Student Onboarding

1. Contact your Visa Agent:
   Please contact the local visa agent in the country you will be applying from for your “Student visa” (depending on the country, it can also be named “Educational Government visa”) and ask for the visa requirements list. The recommended visa agency list is found in the link.
2. Check Your Passport Validity:
   Make sure you have a passport valid for at least twelve (12) months with at least two (2) clear visa pages adjacent to each other. Otherwise please renew your passport before filling out the onboarding form as your visa invitation letter will be connected to the passport information provided in the onboarding form.
3. Start the Attestation of Your Important Documents:
   The degree attestation process is complex in many countries and, under normal circumstances, can take up to 60 days to finalize. Discuss this process with your visa agent and start it as soon as possible. If your degree/diploma has not yet been issued, please inform the Onboarding team so that we can proceed accordingly. You may need to have attested other documents, including birth and marriage certificates.
   • Obtain the original and notarized and/or authenticated copies of your degree transcripts/diplomas.
   • Once you have your documents, start the Degree attestation process (per instructions from your agent).
   • If required by your agent, please start the birth certificate and (if applicable) marriage certificate attestation process.
4. Medical Appointments for your Medical Report:
   Please check with your visa agency first how long your medical report will be valid. This might differ from country to country but generally it should be valid for 90 days. Your visa agent should be able to inform you about what physicians you will need to meet with.

In addition to the medical form (in your onboarding form), please send us or upload the scanned copy of the GAMCA (Gulf Approved Medical Centers Association) Medical Report or Visa Medical Report. This report will include the results of blood tests for infectious diseases (HIV, Hep B...), Urine tests, Eye checkups, VDRL, and Chest X-Ray.

The report is mandatory to submit along with your other documents for the visa process. If the Medical Report is not in English, an English translation must also be provided.

NOTE: You must ensure the doctor includes tests for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, VDRL, and Tuberculosis – a positive test for one (or more) of these conditions will exclude you (or your dependent) from holding an Iqama (residency permit) and therefore entering the Kingdom.

Please contact GradOpsOnboarding@ KAUST.EDU.SA, they would coordinate with KAUST Embassies Relations team to resolve any agency/visa related issues.

Once you receive the visa invitation letter, please contact the approved visa agency in your home country to obtain the latest information and requirements. Typically, you will need the following additional documents:

• KAUST admission letter: This will be sent automatically once you have completed the onboarding form.
• Visa medical checkup and resulting report.
• Attested educational degrees: These should be attested by the Saudi Cultural Mission.
• A valid passport.

You are responsible for obtaining your student visa by contacting your visa agency, providing the visa requirements, and submitting to the Saudi Embassy.

Whether your dependents are arriving with you to KAUST or coming at a later stage, the Onboarding Advisor would support you in getting the visa invitation letter for your dependents, assigning you to a family unit, and their travel arrangements.

Once you arrive at KAUST, you will need to do your Iqama medical test, which will be arranged during the orientation week on campus. If you arrive after Orientation Week, you will receive an email from your Onboarding Advisor with the date and time to attend the Iqama medical session at KAUST Health. Once your medical is done, you will be able to submit your iqama request through the GA portal. The issuance of the Iqama from Government Affairs will take approximately 7–10 days after arrival, and you will receive an email once your iqama is ready for pick up at the Government Affairs Service Center (GASC) on the spine.

You will receive your Iqama from the Government Affairs Service Center (GASC) approximately 7–10 days after arrival.

Students are required to live on campus and will be allocated shared accommodation. For married students, family-style housing will be assigned.

The university has an established criteria for on-campus housing eligibility. Students may change their housing entitlement, subject to changes in accommodation criteria. Sharing may only be entered with other sharers of the same gender, and apartment blocks are gender-specific.

No. Housing is assigned based on availability, and units are allocated and prepared prior to the new resident's arrival. Single students are assigned shared accommodations. Preferences shared in advance may be accommodated depending upon availability. Married students are assigned family-type accommodation if they come with their legal family (spouse and kids) to campus.

To apply for family housing, you will have to start the dependent relocation process. First request a Family Residency Visa through the GA website, which provides the steps and required documents. Once you have gathered the documents, we will review and update our records. After receiving the visa slip, contact GradOpsOnboarding@kaust.edu.sa to begin the family housing request process.

Only legal dependents (spouse and children) can live with you on campus. The University recognizes the following persons as eligible dependents for purposes of on-campus housing, provided that such persons reside on the University campus for no less than a total of 180 days per calendar year:

1. One spouse
2. Eligible dependent children as defined below: Unmarried children of student, including step and legally adopted, up to and including age 19. In cases where the University student has physical custody of a child for more than fifty percent (50%) of the time (or by court order has been granted physical custody for more than fifty percent (50%) of the time), such a child shall be considered an eligible dependent.

