By the tiswa editorial team, from the official sources listed at the end of this guide. How we write our guides
The Ministry of Education describes Tamayuz as one track of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques overseas scholarship programme, aimed at raising students' scientific qualifications by sending them to distinguished international institutions.1 The question students bring to it is narrower: who gets in, which universities count, and what the application asks for. The ministry's pages answer the first two clearly and leave the grade and English questions open.
What is the Tamayuz track?
The Tamayuz track is one of the tracks in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques overseas scholarship programme. The ministry's page adds new specialisations to it, including tourism and hospitality, sports management and environmental sciences.1 The track has its own list of universities, so check that list for your university and major rather than assuming. For the wider programme, read the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques scholarship.
Who is eligible for the Tamayuz scholarship track?
Nine general conditions apply. The first is Saudi nationality, and the last is passing the competitive ranking for the seats available.1
- Saudi nationality.
- Good conduct and behaviour.
- Unconditional, direct admission to a listed major and institution, for a bachelor's, master's or PhD.
- A programme that is not executive.
- Study in the country where the institution's main centre is.
- Regular enrolment.
- Equivalency for a qualification earned outside the Kingdom.
- Complete and correct documents at registration, matching your official records.
- Passing the competitive ranking for the seats available.
Applications also fall under the ministry's rules for overseas study.1 Two cases catch people. An executive programme does not count, even at a well-known university. Admission from a college of professional studies or continuing education does not count either, and neither does a similar programme run by the core college. The page is explicit that such an offer cannot be used.
Which universities are on the Tamayuz list?
The ministry's list covers 52 public universities approved for the track, for all majors except a named set. Most of them are in the United States.2
| Country | Universities on the list |
|---|---|
| United States | 29 |
| United Kingdom | 6 |
| Canada | 3 |
| France | 3 |
| Mainland China and Hong Kong | 3 |
| Japan | 2 |
| Australia, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, Singapore and Switzerland, one each | 6 |
Examples include Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, the London School of Economics, the Australian National University, the National University of Singapore, ETH Zurich, the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto.2
Majors narrow the list further. The page says the track covers all majors except a set it names, and it calls that set six majors but lists five: Juris Doctor (law), business administration, national security, criminal justice, and political science and international relations. Some universities are approved only for particular majors. That detail sits in a separate PDF and in sub-pages we did not open, so this guide cannot tell you which university goes with which major.2
The track page labels its section 2025-2026, and the list is tied to an academic year without a clearer date.1 Check that the list you read is the one in force before you plan around a particular university.
Is there a GPA requirement for Tamayuz?
No official page we opened gives a minimum GPA or an English score. The conditions say nothing about either, and the application form asks for language test results and approved international exam results without saying which are required.13 Whether a particular university asks for IELTS or TOEFL is not answered by these pages either, so ask the university for its entry rule in writing, including the score and the test it accepts.
The one condition that depends on competition is passing the ranking, and the pages do not say how that ranking is scored.
What documents does the Tamayuz scholarship need?
The ministry lists six document items. The last one covers dependants.1
- A valid passport copy.
- The registered national address.
- A copy of the previous qualification, with the equivalency certificate if it came from outside the Kingdom.
- The official unconditional acceptance letter, stating the major, the start date and the university name.
- A copy of the academic record, the official registration letter from the university, and the study visa if study has started.
- For dependants: the family record and passports, all valid.
The acceptance letter is the document that proves your offer is unconditional, so ask the university to state the major, the start date and its full name before you upload it. Check validity before you start. The national ID must be valid and chip-enabled, and the passport must be valid for at least one year. Renew an expired ID or passport before you register.3 Internet images are not accepted without official authentication, and any document not in Arabic or English needs an English translation.3
How to apply for the Tamayuz scholarship track?
After you confirm eligibility, you apply through the ministry's electronic platform. The service page lists the fee as free, a duration of five business days, working hours of 7:30 to 14:30, and delivery through the portal. The steps below follow that page, with the eligibility check and the post-nomination services added.3
- Check eligibility
Match your offer against the list: the major and the university must be on it, the admission unconditional and direct, and the programme not executive.
- Gather your papers
A valid national ID, a passport valid for at least a year, your registered national address, and your previous qualification with its equivalency certificate if it came from abroad.
- Log in to the platform
Open the platform from the official page, and sign in through Nafath or the ministry's unified login.
- Check your personal information
The personal information page comes first. Confirm it matches your documents and update it before you continue, because a mismatch excludes the applicant.
- Add contact and test details
Enter a permanent mobile number, an active email address, and any language test or approved international exam results you hold.
- Start and follow the application
Click Start Application, then track it on the platform. You must submit it yourself, since delegation is not allowed.
- Use the services after nomination
After nomination, use the electronic services, including an embassy letter that introduces you to the embassy of your study country to speed up the visa.1
Where do I apply for Tamayuz: Safeer or Qubool?
The pages we opened do not settle it. The ministry's track page names Safeer, the service page names Qubool, and we could not confirm which platform is live.13 Start from the ministry's page, not from a search result. If you want the Safeer platform itself explained, read the Safeer platform for Saudi scholarship students.
Does applying guarantee a Tamayuz seat?
No. Applying does not guarantee a scholarship or a seat. Seats are limited in each specialisation and institution, and applications can be compared with each other at any stage.3 If the ministry closes electronic registration, no applications are considered after that.3 If the host embassy asks for a criminal-record report, the ministry page says one may be requested from you.1
What do students get wrong when they apply?
The first mistake is applying on an offer the conditions do not accept: a conditional admission, an offer from a professional studies or continuing education college, or an executive programme.
- Using the university list without checking that it is the current one. The page ties it to an academic year, with no clear year.12
- Assuming a GPA decides the seat, or that grades do not matter at all. The pages set no minimum and do not explain the ranking.13
- Skipping the personal information check. A mismatch between your records and official documents excludes the applicant.3
- Letting an ID or passport expire before registering, or sending a document found online without official authentication.3
- Handing the application to someone else. The page says you must submit it yourself, with no delegation.3
Most of these can be fixed before you press Start Application, because they concern your papers and your offer, not the platform.
Is the Tamayuz stipend published?
No. The official pages we opened give no monthly stipend or allowance amounts for this track, no time between nomination and a decision, and no answer on whether employees may apply. Put those questions to the ministry before you plan a budget or time off work.
