Study in Saudi Arabia for Pakistani candidates 2024-25

Studying in Saudi Arabia is the best option for Pakistani students as it provides international students with immense opportunities to study and continue their research work. The language is Arabic. Saudi Arabia has implemented serious development in its educational sector. The country views education as one of the priority areas because education is supposed to lead in achieving economic development. Saudi Arabia, with its numerous universities, some boasting a rich research history and high rankings, offers education at a reasonable cost.

The average annual tuition fee is SR 94,000 for undergraduates and SR 200,000 for graduate programs, making it an affordable option for Pakistani students. IELTS is mandatory for applying to universities in most universities. The Eligibility criteria is to have a secondary school record from KSA. Students should have passed the general skills exam and should be physically fit. Additionally, having a good conduct certificate.

A bank statement showing salary transactions for proof of adequate funds available for the last six months is required. The Visa ratio for Saudi Arabia is 90%.

Scholarships in the Saudi Arabia

1. King Abdullah University scholarship
2. Islamic Development Bank scholarships
3. Islamic University Madinah scholarship
4. King Abdul Aziz University scholarships
5. King Fahd University Scholarship
6. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

1. King Abdullah University scholarship

Institute: King Abdullah University of Technology and Science

Study Level: Masters, PhD

This Scholarship is a full tuition cost waiver for overseas applicants. It is accessible for master's and doctoral programs, covers tuition costs, and provides a yearly living expense of as high as $30,000, accommodation, medical and dental coverage, and relocation support.

2. Islamic Development Bank scholarships

Institute: Islamic Development Bank

Study Level: Undergraduate, Masters, Doctoral, Postdoctoral, Training

This fully funded Scholarship for overseas candidates is accessible for bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs. Islamic Development Bank Scholarship covers a living allowance that is given every month, tuition fees, medical support provided, and travel allowance.

3. Islamic University Madinah scholarship

Institute: Islamic University Madinah

Study Level: Undergraduate, Masters

This is a fully funded scholarship for foreign candidates. It is accessible only for undergraduate or graduate programs. The Scholarship provides a monthly grant to cover the living costs, free equipped lodging, and medical insurance.

4. King Abdul Aziz University scholarships

Institute: King Abdul Aziz University

Study Level: Undergraduate, Masters, PhD

This Scholarship offers all educational programs, such as sciences, humanities, engineering, business, arts, and administration, for both master's and PhD. The Scholarship covers all expenditures.

5. King Fahd University scholarship

Institute: King Fahd University of minerals and petroleum

Level of study: Masters, PhD

This Scholarship is fully funded for overseas candidates. The KFUPM scholarship is offered for graduate and doctoral studies, covering the full tuition, monthly living expenditures, health insurance, and relocation help.

6. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

Institute: Any highly reputable university except universities in European countries

Study Level: Masters, PhD

This Scholarship is available to foreign applicants who wish to study master's and doctoral programs in any well-respected institute, except those in Germany, the UK, Sweden, Austria, Italy, and Denmark. It is available for students from the Kyrgyz Republic, India, Tanzania, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Pakistan.

Universities in Saudi Arabia

1. King Abdulaziz University
2. University of Taif
3. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
4. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
5. Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Institute
6. AL Faisal University
7. Umm Al-Qura University
8. King Faisal University
9. Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
10. Al Jouf University
11. University Of Tabuk
12. Jazan University
13. University of Jeddah
14. Qassim University
15. Majmaah University
16. Najran University
17. University of Taibah
18. Shaqra University
19. Prince Sultan University
20. Jeddah College Of Technology
21. Effat University

Most popular universities

1. King Abdul Aziz University

King Abdulaziz University provides a fully funded scholarship, ranking among the best scholarships in Saudi Arabia for foreign applicants, and studies free in Saudi Arabia. Students can secure this Saudi Arabia Scholarship with an excellent academic record. For the KAU Postgraduate program, applicants must be an international student. The age of applicants for the master's programs must be less than 35.

2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

The KAUST Global Fellowship is a fixed term for three years, with an annual stipend of 75,000 USD. Competitive benefits include medical insurance, relocation allowance, schooling, and accommodation provided according to individual situation. KAUST invites students from diverse backgrounds who would like to earn graduate degrees from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the world to apply. Admission to KAUST relies on merit.

