KAUST Fellowship for MS and PhD students, Fall 2027

The KAUST Fellowship is the funding package that King Abdullah University of Science and Technology gives to every student it admits to a Master’s (MS) or doctoral (PhD) programme. There is no separate form and no second selection. If KAUST offers you a place, the fellowship comes with it. The university is in Thuwal, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast north of Jeddah, and its degree programmes are MS and PhD courses in science, engineering and mathematics.

Admission for Fall 2027 is open now to MS, MS/PhD and PhD applicants, with a closing date of 3 January 2027 (checked 9 October 2026 on KAUST’s admission timeline). KAUST notes that its dates are tentative and may change with application volume.

What the fellowship covers

Item	What KAUST provides (checked 9 October 2026)
Tuition and bench fees	Paid in full, valued at up to US$35,000 a year
Stipend	US$20,000 a year for MS students; US$25,000 to US$30,000 a year for PhD students, depending on qualifications and progress
Housing	Base accommodation on campus: shared housing for single students, a two-bedroom unit for married students
Health insurance	For the student and eligible dependants living on campus
Relocation	Visa, relocation and travel costs for the first move to KAUST and the trip home after graduation

KAUST puts the total value at roughly US$70,000 to US$80,000 a year, depending on circumstances. Students can request a larger home for an extra fee. Full terms are sent with the offer of admission. The fees and funding page adds one condition worth reading twice: some students with external sponsorship or funding may not be eligible.

Three ways in

KAUST offers three degree routes, and choosing the right one matters more than anything else on the form.

MS. About a year and a half, or two years with a thesis. You need a bachelor’s in a relevant subject.

MS/PhD. For people who have just finished a bachelor’s, or will by the start of term, and want a research career. You complete the Master’s and move into the PhD without reapplying if you meet the progression requirements. The full route takes five and a half to six years. KAUST’s study options page lists it for eight programmes: applied mathematics and computational science, chemical engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, plant science and statistics.

PhD. About four years, usually eight semesters and four summer sessions. You need a Master’s in a relevant subject. KAUST states that professional Master’s degrees are not treated as equivalent, and applicants holding one must declare it. If your Master’s is in a different field, your adviser may set extra courses.

Entry requirements

The university’s entry requirements page sets out the minimums:

• Grades. A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale or equivalent. KAUST says 90% of admitted students have more than 3.3 and 75% more than 3.5, which is a better guide to the real bar.
• English. IELTS Academic 7 overall with 6.5 in each section, or TOEFL iBT 5 overall with 4.5 in each section, PTE Academic 71 (67 per section), or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency at 185 (176 per section). PhD students can be admitted on condition with IELTS 6.5 (6 per section) or the equivalents, if they take an academic English course in their first semester. Degrees taken in person in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand exempt you. Medium of instruction letters and the Duolingo test are not accepted.
• GRE. Optional. A strong score can help.
• Age. At least 18 on entry.

You can submit without an English score, but you must meet the requirement before enrolling.

The application and selection

1. 28 Sep 2026The Fall 2027 application opens on KAUST's portal.
2. 3 Jan 2027Deadline. Referees are expected to send their letters within seven days of it.
3. JanuaryThe admissions team checks your file is complete, then faculty in your programme review and rank applications and draw up a shortlist.
4. January to FebruaryShortlisted applicants are invited to an online interview with faculty, and some programmes add an entrance test.
5. 14 Feb 2027Decisions sent by email. Offers must be accepted within a set time or they can be withdrawn.
6. 29 Aug 2027Fall semester begins.

The order of steps comes from KAUST’s application process page. The months for review and interviews are our estimate from the published dates. KAUST says all decisions are final and it does not give individual feedback.

The file itself contains:

• Transcripts from every university you have attended, showing courses, grades and the grading scale. A partial transcript is fine while you are still studying.
• A statement of purpose of about 750 words covering your past work, preparation, interests, academic plans, career goals and why you chose that programme.
• A CV with your full name as it appears in your passport, education, qualifications, relevant work, research and publications, and other skills.
• Three referees. They must use academic or professional email addresses, and personal accounts are rejected. Academic referees are expected unless your last qualification is more than three years old.
• A copy of your passport’s photo page.
• English test scores and, if you have them, GRE scores, sent officially.

Is it a good fit?

KAUST is a research university first. Its programmes sit in the physical sciences and engineering, biological and environmental sciences, biomedical sciences, and computer science, electrical engineering and mathematics. The one exception is an MS in technology innovation and entrepreneurship. There are no programmes in the humanities, law or social sciences. If your interests sit in one of its fields and your grades are well above the 3.0 minimum, the fellowship removes most financial barriers. Our guide to statements of purpose and personal statements is worth reading before you draft the 750 words, and use the deadline planner to work back from 3 January.

For the latest dates and programme list, check KAUST admissions before you apply.