Saudi Arabia Admissions

Documents for Saudi Universities

What you need to apply to a Saudi university, and what you need later for your visa. Each university sets its own list, so check it too.

The Main Groups of Papers

Saudi universities ask for four kinds of papers.

Study papers

Certificates and mark sheets from every school or university you went to.

Tests and essays

English or other test scores, and for graduate courses a personal essay (Statement of Purpose) and referees.

Identity and health

Passport, and later a visa medical report and health insurance.

Money

Proof you can pay, or a scholarship letter.

Study Papers

Your marks are the main part of your application.

Class 12 certificate

Needed for a bachelor's.
KSU's scholarships for students outside Saudi Arabia ask that you finished school in the last 5 years.
For KSU's medicine course, in the last 2 years.

Degree certificate and mark sheets

Needed for a master's or PhD.
Send records from every university you went to.
Show the grading scale.

Unfinished degree

KAUST accepts your latest mark sheets if you have not finished yet.
You send the final record before you arrive.

Important

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) wants every paper in English. If a paper is in another language, upload the original and a certified English translation.

Graduate Papers

Master's and PhD applications ask for more.

Personal essay (Statement of Purpose)

KAUST asks for about 750 words.
Say what you studied, why this course and your plans.

Your full name as in your passport, your studies, work and research.

Referees

KAUST asks for 3 referees (teachers or bosses who write about you) with work or university emails.
They send letters straight to the university.

Money Papers

Who pays for your studies?

Money proof or guarantee

The long-term student visa asks for proof you can pay fees and living costs, or a money guarantee.

Scholarship letter

A full scholarship letter covers the money rule.

Stamps and Translations

Saudi universities and visa offices need to know your papers are real.

Stamps

Your university tells you which stamps it needs. Saudi Arabia accepts the apostille (an official stamp that proves a paper is real). Some papers also need an attestation (officially stamped as real).

Translations

Papers not in English need a certified English translation.
KAUST also wants an English copy of the medical report.

Apostille and attestation

India and Pakistan both issue the apostille.
Saudi Arabia accepts apostilled papers.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) wants degrees attested (officially stamped as real) by the Saudi Cultural Mission, a Saudi government office. Follow your own university's list.