KAUST Scholarship 2027 |Fully Funded Masters & PhD.

The KAUST Scholarship 2027 provides full financial support to students admitted to graduate programs at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. The fellowship covers tuition and bench fees, provides a living stipend, accommodation, health insurance, and relocation support.

There is no separate fellowship application. Admitted students automatically receive the KAUST Fellowship, except those funded through certain partnership or external sponsorship arrangements.

Quick Highlights

About the KAUST Scholarship 2027

KAUST is a graduate-level science and technology university in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. It offers Master’s, M.S./Ph.D., and Ph.D. programs in science, engineering, and related fields.

The KAUST Fellowship is linked to admission. Students do not submit a separate fellowship application. Once admitted, the fellowship details are included in the admission offer. Students receiving certain external sponsorships may not receive the KAUST Fellowship in addition to that sponsorship.

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Financial Benefits

Full tuition and bench fee coverage worth up to $35,000 per year

$20,000 per year stipend for M.S. students

$25,000 to $30,000 per year stipend for Ph.D. students, depending on qualifications and academic progress

Base accommodation — shared for single students, 2-bed accommodation for married students

Health insurance for students and eligible dependents living on campus

Relocation support covering visa, relocation, and travel costs for your initial move and return home after graduation

KAUST estimates the total value of the fellowship at $70,000 to $80,000 per year, depending on the student’s situation. Housing upgrades are available but involve an additional fee.

Eligibility Criteria

For Master’s programs, applicants need a recognized Bachelor’s degree in a subject relevant to the program.

For Ph.D. programs, applicants need a recognized Master’s degree in a subject relevant to the program. KAUST notes that professional Master’s degrees are not considered directly equivalent to academic Master’s degrees for this requirement.

Applicants must also:

Be at least 18 years old when entering KAUST

Meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0/4.0 or equivalent

Meet the English language requirement

Submit the required application documents and pay the application fee

KAUST states that 90% of admitted applicants typically have a GPA above 3.3, while 75% have a GPA above 3.5. These figures describe admitted students and are not additional GPA requirements.

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English Language Requirements

KAUST requires official evidence of English proficiency unless an applicant qualifies for an exemption. The current official requirements are:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in each section
• TOEFL iBT: 5 overall, with at least 4.5 in each section (KAUST admissions code: 4107) — note that ETS introduced a new TOEFL iBT scoring scale in 2026, so this is not comparable to older TOEFL scores you may see quoted elsewhere
• PTE Academic: 71 overall, with at least 67 in each section
• Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency: 185 overall, with at least 176 in each section

Applicants who completed a degree through in-person study at an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand are exempt. A degree previously completed at KAUST’s Thuwal campus also qualifies for an exemption.

You can submit an application without an English test score, but if admitted, you must provide a qualifying score before enrollment. KAUST does not accept a Medium of Instruction certificate, Duolingo English Test (except for Visiting Students), TOEFL MyBest superscores, or IELTS One Skill Retake results as proof of English proficiency.

GRE and Faculty Contact

The GRE General Test and PGAT are not required. A strong score can strengthen an application, but it is optional.

Applicants who submit a valid official GRE or PGAT score with their application may receive a waiver of the 200 SAR application fee.

You also do not need to contact a KAUST faculty member before applying. M.S./Ph.D. and Ph.D. applicants can list faculty members they are interested in working with. KAUST may then forward strong applications to relevant faculty members.

Required Documents for KAUST scholarship 2027

Applicants should prepare:

Official university transcripts (in English, or with a certified English translation)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Statement of Purpose (approximately 750 words)

Contact details of three referees, using academic or professional email addresses

Official English test score, if available

Clear passport copy

Application fee payment (200 SAR, non-refundable)

The Statement of Purpose should discuss your preparation, academic plans, background, interests, and career objectives.

You do not upload recommendation letters yourself. KAUST contacts the referees directly through its admissions system once you enter their details.

Application Process

1. Choose the appropriate KAUST graduate program.
2. Review the entry requirements.
3. Prepare your transcripts, CV, Statement of Purpose, passport, English test score, and referee details.
4. Create your application through the KAUST admissions system.
5. Pay the 200 SAR application fee and submit your application before the applicable deadline.
6. Monitor your application portal for updates or interview requests.

You can submit only one application at a time and apply to only one academic program per year. If unsuccessful, you can apply again the following year.

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Important Dates

KAUST states that these dates are tentative and may change depending on application volume.

Frequently Asked Questions