By the tiswa editorial team, from the official sources listed at the end of this guide. How we write our guides
A post reaches you: King Abdulaziz University scholarship, full coverage, registration link below. You remember a relative studied there, and it feels real. This is exactly where you should stop for two minutes, because a well-known university name is what scammers use most to win trust.
Does a King Abdulaziz University scholarship actually exist?
A post cannot answer that, and neither can an article. An official page with conditions can. The university’s Deanship of Admissions and Registration page describes the deanship’s role in running admission, registration and academic records, and publishes contact routes: dar@kau.edu.sa and 0126952000. The page itself does not describe a scholarship, so we do not say there is one or that there is not.1 It is a sensible place to start your question, and no advert replaces it.
The answer also depends on who you are: a Saudi student studying locally, a resident, or an international student. Each category has its own channel. Decide which one you are before you read any advert.
Who issues the scholarship: the university, the ministry or the national platform?
| Type of support | Issuing body | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship to study abroad | Ministry of Education | The Safeer portal only. Applications by email are not accepted2 |
| Awards to study at Saudi universities for international students | Study in Saudi platform | Through the institution you choose on the platform3 |
| Support a university gives its own students | The university itself | The university’s official page and student affairs office |
If the advert says a King Abdulaziz University scholarship is handled through a site outside these bodies, your job is to open the university’s site yourself and look for the notice. If you cannot find it, stop. Our guide to university scholarships in Saudi Arabia shows the search through official sources in more detail.
How do I verify a King Abdulaziz University scholarship advert in three minutes?
- Do not open the link you were sent
Type the university’s address in your browser yourself, or reach it from a search engine, then search inside the site.
- Look for the notice at its source
If there is no trace of the award on the university site or the named body, the post alone is not enough.
- Read who it is addressed to
Is it for Saudis or for international students? Study in Saudi is aimed at international students and researchers, so it does not address a Saudi student studying locally.3
- Learn the official way to apply
Scholarship abroad is the Safeer portal only.2 The university has its own official pages.
- Contact the body
Use the number or email published on its official page, never the one in the advert.1
If you are asked to pay a registration fee, or for your account password or a verification code, that alone is enough to stop. Financial fraud in Saudi Arabia has more warning signs for scam messages.
What signs show a fake scholarship advert?
| Sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| The link does not end in the official body’s domain | Do not enter your data. Open the body’s site yourself |
| A registration or processing fee | Refuse. A real award does not charge to accept your papers |
| Documents requested by WhatsApp or a personal email | Send nothing. Scholarship abroad is the Safeer portal only2 |
| A pressing deadline with no source | This is a pressure tactic, not proof the advert is real |
| A promise of guaranteed acceptance | No serious body guarantees acceptance before seeing your papers |
The national platform says that Saudi government links end in gov.sa and run on HTTPS.3 That does not mean every university site ends that way, since universities have their own domains, but it is a useful test when a site claims to be a government body. For a longer list for adverts that reach you by message, see checking a scholarship offer.
What if I am an international or non-Saudi student?
Start with Study in Saudi, the national platform for international students and researchers, which speaks of fully funded and partial awards and of studying at your own expense.3 Our guide to scholarships for non-Saudis shows how to read eligibility before you gather papers. Internal awards at private universities are a different matter, covered in internal scholarships.
How do I ask the university the right way?
Hello, I am [name], a [Saudi / resident / international] student at [level]. I received an advert for a scholarship in the university’s name through [source]. Was this scholarship announced officially? If so, what is the official application page and who is it for? Please tell me the approved channel. Thank you for your time.
Send it to an email or number published on the university’s official page, and keep a copy of the reply.1 Do not wait a month before you ask, because real deadlines pass. If studying itself is your concern, read the internal transfer guide and the academic calendar guide to learn how to find real university dates.
How do I cut my study costs without a scholarship?
Do not wait for an award to lower your spending. List what you pay monthly for software, books and devices, then see what is open at student prices in student discounts in Saudi Arabia. To organise it, use the student budget guide.
