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The KAUST Scholarship 2027 is fully funded. It covers your full tuition, a monthly living stipend, on-campus housing, medical and dental cover, and your relocation to Saudi Arabia, for a master’s or PhD at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). KAUST is a graduate research university in Thuwal, on the Red Sea coast near Jeddah, and it teaches only science, engineering, and technology subjects.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | Saudi Arabia (KAUST, Thuwal, near Jeddah) |
| Provider | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) |
| Study level | Master’s (MS), MS/PhD track, and PhD |
| Funding | Fully funded: tuition, monthly living stipend, on-campus housing, medical and dental cover, relocation support |
| Who can apply | International students from any country, in science, engineering, and technology fields |
| Fee | None |
| Deadline | Spring 2027 (PhD only): 27 September 2026. Fall 2027 (MS, MS/PhD, PhD): 3 January 2027. |
What is KAUST?
KAUST is a graduate-only university in Saudi Arabia. So it does not teach bachelor’s degrees at all. Everyone there is doing a master’s or a PhD, and everyone is doing science, engineering, or technology.
It is a research university first. So you will spend a lot of your time in a lab or on a project, working next to professors from all over the world. The campus sits right on the Red Sea, and students live on it, so your housing and your classes are in the same place.
The money comes from the university itself, through what it calls the KAUST Fellowship. Every student who is admitted is considered for it. So you do not apply for the scholarship separately. You apply to study, and the funding comes with the offer.
What you get
- Your full tuition, paid in full.
- A monthly living stipend to cover your daily costs.
- On-campus housing, so you live where you study.
- Medical and dental cover while you are a student.
- Support with your relocation to Saudi Arabia.
Because the funding comes with your admission, you are not left chasing a separate award after you get in. So if KAUST accepts you, the support is part of the deal. Read the official page for the exact stipend amount, since that is the one number you will want to plan around.
What can you study?
KAUST teaches science, engineering, and technology only. Think computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, chemistry, bioscience, applied mathematics, marine science, and environmental fields. So if your degree and your work sit in one of these areas, this is for you. If you are in law, business, or the arts, this particular one is not your route, and that is fine. We post fully funded master’s scholarships in every field on the site, so look for one that matches what you do.
Pick the field you actually want to build a career in, so your funded years take you somewhere you want to go.
Who can apply
- You are an international student from any country. KAUST admits students from all over the world, including Africa.
- For a master’s, you hold a bachelor’s degree in a related science or engineering field.
- For a PhD, you hold a master’s degree, or you apply through the combined MS/PhD track.
- You have a solid academic record. The listings point to a minimum GPA of about 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Confirm the exact cut-off on the official page.
- You can show English proficiency, usually through TOEFL or IELTS.
Is there an age limit?
KAUST does not advertise an age cut-off. It admits students on the strength of their grades, their research, and their fit with a program, not their age. So if you finished your degree a few years ago and you are worried you are too old, this is one of the ones where that worry does not apply. Check the official page to be sure, but do not rule yourself out on age alone.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
Yes, KAUST asks international students to prove their English, and it usually accepts TOEFL or IELTS. Still, if you have not sat a test yet, that is not a reason to skip this. Read the official page, see the score they want, and book your test in time. Plenty of admitted students only sit their English test once they know exactly what the program needs.
Can I apply with a low GPA?
The listings point to a minimum of about 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, which is more reachable than the very high cut-offs some scholarships set. So if your GPA is a little under that, your research experience, your publications, and a strong statement can still carry weight, because KAUST is a research school and it cares about what you can do in a lab. Confirm the real cut-off on the official page before you decide you do not qualify.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no application fee, and the KAUST Fellowship covers the real costs of the degree. Apply only through the official KAUST admissions page linked at the end of this post.
What you need to apply
You apply online through the KAUST graduate admission portal. Get these ready before you start:
- Your academic transcripts and your degree certificate.
- Your CV, showing your studies, research, and any published work.
- A statement of purpose, explaining what you want to research and why KAUST.
- Reference letters, usually from people who taught or supervised you.
- Proof of English, or a clear plan to sit the test.
- A valid passport.
How to write the statement of purpose
Your statement of purpose is where you win or lose a research place. So do not write a general essay about your love of science. Name the field you want to work in, name a problem you want to solve, and if you can, name a professor or lab at KAUST whose work is close to yours. Be specific. “I want to work on cheaper water desalination for coastal towns” tells a panel far more than a page about following your dreams. Write it yourself, keep it plain, and let one clear research goal carry it.
How to apply, step by step
- Check the basics. You have the right degree for the level you want, and you study a science, engineering, or technology field.
- Open the official KAUST admissions page (the button is at the very end of this post) and pick the intake that fits you.
- Choose your program and, if you can, find a lab or professor whose research matches yours.
- Get your documents together from the list above.
- Fill in the online application on the KAUST portal. Write your statement of purpose yourself.
- Submit before your intake’s deadline.
- Watch your email for updates from KAUST.
How they choose
KAUST reads your grades, but it reads your research potential just as closely. So it wants students who will produce real work in a lab. Your statement, your past research, your references, and how well your interests match a program all matter. Strong candidates are often contacted by a professor before an offer, so the clearer you are about what you want to work on, the better your chances.
Deadline
Spring 2027 intake (PhD only): applications close 27 September 2026. Fall 2027 intake (master’s, MS/PhD, and PhD): applications close 3 January 2027.
Read those two dates carefully, because they are not the same thing. The 27 September date is only days away, and it is for PhD applicants who want to start in spring. So if that is you, this is a now job, not a next-week job. If you want a master’s, or you want to start in autumn 2027, your date is 3 January 2027, which gives you room to prepare a strong application. Either way, get your transcripts, references, and statement ready early, and submit with a few days to spare. Portals get busy near a deadline.
Which KAUST field fits your research? Tell us in the comments, and say what problem you want to work on.
Related reading
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- Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded)
- Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded)
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