There are no charges associated with shared accommodation. However, married students will be charged depending on eligibility and the type of housing they have been assigned and according to the charges prescribed in the terms and conditions.

You can move into your assigned accommodation once the unit is ready. Unit preparation and readiness are coordinated based on the confirmed arrival date provided by the Graduate Operations Team. This ensures that your unit is fully prepared before your scheduled move-in.

Yes, utilities are included in your housing unit. Internet ports are available for wired network connectivity, and residents may purchase their own router for wireless access if needed. The KAUST residential network service offers the residents wired network connectivity and access to both the Internet and internal University services. As a new resident, a premium Wi-Fi service (KAUST Wi-Fi+) is included in the residential unit. Some residents prefer to come to KAUST with their own routers purchased in their home countries.

All units are fully furnished according to KAUST's standard setup for student accommodation. This includes basic furniture such as a bed, wardrobe, and living room. Additionally, the units are equipped with essential appliances to ensure a comfortable living environment. All residences have domestic appliances including washer and dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, and electric stove and oven. There are internationally renowned retail outlets that offer the delivery of furniture items to meet any additional resident requirements and preferences over and above standard provision.

During the onboarding process, you will receive a request for your housemate preference, and efforts will be made to accommodate your request, if possible, based on availability. If you have a preferred roommate, please email their name and KAUST ID to HousingResident.Relations@KAUST.EDU.SA.

The voltage of electricity distributed in residential accommodation is 220 volts. Sockets available in units include 3-pin sockets, which accept plug type G. This is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern.

You only need to bring your personal belongings, and you can buy other items upon arrival either on campus or in Jeddah. Upon arrival to campus, the housing department will also provide a soft pack of basic items such as bedding, towels, and some kitchenware to help you settle in during the initial days.

During orientation week (week prior to the start of the semester), a meeting with your designated advisor to discuss your custom study plan will be scheduled.

Once on campus, you will meet your Graduate Program Student Advisor who will help you navigate your student portal and register for your courses. A detailed guide on how to register for courses can be found on the registrar website: https://registrar.kaust.edu.sa/.

During orientation week (week prior to the start of the semester), you will be introduced to different departments in KAUST: Registrar, Admissions, Student Affairs, and Student Operations, etc. You will attend an introductory lecture about your divisions, and then another lecture about the specific degree program you are enrolled in. You will also be meeting your Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC). They will guide you through the academic procedures during your studies at KAUST. A meeting with your designated advisor to discuss your custom study plan will also be scheduled.

You can request official transcripts, enrollment verifications, or other documents through the student services portal.

When you arrive at KAUST, you should go directly to the Housing office. From there you will receive details of your housing contract and will be taken to your accommodation. Once you have arrived at KAUST, we have various teams in place to welcome and assist you, and to answer your questions. You will also receive an arrival checklist to help you navigate your first days. To connect to campus WIFI, you should use icampus network with your regular user ID and password. If you need a map of the campus, you can access the KAUST maps.

Yes, having a local phone number is important for staying connected and accessing multiple services like government services, bank, medical insurance. After you receive your Iqama (residency) document, you can buy a phone SIM card from the Mobile shop on campus. Please do not purchase a Saudi mobile SIM card at the airport as you will require a new Saudi mobile phone number connected to your Iqama to open a local bank account.

You may check this link for a list of prohibited items to bring to Saudi Arabia.

Yes, there are three recreation centers with sports clubs, swimming pools, counseling services, KH medical center, and other resources on campus and in Jeddah.

Yes, the university's career services office guides internships, job placement, resume building, and networking opportunities. Some departments may also offer specific career development workshops.

Transportation options include campus shuttles, SHIFT rental cars, and taxis. Check the campus transportation office for maps and schedules.

You can typically get your student ID card during orientation. Your student ID provides access to:

• Campus facilities like libraries, labs, and gyms.
• Printing services and computer labs.

It's common to experience culture shock when studying in a new country. To adjust:

• Be open to learning about new customs, behaviors, and communication styles.
• Attend orientation programs offered by student services.
• Join student groups and engage in social activities.
• Don't hesitate to ask questions or seek guidance from locals and fellow students.

Due to the visa status of international students and their spouses, student spouses will not be allowed to work at KAUST unless they are Saudi Nationals. However, there are multiple volunteering opportunities at KAUST available for spouses. Further information can be found here: https://communitylife.kaust.edu.sa/activities/volunteering-opportunities-(new).