By the tiswa editorial team, from the official sources listed at the end of this guide. How we write our guides
A cousin studying abroad sends you a link and asks if this scholarship is real. Or a message in the university group says registration for Study in Saudi closed today. Between those two moments, many students decide on a message whose source they cannot trace, when the platform itself is simpler than the noise around it.
What is the Study in Saudi scholarship?
It is the national platform that introduces international students and researchers to Saudi universities and to chances to study or do research there. The platform says the Kingdom has more than 50 public and private universities, with students from over 170 countries.1 It separates three ways in: a fully funded scholarship, one that covers part of the tuition, and self-funded study.1
| Form | As the platform describes it | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Fully funded | A fully funded scholarship at Saudi universities across many specialisations | What exactly sits inside the funding? |
| Partially funded | A scholarship covering part of study costs | Which part will you pay yourself? |
| Self-funded | Enrolment in university programmes at your own cost | Can you carry the whole fee? |
The third column is my question, not the platform’s text, because funding detail comes from the institution you apply to.
Is Study in Saudi for Saudis?
The official page addresses international students and researchers.1 It does not describe a track for citizens. A Saudi who wants to study abroad looks to the overseas scholarship program of the Ministry of Education, applied for only through the Safeer portal.2 We set out its tracks in scholarships for Saudi students.
A Saudi student may still need the platform for another reason: a friend or relative living in another country asks about it. Then you point the way and do not apply for them. Their ID and details stay with them.
How do I apply for the Study in Saudi scholarship?
- Open the platform yourself
Type the official address into the browser. Do not tap a link from a message or a post.
- Complete your profile
The page tells a user their profile is incomplete and asks them to finish it before applying to academic programmes.1
- Choose the institution and programme
Scholarships are applied for through the institution you want to attend.1 Read each university’s own conditions.
- Wait for the institution’s review
The institution reviews your application first. Final admission is then completed by the institution and the Ministry of Education.1
- Follow it in your account
Do not trust a message saying you were accepted. Acceptance shows in your account on the platform, so read it there.
If you are at university now and thinking of a master’s or doctorate after graduation, read scholarship after a bachelor’s to see how to screen programmes before you apply.
How do I know the scholarship link is official?
Easier than people think. The platform itself says Saudi government websites end in gov.sa and use HTTPS, and it asks you to check that before entering personal information.1 A link that does not end that way is unofficial until shown otherwise. And a lookalike page that adds a letter or swaps the domain is exactly what that rule is for.
There is a second sign. Official bodies do not ask you to send a passport and certificate photos over WhatsApp or email. The ministry’s overseas scholarship FAQ says applications go through the portal only and an emailed one is not accepted.2 That is another program’s rule, but it shows how the body works. We keep a guide on financial fraud in Saudi Arabia too.
What should I ask the university before accepting?
The platform introduces the chances, and the detail sits with the university. Ask the admissions office what the generic page leaves out. What does the award cover exactly? Which papers are needed, in what approved form? When does applying close for this semester? The platform shows an application window for one particular semester, and dates change, so we print none here. Do not trust a figure you read in a post.
Hello, I am [name], applying to [programme name] through the Study in Saudi platform. Please confirm the funding types available for the programme, the documents needed, the closing date for the coming semester and how I can follow my application status. Thank you.
After you swap the names, the same message works for a friend you are helping. And if your own worry is stretching your monthly budget in the study year, start with a personal financial plan and see what a student plan can cut in student deals.
