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Admission Timeline

 

Below are the key dates in the KAUST admissions timeline for entry in 2025. These dates are indicative, and may vary depending on the volumes of applications received. To receive the earliest possible decision from the University, please ensure that you have provided all required documentation in full and are responsive to any invitation to attend interviews and tests. If the decision date stated here that is relevant to your application has passed, please check your email (including your junk mail) and application portal before contacting the Admissions Office for advice.

Spring 2025 Admission

Spring 2025 admission is only open to MS/PhD and PhD applicants.

ActivityDate (Round 1)
Applications open15 August 2024
Applications close11 October 2024
Decisions sent to applicants14 November 2024 – 1 December 2024
Spring semester starts26 January 2025

1 Any application received after this deadline will be automatically rolled into Round 2

Fall 2025 Admission

Fall 2025 admission is open to Postgraduate Diploma, M.S. and Ph.D. applicants.

Activity Round 2
Applications open 15 August 2024
Applications close11 January 2025
Decisions sent to applicants 27 February – 2 March 2025
Fall semester starts  31 August 2025

After Round 2 has closed, the University will accept applications on a rolling-basis for as long as we have space left in our incoming class, which will vary by degree and program. Many programs will have closed. We strongly recommend therefore that you should apply by the Round 2 deadline

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no cost to submit an application to study at KAUST.

You can only submit 1 application at a time to KAUST. If you are unsuccessful applying for one year, you will be able to re-apply the next year.

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There is no additional application for the KAUST Fellowship.

KAUST provides a Fellowship to all admitted students. This Fellowship includes a scholarship that covers your entire cost of tuition in addition to providing accommodation, health insurance, and relocation assistance, and more.

On Average, our students spend around $1,320 per month, which is more than covered by the stipend of the KAUST Fellowship

Our students choose to participate in many activities around KAUST and Saudi Arabia, including rock climbing, scuba diving, snorkeling, golf, and more.

You can check the status of your application by logging into the admissions portal.

Please refer to the above tables for the outcome notice dates.

Please refer to the above tables for application open/close dates.

Yes, we are aware many institutes issue official transcripts after our application deadlines. If you are unable to submit an official transcript before the application deadline, please submit a partial transcript, a screenshot from your university’s academic record system, or other similar evidence of your current academic history. However, before you are admitted into KAUST, you will be required to submit your final, official academic transcripts.

Typically students admitted to KAUST will have received grades which put them near the top of their class. We do however look at applications holistically and will consider the overall quality of the application before taking a decision whether or not to progress your application.

No, we will contact your nominated referees during the admission process.

Yes, the 3 referees should be aware of your application and aware that they may be contacted through the admissions process.

Yes, you still need to provide an official test score.

Submit your application before the deadline and add a note that you are awaiting the test scores. When you have received the scores, contact us at admissions@kaust.edu.sa and we will add them to your application.

No, these costs are not covered by the Fellowship.

Absolutely. Our students have access to our Core Labs during operation hours. 

Yes. Our Core Labs are staffed by experts who can show our students how to use equipment and conduct their research independently. 

Our Core Labs team provides free training all year round on all the equipment in our laboratories.

Students live in the Harbour, usually in units with private bedrooms and a shared common area and kitchen

KAUST is a campus university, which means that facilities are close to hand and students live together in a single community. We are a very international university, which means that we have people from many cultures living closely alongside each other. It is western in style, but in a distinct Saudi Arabian context.

Yes, though there are restrictions on how many and where they can stay. You will be provided with information about this in the Student Handbook when you arrive.

Unfortunately students are not allowed to keep or bring pets to the University.

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