Home / Opportunities / KAUST Fellowship — fully funded MS, MS/PhD and PhD admission, Fall 2027 entry, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Thuwal, Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia · King Abdullah University of Science and…
KAUST Fellowship — fully funded MS, MS/PhD and PhD admission, Fall 2027 entry, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Thuwal, Saudi Arabia)
KAUST is a graduate-only research university on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast that funds EVERY admitted student automatically — no separate scholarship form, no fee, no chase for funding. Fall 2027 applications are open now for MS, MS/PhD and PhD across STEM, with a stipend, free housing and health cover bundled into the offer.
Why it is notable: the "admission = funding" model is rare and badly under-marketed in South Asia and Africa — aggregators bury it under generic "Saudi scholarships" lists. High value per applicant vs. effort: one application, one program choice per year, and the funding question answers itself.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Fully funded: full tuition + bench fees (worth up to USD 35,000/year)
monthly living stipend USD 20,000/year for MS students, USD 25,000–30,000/year for PhD students (depending on qualifications and academic progression)
base on-campus accommodation included
health insurance for students and eligible dependents living on campus
relocation support (visa, relocation and travel costs). KAUST states total fellowship value at USD 70,000–80,000/year. NOTE: students with external sponsorship or funding may not be eligible for the KAUST Fellowship
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Graduationfor MastersMasters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for Masters and PhD programs.
Who can apply
all nationalities; MS applicants need a Bachelor's degree; PhD applicants need a Master's (or apply via the MS/PhD track). Relevant STEM academic background required. English-language requirements apply — widely reported as TOEFL iBT 81 / IELTS 6.5 (confirm exact scores on the official entry-requirements page before publishing).
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
English proficiency required — KAUST requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 79 or IELTS 6.0; only official scores accepted. Test not required if the applicant received a degree from an accredited institution in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. Verified on the official KAUST program guide (registrar-programguide.kaust.edu.sa) 2026-10-15.
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Tools that may help
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Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
all nationalities; MS applicants need a Bachelor's degree; PhD applicants need a Master's (or apply via the MS/PhD track). Relevant STEM academic background…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
English proficiency required — KAUST requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 79 or IELTS 6.0; only official scores accepted. Test not required if the applicant received a degree from an accredited institution in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. Verified on the official KAUST program guide (registrar-programguide.kaust.edu.sa) 2026-10-15.
02
Qualification
all nationalities; MS applicants need a Bachelor's degree; PhD applicants need a Master's (or apply via the MS/PhD track)
03
Documents
CV; statement of purpose; academic transcripts (native language + certified English translation; include grading scale); degree certificate(s); three recommendation letters (submitted directly by reco
Document checklist
01statement of purpose
02academic transcripts (native language + certified English translation
03include grading scale)
04degree certificate(s)
05three recommendation letters (submitted directly by recommenders through the application — comparative statements expected)
06official TOEFL/IELTS score where required (TOEFL iBT 79 / IELTS 6.0 minimum). Verified on the official KAUST program guide (registrar-programguide.kaust.edu.sa) 2026-10-15.
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: KAUST provides relocation support including visa assistance for the initial move; campus is a self-contained international community.
Application Procedure
4 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Choose ONE graduate programme (you may submit
only one application per year).
→
02
Prepare documents: CV
statement of purpose, academic transcripts, three recommendation letters (recommenders submit directly through the application; comparative statements expected). Exact document list — confirm on the official application
→
03
Submit the free online application at the
KAUST admissions portal.
↓
04
Respond promptly to interview invitations
decisions released 14 February 2027.
Application milestones
3 Jan 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official King Abdullah University of Science and… platform.
3 Jan 2027 — (Round 2 / Fall 2027 application deadline; KAUST marks these dates tentative — re-check before publishing).…
Who can apply?
all nationalities; MS applicants need a Bachelor's degree; PhD applicants need a Master's (or apply via the MS/PhD track). Relevant STEM academic background required. English-language requirements apply — widely reported as TOEFL iBT 81 / IELTS 6.5 (confirm exact scores on the official entry-requirements page before publishing).
What does the scholarship cover?
Fully funded: full tuition + bench fees (worth up to USD 35,000/year); monthly living stipend USD 20,000/year for MS students, USD 25,000–30,000/year for PhD students (depending on qualifications and academic progression); base on-campus accommodation included; health insurance for students and eligible dependents living on campus
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Saudi Arabia · King Abdullah University of Science and…