The King Abdulaziz University scholarship is a fully funded award from KAU in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for international students at four levels: the Arabic language diploma, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD. You pay no tuition. KAU provides housing, a monthly stipend, an allowance when you arrive, a yearly return ticket and health care. You apply through the Saudi Ministry of Education’s Study in Saudi platform, during fixed application windows.
Many sites still say KAU takes applications all year, which is out of date. KAU’s most recent window for non-Saudi applicants ran from 16 September to 6 October 2026 and is now closed. The deadline is 6 October 2027, based on that window. Below are the benefits, the age limits for each level, the documents to get attested now, and the steps on Study in Saudi, so you are ready when the portal reopens.
King Abdulaziz University scholarship at a glance
- Host: King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Levels: Arabic language diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD
- Tuition: None charged to scholarship students
- Support: Housing, monthly stipend, arrival allowance, annual ticket, health care
- Where to apply: Study in Saudi platform (Ministry of Education)
- Last window: 16 September to 6 October 2026 (closed)
- Excluded fields: Medicine and other health sciences are not open to international scholarship applicants
- Next window: 16 September to 6 October 2027 (deadline 6 October 2027)
What the King Abdulaziz University scholarship covers
KAU’s Scholarship Agency lists the services it gives external scholarship students. The Ministry of Education’s page on public university scholarships confirms the core package for a “free” (full) scholarship: housing, an arrival reward, health care and annual tickets.
| Benefit | What KAU says |
|---|---|
| Tuition | No tuition for scholarship students |
| Airport pickup | Staff meet new students at King Abdulaziz Airport, Jeddah, and take them to student housing |
| Arrival allowance | A preparation allowance on arrival (the Arabic diploma page describes it as two months’ stipend) |
| Monthly stipend | Paid every month; KAU does not publish the current amount |
| Housing | University accommodation, with follow-up on your housing during your studies |
| Meals | Subsidised meals |
| Flights | Annual return ticket for regular students; ticket compensation for new arrivals |
| Health care | For you, and for family members who join you, through university health services |
| Excellence reward | For students who excel for two consecutive semesters |
| Graduation allowance | Three months’ stipend after graduation (plus a book shipping allowance for postgraduates) |
| Thesis printing | An allowance for master’s and PhD students |
| Emergency help | Emergency financial aid; some scholarship students are offered work by the university |
About the stipend amount: an old KAU graduate studies page, last updated in 2015, listed a monthly bursary of SR 1,900 and a SR 1,800 arrival allowance for postgraduates. Other blogs quote lower figures. None of these is a current official number, so I would plan your budget assuming the stipend covers basic living costs in Jeddah and little more. Your admission documents will state the actual figure.
The Arabic diploma terms also say scholarship students must study full time and may not work for any other employer. So the stipend, plus any job the university itself offers you, is your income.
Levels and what each one involves
| Level | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Arabic as a Foreign Language | 2 years (4 semesters, 60 credit hours), full time | Run by KAU’s Arabic Language Institute. Strong students can move up to a bachelor’s, except Medicine, Dentistry, Applied Medical Sciences and Pharmacy |
| Bachelor’s | Depends on programme | Language of instruction varies; check it on each programme page on Study in Saudi |
| Master’s | Usually two years | Distinguished master’s students can be upgraded to the PhD |
| PhD | Usually three years or more | Research plan required with your application |
KAU’s graduate studies page states that health science programmes (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Applied Medical Sciences, Nursing and related fields) are not offered to international scholarship applicants. The Ministry of Education also excludes health and medical specialties from public university scholarship applications. If you want to study medicine in Saudi Arabia on a scholarship, KAU is not the route.
King Abdulaziz University scholarship eligibility by level
The scholarship is open to non-Saudi students of any nationality. KAU separates applicants living outside Saudi Arabia (external scholarships) from non-Saudis already living in the Kingdom (internal scholarships). Internal applicants need a valid residency, their sponsor’s approval and, for postgraduate study, a score of at least 65 on the General Aptitude Test. This guide is mainly for external applicants.
