We seek exceptional students with impressive academic records and well-defined research passions. By admitting ambitious and high-performing individuals, we’re nurturing a culture of academic excellence and supporting innovation.

KAUST's admission process recognizes that academic scores are not the only measure of a student's potential. We take a holistic view when reviewing each application, considering both academic achievements and personal qualities, such as motivation and potential impact in the scientific community.

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Bachelors degree in a subject relevant the program being applied to, from a recognized higher education institution for entry into our Masters programs 
• Masters degree in a subject relevant to the program being applied to, from a recognized higher education institution for entry into our Ph.D. programs. We do not regard Professional Masters degrees as being directly equivalent to Masters degrees and so if you are taking one of these you must be careful to declare that in your application.
• At least 18 years of age on entry
• A competitive GPA. Typically, 90% of admitted applicants have a GPA above 3.3, and 75% have a GPA above 3.5 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent). The minimum permitted GPA is 3.0.
• Evidence of proficiency in English language. See the table below for details.

Application Requirements

When submitting your application, you will be required to submit the following:

• Official university transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of purpose
• Contact details of 3 referees
• Official English language test score
• A clear, unobscured copy of the passport page showing your picture and personal details, or otherwise a national ID card

TranscriptsCurriculum VitaeStatement of PurposeReferencesEnglish Language

You must submit an official complete university transcript, mark sheets, graduation certificate, academic record from every institution previously attended which shows a list of courses taken, the amount of credit awarded, the grade received, and a final grade showing the scale it was awarded on.

A scan of the official transcript provided by the university in the native language must be uploaded into the online application along with the certified English translation.

Your transcript must include the university grading scale for all documents submitted. If admitted, an official transcript must be sent to the Office of Admissions by the awarding institution prior to arrival. You will receive advice on how you should do this.

• Full tuition and bench fee coverage (worth up to USD $35,000 per year)
• A monthly stipend (worth USD $20,000 per year for M.S. students, and USD $25,000 to $30,000 for Ph.D. students depending on qualifications and academic progress)
• On-campus housing (worth USD $7,000 per year and covering utilities such as electricity and wifi)
• Health insurance (worth USD $1,450 per year)
• Relocation support (visa, relocation and travel costs)