3. King Saud University

King Saud University has recently embarked on an ambitious funding and progress program to establish a top-class research institute. Tuition fees vary, and lavish scholarships are given to native and foreign postgraduate students. Research and library facilities are of international standards. The university offers postgraduate programs in electrical, civil, petroleum, chemical, and mechanical engineering, accounting, administration, political science, psychology, law, education, social studies, chemistry, environmental sciences, and medicine.

4. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

This university offers national and international students fully funded scholarships toward masters and PhDs at one of the best universities. These international scholarships are, therefore, designed to help aspiring scholars from around the world. These King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Scholarships offered various degree programs for Study in Saudi Arabia. KFUPM scholarship offers tuition costs, living expenses, and airfare. A bachelor's four-year and two-year graduate degree for a doctoral program. Applicants from a recognized institution with at least a 3.00 CGPA out of 4.00 scales for scholarship students and a CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.00 for non-scholarship students.

5. Taif University

Taif University is the best public university in Taif, Saudi Arabia. In 2023, the kingdom provided 600 fully paid scholarships to Pakistani students. The program included tuition expenditures, a monthly stipend, a lodging facility, a three-month furnishing allowance for married students, medical care, and a stipend of between 850 and 900 SAR per month.

Benefits of studying in Saudi Arabia accompanying with Scholarship

• Healthcare for yourself and your family living with you in Saudi Arabia
• A unit within the educational institution supervised by the organization that provides services for scholarship students
• Scientific, cultural, social, and media programs
• Accommodation
• Annual round-trip tickets
• Financial stipends while coming to study and upon graduation
• The support of academic staff to get proper academic guidance and advice
• Incentives for distinguished students
  

Admission requirements and documents list

There is a certain age criterion for applying to the universities of Saudi Arabia. For example, to get admission in the bachelor’s program, students must be between 17 years to 25 years; for the master's program, the age should be less than 30 years; and for doctorate or research, students must be less than 35 years. The required documents list is given as follows:

• Online application form
• Declaration of financial support
• Letters of recommendation
• IELTS certificate
• Resume/ CV
• Superior agreement form for doctorate students
• Health and life insurance
• Birth certificate
• Research proposal outline for master's and doctorate students
• Health insurance
• Family details
• Photographs
• Student visa
• Application fee
• Medical certificate
• Proof of fee payment
• Passport

Departments of study 

• Agriculture Science
• Education and teaching
• Internal medicine
• Mathematics
• Social sciences
• Business administration
• Engineering
• Environmental science
• Architecture studies
• Art studies
• Aviation
• Civil and environmental engineering
• Cosmetology studies
• Industrial engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Human resources
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Information technology
• Tourism and travel management
• Medicine and Surgery
• Medical laboratory technology
• Accounting
• Marketing
• Physics
• Islamic studies
• Interior design engineering
• Bioengineering
• Applied Mathematics and Computational Science
• Hospitality management
• Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering

Study visa checklist and requirements

There are two types of study visas in Saudi Arabia

• Short stay visa
• Long stay visa

The visa fee for Saudi Arabia is 80 USD. The standard visa processing time is five business days. Required documents are given as:

• Application form for visa
• Valid passport
• Passport-size photographs
• CNIC
• Academic documents
• CV
• IELTS
• Statement of purpose
• Motivation letter
• Medical report
• Health insurance
• Authorization letter from parents
• Proof of admission letter

Cost of living

Saudi Arabia has remained less expensive than most Western countries. Monthly expenditures range from 3000 SAR to 5000 SAR for a single person.

Accommodation costs in big cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah, which have modern facilities and a good multicultural life, are more expensive, whereas minor cities and towns such as Al Khobar and Yanbu have very low costs and fewer luxuries.

Part-time working hours and jobs

Part-time jobs are allowed in Saudi Arabia; however, the rules and regulations vary by university. Students are allowed to work for 48 hours per week during their academic duration. The part-time jobs are:

• Driver
• Nurse
• Accountant
• Delivery rider
• Online typing jobs
• Student counselor
• Finance
• Hospitality
• Tourism
• Data entry operator
• Housemaid
• Cleaner
• Teacher

Work permit and future opportunities

A Study visa allows the students to live and work in Saudi Arabia in a restricted manner for as long as they need to complete their course to support themselves and any dependents. This involves submitting the academic record, employment contract, police clearance, and medical exam record to the Saudi Arabian consulate in their native country via their financier.