Pakistani students looking for international higher education opportunities can explore fully funded scholarships offered by universities in Saudi Arabia. The official Study in Saudi Arabia platform lists fully funded academic programs for international students at different levels, including Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees.
The platform allows international students to search for universities, degree programs, scholarship types, study languages and other admission details in one place. Saudi Arabia currently has more than 50 public and private universities offering a wide range of academic and professional programs.
Fully Funded Scholarship Opportunities
The Study in Saudi Arabia platform lists three main study options for international students: fully funded scholarships, partially funded scholarships and self-funded programs.
Under a fully funded scholarship, the sponsoring institution covers the listed scholarship costs, meaning the student does not have to bear the financial burden covered by the scholarship. Available programs can include tuition support, accommodation, a monthly stipend, medical insurance and travel tickets, depending on the specific university and program.
Students should check the individual program page carefully because scholarship benefits and admission requirements can vary from one university and program to another.
Bachelor’s Scholarships for International Students
Fully funded Bachelor’s programs are available for international students in several fields.
For example, King Saud University lists international full-scholarship programs in fields such as Accounting, Economics, Finance, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Geology, Geophysics and Industrial Engineering. The duration of these programs generally ranges from four to five years, depending on the degree.
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University also lists fully funded Bachelor’s programs for international female students. Its programs include English Language, Applied Linguistics, Economics, English Literature and Cultural Studies, and other fields. Some programs have specific academic requirements, such as a minimum high-school average or standardized test scores.
For example, the English Language Bachelor’s program at Princess Nourah University requires an equivalent high-school qualification with a minimum average of 95 percent for the listed program. The scholarship benefits include tuition waiver, monthly stipend, accommodation, medical insurance and travel tickets.
Master’s Scholarships
Pakistani students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree can also find fully funded Master’s programs through the platform.
King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah currently lists a range of full-scholarship Master’s programs for international students. These include areas such as English Language/TESOL, Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Information Technology, Communications and Media, Islamic Finance and Arid Land Agriculture.
The duration of many of these Master’s programs is two years.
Admission requirements differ by program. For example, the Master’s in English Language/TESOL requires a Bachelor’s degree, a minimum academic grade of “Very Good” and an IELTS score of 6 or equivalent. The listed scholarship includes tuition waiver, monthly stipend, accommodation, medical insurance and travel tickets.
Another King Abdulaziz University Master’s program in Information Technology lists requirements including a Bachelor’s degree, a minimum “Very Good” academic grade and an IELTS score of 3.5 or equivalent.
PhD Scholarships
Fully funded PhD opportunities are also available for international students.
King Abdulaziz University currently lists full-scholarship PhD programs in several fields, including Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting, Business Administration, Communications and Media, Economics, Health Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Hydrogeology and Water Resources Management. Many of these programs have a listed duration of three years.
The platform also shows that some PhD programs are offered in English, while others may be available in Arabic or both Arabic and English. Applicants therefore need to check the language requirement before submitting an application.
What Does the Fully Funded Scholarship Cover?
The exact benefits depend on the university and academic program. However, the Study in Saudi Arabia platform lists the following benefits for several fully funded programs:
- Tuition fee waiver
- Monthly stipend
- Accommodation
- Medical insurance
- Travel tickets
For example, these benefits are specifically listed for several international programs at King Abdulaziz University and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
The platform describes a full scholarship as one where the sponsoring entity covers all scholarship costs, leaving the student without the financial burden covered by the scholarship.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunities are designed for international students, which means Pakistani students can explore programs marked as “International” on the platform.
However, there is no single eligibility requirement for every scholarship. Each university and program can set its own conditions.
Depending on the selected program, applicants may need:
- A recognized high-school certificate for Bachelor’s admission
- A recognized Bachelor’s degree for Master’s admission
- The required previous degree for PhD admission
- A specified academic grade or percentage
- English-language test results where required
- Arabic-language proficiency for certain Arabic-taught programs
- Additional standardized tests for selected programs
- Academic documents and other required attachments
For example, one Bachelor’s program at Princess Nourah University requires a 95 percent high-school average, while its Information Systems program has higher academic and standardized-test requirements.
This means Pakistani applicants should not assume that meeting the requirements of one program automatically makes them eligible for another.
How Pakistani Students Can Apply
Students can use the official Study in Saudi Arabia platform to search for their desired university and program and then submit an admission application.
According to the platform, a scholarship application is submitted through the educational institution where the student wants to study. After submission, the application is forwarded to the selected institution for review. If approved, the application proceeds through the institution and the Ministry of Education for the final admission process.
The general process includes:
1. Create an Account
Students first need to access the Study in Saudi Arabia platform and complete their profile.
2. Search for a Program
Applicants can search available programs according to degree level, university, city, language and scholarship type. The platform provides filters for Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs as well as full scholarships.
3. Check Eligibility
Students should open the individual program page and carefully review its academic, language, age and other requirements.
4. Upload Required Documents
Applicants need to provide the documents requested by the selected university. These may include previous academic certificates and language-test results, depending on the program.
5. Submit the Application
Once the application is complete, it can be submitted through the platform for consideration by the selected educational institution.
6. Track the Application
Applicants can monitor their application status through the platform. An “Under Process” status means the application is still being reviewed by the relevant educational institution.
Study Visa for International Students
International students who receive admission can also use Saudi Arabia’s educational visa pathway.
The Study in Saudi Arabia platform states that a long-term educational visa is designed for study, work or research in Saudi Arabia for periods exceeding one year and is suitable for academic degrees such as Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate programs. Requirements listed by the platform include a valid passport, acceptance from a licensed and accredited educational institution, a medical report, medical insurance and proof of language proficiency where applicable.
Application Deadline
The official Study in Saudi Arabia platform currently displays an application period beginning on September 16 and ending on October 6 for international and resident students. Applicants should check the platform before applying because application dates can vary according to the admission cycle and program.
Important Note for Pakistani Applicants
Pakistani students should carefully distinguish between fully funded, partially funded and self-funded programs. The Study in Saudi Arabia platform lists all three categories, and not every program at a university is fully funded for international students.
Applicants should also check the individual program page for its exact eligibility criteria, gender category, language, duration and required documents before submitting an application.
