King Saud University Initiative 2025/2026 | Fully Funded

The King Saud University Initiative 2025/2026 is open to outstanding PhD candidates from all countries who want to pursue a fully funded doctorate at one of the leading universities in the Middle East. The deadline for this cycle was 15 May 2025 — that cycle is now closed, with decisions expected from the Initiative Steering Committee from late June 2025. Admitted students can start as early as the Fall semester in August 2025 or the Winter semester in January 2026.

The scholarship covers full tuition for up to three years, on-campus housing, comprehensive health insurance at KSU hospitals, relocation support, and a monthly living allowance that totals 54,000 SAR ($14,400) per year. The programme is open to all nationalities across four broad fields: Computer Sciences, Engineering, Basic and Applied Sciences, and Health and Medical Sciences.

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King Saud University Initiative Summary

About the King Saud University Initiative

The King Saud University Initiative is run by the Deanship of Graduate Studies at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. KSU is the largest university in Saudi Arabia, founded in 1957, and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the Arab world. The QS World University Rankings 2025 places KSU in the 221st position globally.

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The initiative is part of KSU’s broader transformation program aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the national development strategy aimed at diversifying the Saudi economy and strengthening the country’s research and innovation capacity. Rather than a standard scholarship call, the initiative is a targeted recruitment effort — KSU is actively seeking exceptional PhD candidates worldwide to build research output in specific priority fields.

Decisions are made by an Initiative Steering Committee, not a standard admissions panel. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a virtual or in-person interview before a final decision is made. Successful candidates who are notified in time can begin as early as the August 2025 Fall semester, with a second entry point in January 2026 for the Winter semester.

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What the Scholarship Covers

The scholarship covers the following for the full duration of your PhD programme, up to three years:

• Full tuition fees for your chosen PhD programme at KSU — paid directly to the university
• A monthly living allowance totalling 54,000 SAR per year ($14,400 at current exchange rates) — this works out to approximately 4,500 SAR ($1,200) per month, paid directly to you
• On-campus housing for the duration of your studies
• Comprehensive health insurance at KSU university hospitals
• Relocation support for students arriving from outside Riyadh
• Part-time work opportunities within the university, which may be available depending on your programme
• Eligibility to work in Saudi Arabia for up to one year after graduation

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One practical note on the living allowance: 4,500 SAR per month in Riyadh covers basic living costs comfortably. Riyadh is generally more affordable than European or North American cities, and on-campus housing reduces your largest monthly expense significantly. Budget carefully if you plan to support dependants, as the scholarship does not explicitly cover family costs.

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King Saud University Initiative 2025/2026 Eligibility Requirements

You must meet all of the following to apply:

• You must hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution
• You must submit official English proficiency test scores — only TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or STEP are accepted. The minimum scores are TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6.0, or STEP 85. When submitting your results, use KSU’s institution code 7498 for TOEFL and 147080 for IELTS
• Applicants who completed their master’s degree at an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand may apply for a waiver of the English proficiency requirement
• You must submit two letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees
• You must submit a CV that includes evidence of recent publications or patents if you have them
• You must submit a statement of purpose outlining your research interests and academic goals
• A GRE General Test score is preferred but not mandatory unless your chosen PhD programme specifically requires it
• You must be available for a virtual or in-person interview if invited by the Steering Committee
• The initiative is open to all nationalities

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Eligible PhD Programmes

The scholarship is available for PhD programmes in the following four broad fields at KSU:

• Computer Sciences
• Engineering
• Basic and Applied Sciences
• Health and Medical Sciences

Each field contains multiple specific PhD programmes with their own additional entry requirements set by the relevant department. Review the full list of eligible programmes and their specific requirements on the official KSU Deanship of Graduate Studies website before applying — general eligibility for the initiative does not guarantee admission to every programme within these fields.

Required Documents

• Completed online application form submitted through the KSU application portal
• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
• English proficiency test results — TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or STEP scores meeting the minimum thresholds, or documentation supporting a waiver request
• Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees

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• CV detailing your academic background, research experience, and publications or patents if applicable
• Statement of purpose — a focused essay on your research interests, your PhD goals, and how your work aligns with KSU’s research priorities
• GRE scores, if required by your chosen PhD programme

One practical warning: your statement of purpose carries significant weight in this application. The Initiative Steering Committee is selecting candidates for research contribution, not just academic grades. Before writing your statement, review KSU’s published research priorities for your chosen field and make your proposal connect directly to work already being done at the university. A generic statement about wanting to advance science will not pass the committee review.

How to Apply for the King Saud University Initiative

1. Go to the official King Saud University Initiative page on the KSU Deanship of Graduate Studies website.
2. Review the available PhD programmes in your field and confirm the specific departmental requirements for your chosen programme.
3. Prepare all required documents — transcripts, English proficiency results, two recommendation letters, CV, and statement of purpose.
4. Register on the KSU application portal and complete the online application form in full.
5. Upload all supporting documents through the portal before the deadline.
6. Monitor your registered email address for any communication from the Steering Committee, including interview invitations or requests for additional documents.

Decisions are made by the Initiative Steering Committee from late June 2025. Successful candidates are notified by email and can begin in August 2025 (Fall semester) or January 2026 (Winter semester).

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Application Deadline

15 May 2025.

The next cycle’s opening date has not been announced. Monitor the official KSU Deanship of Graduate Studies website for the confirmed dates of the next intake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the King Saud University Initiative fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance of 4,500 SAR ($1,200), on-campus housing, health insurance at KSU hospitals, and relocation support. There are no programme costs the scholar is expected to cover. Part-time work opportunities within the university may also be available.

Can Nigerian and African students apply for the KSU Initiative?
Yes. The initiative is open to all nationalities with no country restrictions. You must hold a master’s degree, meet the English proficiency requirements, and apply to a programme within the four eligible fields.

What English proficiency score do I need?
The minimum scores are TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6.0, or STEP 85. Only official scores from these three tests are accepted — no other English language qualifications are considered. If you completed your master’s degree in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, you may apply for a waiver.

Is the GRE required?
The GRE is preferred but not mandatory for most programmes. Some specific PhD programmes within the four eligible fields may require it — check the departmental requirements for your chosen programme on the KSU website before applying.

When will I know if I have been accepted?
The Initiative Steering Committee makes decisions from late June 2025 onwards. Successful candidates are notified by email and can start in August 2025 or January 2026 depending on when they are notified and their programme start date.

Can I work in Saudi Arabia after completing my PhD?
Yes. Scholarship recipients are eligible to work in Saudi Arabia for up to one year after graduation. This is an additional benefit of the initiative beyond the standard PhD programme.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official King Saud University Deanship of Graduate Studies website as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.

Official Application Portal