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.
Frequently Asked Questions
I haven’t finished my current degree yet. Can I submit a partial transcript?
Yes, you can. 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.
What is the minimum GPA required to get entry into KAUST?
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.
Your CV (or resume) should be a full but concise record of your personal
details, educational history, relevant experience and interests. As a minimum
it should contain:
- Your full name (as written in your
passport or national ID)
- Your date of birth
- Your correspondence address
- Your
contact details (phone and email)
- A record of which institutions you have
attended post-high school (including start and finish dates)
- A list of qualifications
taken and qualifications pending (including award level, title, start and
finish dates)
- A record of any relevant work experience
- Research and
publications (please include abstracts where appropriate)
- Other skills and
interests (note that we are interested in extra-curricular interests as this
gives a sense of how you will engage socially and culturally on campus)
Your statement of purpose should be a 750-word (approximately) statement concerning your past work, preparation for your intended field of study, relevant background and interests, academic plans, and career objectives.
In the statement, you should describe your reasons for applying to the program for which you are seeking admission.
We require the contact details of 3 people who can provide a letter of recommendation on your behalf. These contacts should ideally be professors or advisors under whom you have pursued research or taken courses in your major field of study.
The statement they will be asked to provide should include details about how they know your work, comparative statements (e.g., top 1% of class, best in past five years, etc.), and insight into your research ability.
During the admission process, we will contact these people to provide the letter of recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to submit the 3 letters into the portal?
No, we will contact your nominated referees during the admission process.
Do I need to contact these referees in advance?
Yes, the 3 referees should be aware of your application and aware that they may be contacted through the admissions process.
KAUST is a community of over 120 nationalities, and the language of instruction in our programs is English. To ensure everyone admitted to KAUST is able to learn, collaborate, and thrive we require applicants provide official evidence of English proficiency.
At KAUST we only accept the following English proficiency examinations:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
6.5 with at least 5.5 in all individual sections
- TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test)
79 overall, with at least 17 in all individual sections, the KAUST Admissions code is 4107
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
62 overall, with at least 59 in all individual sections
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
176 overall, with at least 169 in all individual sections
Scores are only valid for a period of 2 years from the test date.
Only official academic results will be accepted. Tests administered by an educational institution for admissions to that particular institution are not acceptable.
An English score is not required if the applicant received a degree from an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
Students who are admitted with an English language score that meets KAUST’s minimum requirements listed above but is below an IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 90 will be additionally required to take an Advanced English Language Communication Course (AELC) for one semester in the first year of their academic program while at KAUST
Frequently Asked Questions
I received a degree in an English-speaking country that is outside this list. Do I still need to provide an official test score?
Yes, you still need to provide an official test score.
I won’t get the results back from my English language proficiency test until after the application deadline. How can I submit my 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.
Are the costs of taking an English language proficiency test included in the KAUST Fellowship?
No, these costs are not covered by the Fellowship.