Age limits
The two official sources do not agree for postgraduates. Here are both:
| Level | Ministry of Education | KAU graduate studies page |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic diploma | 17 to 25 | 17 to 25 (Arabic Language Institute page) |
| Bachelor’s | 17 to 25 | Not stated |
| Master’s | Up to 30 | Up to 35 |
| PhD | Up to 35 | Up to 40 |
If you are 31 to 35 and applying for a master’s, or 36 to 40 for a PhD, the portal will tell you whether you can proceed. Do not rely on any blog, including this one, for that edge case.
General conditions for all levels
- You meet the same admission requirements KAU sets for Saudi students on the programme.
- You do not already hold, and have not held, a scholarship from another Saudi institution, and you have never been dismissed from a Saudi university.
- You pass the medical examination and have a police clearance certificate from your home country.
- Your certificates are attested by the competent authorities in your country (KAU’s graduate page asks for Saudi Embassy certification of degrees and transcripts).
- If your government requires its approval for study abroad, you have that approval.
Academic requirements
| Level | Minimum qualification | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic diploma | Secondary school certificate with at least a “Good” grade | Two recommendation letters; passport valid at least two years |
| Bachelor’s | Secondary school certificate or equivalent | Programme admission rules, as for Saudi students |
| Master’s | Accredited bachelor’s degree, grade “Very Good” or higher | Two recommendation letters from former professors; English test if English is not your first language |
| PhD | Accredited master’s degree, grade “Very Good” or higher | As for master’s, plus a research plan |
KAU’s current graduate page says an approved English test is needed if English is not your first language, and that results are valid for two years. It does not show the minimum scores; the table on the page is empty. Older guides quote TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 5.0, which came from a KAU page from about 2020. Treat those as a rough floor and confirm the current minimum on Study in Saudi. Applicants for Arabic Language and Islamic Studies do not need the English test.
Rules for women
KAU teaches men and women on separate campuses, and the female campus has its own scholarships unit. KAU’s Arabic diploma conditions say female applicants must be accompanied by a mahram (a close male relative). The Ministry’s page also refers to a mahram who must hold his own grant, residency or job. Ask KAU’s female campus scholarships unit how this applies to your level before you apply.
King Abdulaziz University scholarship application window for 2026/2027 and 2027
Saudi public universities now open scholarship applications in set windows on Study in Saudi, timed to each university’s academic calendar. These are the 2026 windows I could confirm:
| Window | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Study in Saudi, 2026/2027 academic year (first window) | Closed 21 May 2026 | Closed |
| KAU, non-Saudi applicants inside and outside the Kingdom, undergraduate and postgraduate | 16 September 2026 to 6 October 2026 | Closed |
| Next KAU window | 16 September 2027 to 6 October 2027 | Deadline 6 October 2027 (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens) |
The September window was announced by KAU on 8 September 2026, only eight days before it opened. That short notice is why I would prepare your documents now. Attestation by your foreign ministry and the Saudi embassy can take weeks.
After you apply, expect a long wait. KAU’s Arabic Language Institute says the admission committee does a first review one to two months after the deadline, and final admission by the Ministry of Education takes three to eight months.
Documents checklist
| Document | Who needs it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Passport (valid; scan of data page) | All | Study in Saudi’s visa rules need at least six months’ validity; the Arabic diploma asks for two years |
| Highest certificate (secondary, bachelor’s or master’s) | All | Attested in your country and by the Saudi embassy |
| Transcript | All | Attested the same way; certified translation if not in Arabic or English |
| Two recommendation letters | Arabic diploma, master’s, PhD | From former lecturers or professors |
| Research or study plan | PhD and most master’s | Not needed for Arabic Language or Islamic Studies |
| English test result | Master’s and PhD if English is not your first language | Valid for two years |
| Medical report | All | Must confirm you are free of infectious diseases |
| Police clearance certificate | All | From your home country’s security authorities |
| Government approval | Only if your country requires it | Ask your education ministry |
| Passport photo, white background | All | Digital copy for the portal |
| CV and publications | Postgraduates | Publications are optional but help |
If you need help with the recommendation letters, our recommendation letter samples for scholarships show what a useful one contains.
