUST’s own research priorities across health and wellness, sustainable environment and essential needs, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future.
Fellows work within one of KAUST’s three academic divisions: BESE (Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering), CEMSE (Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Science and Engineering), or PSE (Physical Science and Engineering).
Eligibility Requirements
- Hold a PhD awarded within the last four years — for Call 2027 specifically, your PhD must have been awarded January 2023 or later
- Complete your PhD before the fellowship begins, if not already awarded
- Be willing to relocate to KAUST full-time for a 3-year research project
- Meet Saudi Arabia’s residency requirements
- Applicants of all nationalities are welcome; women are strongly encouraged to apply
- KAUST alumni who spent more than 12 months affiliated with KAUST as an MSc, PhD, or Postdoc student are not eligible to apply
Research proposal requirements:
- Must align with at least one of KAUST’s core research themes
- Must be planned across a full 3 years
- Must demonstrate genuine novelty — a proposal that simply extends your existing PhD work or current projects will not qualify
- Must follow KAUST’s provided budget, format, and templates exactly
How the Two-Stage Application Process Works
This is the part most listings get wrong. You don’t need a confirmed host PI before you apply — the process runs in two distinct stages:
Stage 1 — Concept Note (1 September – 1 October 2026):
- An updated CV, maximum 4 pages, including your publications
- A 3-page concept note outlining your proposed research
- Up to three potential KAUST host PIs you’d like to work with, identified within the application form — not a confirmed commitment from any of them yet
- Two reference letters, able to speak specifically to your potential for independent research
Stage 2 — Faculty Review (October–November 2026): KAUST faculty review eligible Stage 1 applications and indicate genuine interest in hosting a given candidate’s proposed research. Only at this point does a formal host relationship begin forming.
Nominated fellows are typically announced 3 to 4 months after the application deadline, and are expected to join KAUST within 3 to 6 months of that announcement.
Required Documents
- CV, maximum 4 pages, including your publications
- Up to two first-author (or joint-first-author) papers in a peer-reviewed journal
- A 3-page research concept note for Stage 1
- Two reference letters, submitted directly by your referees through KAUST’s application system
- A full research proposal using KAUST’s own template, required at a later stage
- A Host PI support letter, once a host relationship is confirmed
What the KAUST Global Fellowship Program Covers
- $75,000 annual living stipend
- An independent annual research project budget (up to roughly $40,000, based on prior cycles — confirm the exact current figure directly with KAUST)
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Family housing
- Schooling support for up to 3 children (age 4 and above), plus a daycare subsidy
- Relocation and annual travel allowance
- Access to KAUST’s research facilities, equipment, and mentorship from leading faculty
- Career development, including leadership and teaching programmes
Official Application Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the KAUST Global Fellowship Program 2027 application open?
Stage 1 (Concept Note) opens 1 September 2026 and closes 1 October 2026. Stage 2 (Faculty Review) follows from October to November 2026.
Do I need a confirmed KAUST host professor before applying?
No, not at Stage 1. You identify up to three potential host PIs within your initial application, and KAUST faculty then review and indicate hosting interest during Stage 2 — a confirmed host relationship forms afterward, not beforehand.
Can KAUST alumni apply for this fellowship?
No, not if they spent more than 12 months affiliated with KAUST as an MSc, PhD, or Postdoc student — this group is explicitly excluded from eligibility.
Can I reapply if I’m not selected in a previous cycle?
Yes, once, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate genuine Host PI support for your reapplication.
What’s the current PhD eligibility cutoff for the 2027 call?
Your PhD must have been awarded January 2023 or later, within the standard four-year window from the application.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, including the current two-stage application process and Call 2027 dates, were verified directly against KAUST’s official Global Fellowship Program pages and job postings as of August 2026. Confirm current details directly at kgfp.kaust.edu.sa before applying.
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