How to apply on Study in Saudi, step by step
- Create an account on the Study in Saudi platform (studyinsaudi.moe.gov.sa) before the window opens. Enter your name, nationality, gender and passport number exactly as they appear on your passport. The FAQ says those fields cannot be changed after you submit.
- Search for King Abdulaziz University and pick your programme. Check the language of instruction and any extra conditions on the programme page.
- Upload your attested documents and fill in your qualification details when the KAU window opens.
- Submit. The application goes to KAU, which reviews it. You can cancel only while KAU has not yet acted on it.
- If KAU approves you, the university and the Ministry of Education complete final admission.
- With your scholarship letter, apply for a study visa at the Saudi embassy in your country.
- After arrival, KAU’s passports office helps you get a free residence permit (iqama) for the length of your studies.
The Ministry also allows you to apply through the Saudi Cultural Attaché in your country, or the Saudi embassy where there is no attaché. Study in Saudi says you cannot hold two scholarships for the same degree, so if you apply to several Saudi universities in one window, think about which offer you would accept.
Rules you agree to as a KAU scholarship student
- You follow Saudi law, including residency rules, and KAU’s regulations.
- You cannot transfer to another university on the scholarship.
- Your passport must allow you to return home without conditions.
- You leave the Kingdom within three months of finishing your studies.
- Arabic diploma students get four semesters, with up to two extra semesters if needed.
Family visits are possible under KAU’s rules, and family members living with you get health care. There is no family allowance in the published benefits, so a spouse or children would live on your stipend.
Is the KAU scholarship worth applying for?
If your field is outside the health sciences, I think it is one of the more complete packages open to applicants from any country: no tuition, plus free housing and flights. The trade-offs are the Arabic-language environment outside the classroom, the ban on outside work, the mahram rule for women, and a decision process that can take most of a year. If you need a European option instead, compare it with the funding in our University of Oulu scholarships guide, which covers tuition waivers only.
FAQ on the King Abdulaziz University scholarship
Is the King Abdulaziz University scholarship open all year?
No. KAU now takes applications in windows on Study in Saudi. The last one ran from 16 September to 6 October 2026, and the deadline is 6 October 2027.
How much is the KAU scholarship monthly stipend?
KAU does not publish the current amount. A 2015 KAU page listed SR 1,900 a month for postgraduates, but that figure may have changed, so check your admission letter.
Can I study medicine at KAU on a scholarship?
No. KAU and the Ministry of Education exclude medicine and other health sciences from international scholarship applications.
What is the age limit for the KAU master’s scholarship?
The Ministry of Education sets 30 for master’s and 35 for PhD, while KAU’s graduate page says 35 and 40. Follow whatever the Study in Saudi portal accepts when you apply.
Sources and updates
Benefits come from KAU’s Benefits and Study Services page and its Scholarship Agency portal. Age limits, conditions and the scholarship types come from the Saudi Ministry of Education’s public universities scholarships page and KAU Deanship of Graduate Studies’ international scholarships page (updated December 2024). The Arabic diploma terms come from KAU’s Arabic Language Institute. The 16 September to 6 October 2026 window comes from KAU’s announcement of 8 September 2026. The May 2026 closing date comes from a university notice in Algeria relaying the Study in Saudi call. Visa and portal rules come from the Study in Saudi FAQ. The 2015 stipend figure comes from an archived KAU postgraduate scholarship page. Information checked on 24 October 2026. I will update this post when KAU announces its next window.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
