Study In Saudi Arabia
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About
Almost 29 universities rank in the top QS University Rankings list of academic institutions. Saudi Arabia is among the top 20 economies in the whole wide world. The deserts of Saudi Arabia, which cover much of the country, are a popular day excursion from major cities. Saudi Arabian students are not permitted to work while studying. They can work after finishing their studies if they have a valid work permit. Admissions to Saudi Arabian universities are based on the results of the General Aptitude Test (GAT) and SAAT. The top universities in Saudi Arabia have the best universities offering hands-on experience in several modern courses in trade, business, education, technology, transport, architecture, and culture. To be eligible to study in any of the aforementioned universities, all of the international students must have an excellent command of the English language. The cost of living in Saudi Arabia varies from SAR 1,000 to SAR 3,000 depending on the number of rooms you choose. The public education system is not available to international students who are not Muslims. Private universities charge between SAR 81,000 and SAR 160,000 for a Master of Business Administration. Thus, you may consult with Udrus, which is the most dependable platform for connecting like-minded hopefuls under one umbrella to address educational inquiries pertaining to applications, visa, admission, fees structure, and other similar issues.
Study Cost
Before making the big decision of starting off with your studies in Saudi Arabia, you must decide which among private or public universities you want to study in. Depending on that, you will be acknowledging the tuition costs. The public education system is not available to international students who are not Muslims and they are ought to study in private universities. The price varies by institution and course; for example, a Master of Business Administration at the Saudi Electronic University costs SAR 81,000 in total.
Living Cost
If you plan to study abroad, you must first learn about the cost of living in the country where you will be studying.
Transportation Cost: Saudi Arabia has a well-developed bus and taxi network as a public transport system. Taxis are the fastest and most efficient mode of transportation. As Sharia law prohibits women from driving, taxi cabs are the most common mode of transportation.
A single bus ticket costs roughly $0.53 if you choose to ride the bus. A $40 monthly bus pass is available. If you prefer to use a taxi, you can expect to pay around $0.86 per mile. A gallon of gas costs $0.97 on average.
Food Cost: When we talk about food in Saudi Arabia, the major fact is that it has the best shawarma. With the rise in taxation and new VAT, the cost of eating out in restaurants keeps on accelerating. A simple meal may cost you SAR 25 whereas a lavish meal in a royal restaurant may cost you no less than SAR 400 for two people.
Grocery Cost: If you are a foodie and love to prepare your own food, then you can count on the prices for the most essential items that have been stated below:
- Milk (l liter) – SAR 6
- 1 loaf of bread – SAR 2
- 1 dozen eggs – SAR 9
- Bananas (1 kg) – SAR 6
- Water (1.5 liters) – SAR 2
- Cappuccino will cost you SAR 14
Note: Alcohol is highly prohibited in Saudi Arabia, which is a fiercely Islamic country; the penalties for possessing, selling, or buying alcohol are harsh.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Saudi Arabia is not a big deal as you get apartments, hostels, and or dorms at the most affordable rates. There are choices between both furnished and unfurnished apartments pertaining to the choices of the students (although the prices vary majorly). The living costs may amount to SAR 1,000 and SAR 3,000 in a month depending on the number of rooms you choose to select namely, one or three, and also the city you choose.
Apartments, townhouses, and villas are examples of different types of lodging. Residential units are normally divided by gender, with family housing available for those who live with their spouse and/or children.
Universities
Whether you want to pursue Bachelors’s, Masters or doctorate degree, the top universities in Saudi Arabia have the best universities offering hands-on experience in several modern courses in trade, business, tourism, education, technology, transport, architecture, and culture that you are likely to opt. Take a look at the list of universities that fall under the rank of offering a world-class education.
Founded in the year 1967, King Abdulaziz University educated more than 82,000 students with separate campuses meant for males and females. Located in Jeddah city, it ranks 143rd in the world, offering mechanical engineering, agriculture & forestry, and pharmacy along with art and design, humanities, sciences, medicine, pharmacy, business, law, and dentistry.
2. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Founded in the year 1963, the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals is located in Dhahran city that has educated over 7000 students in a wide variety of subjects namely, engineering, science, and business. It only admits males and has been found among the 25 top universities for mineral and mining engineering.
Founded in the year 1957, King Saud University is located in the city of Riyadh which is the capital of Saudi Arabia. The university focuses on teaching almost 51,000 students (female) every year in life sciences and engineering and stands in the 150th rank for mechanical engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture.
Study Visa
Applying for a student visa is a fundamental task lying on the part of the international students by consulting with the embassy before arriving, in advance. There are some basic requirements that are deemed necessary for the student visa and they are listed below:
- Original passport with at least two successive empty visa pages, valid for at least six months.
- A visa referral note: issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of its branches in Jeddah or Dammam, indicating the number and date of the visa.
- One original and one copy of the applicant’s birth certificate.
- One copy of the applicant’s original high school diploma.
- Three passport-size colored images on a white background, as well as a medical report in three copies with all lab findings.
- Detailed information concerning the applicant’s criminal record, if any, from a police report issued within six months prior to the date of application.
Also, note that you are allowed to stay only until the expiry date of the visa and throughout the duration you are ought to abide by the country’s Islamic laws and regulations and conform to all the norms and values applicable for international students in Saudi Arabia.
Currency in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR). 1 SAR is roughly equal to $0.27 USD. Cash is frequently accepted, although cards and cheques are not.
To open a bank account in Saudi Arabia, you’ll generally need to bring the following items:
- Your travel document
- Address proof is required (i.e. a tenancy agreement)
- Proof of your university’s enrollment
- Your permission to stay in the country
- You have a student visa.
Student checklist:
- Purse/wallet with $300 in local currency
- Documents of great importance (passport, visa, itinerary, plane tickets, ISIC card, etc.)
- Adapter for outlets
- Sunglasses/supplementary eye wear/contact lenses
- Mobile phone (You won’t be allowed to use it in your host nation, but it’ll come in handy if you get trapped in domestic airports and need to call someone about missed flights, etc.)
- Laptop and charger (remember that the plug on your charger requires an outlet adapter to work)
- Camera, charger, and cords
- Bed linens/sheets
- Towels for the bathroom
- Prescription medications sufficient for the duration of your stay (you must ensure that you are permitted to carry them into the country and that you have evidence, either the prescription or the prescriptions
- (for long plane/train travel) P3 Player/ iPod
- Sleep sack/ sleeping bag
- Pack a bag (for daily use and as your carry while traveling)
- Plastic bottles for toiletries that can be carried in your carry-on or used on the go (the maximum is usually 100 ml)
- Nalgene bottle/water bottle
Financial Assistance/Funding for international students
If you are willing to study in Saudi Arabia for the completion of your higher degrees, then you can count on the variegated scholarships that fund your education throughout your program tenure in Saudi Arabia. Some of the scholarships have been stated below:
1. Prince Sultan University Fully-Funded International Scholarships in Saudi Arabia
Apply for Prince Sultan University’s (founded in the year 1999) Fully-Funded International Scholarships to gain the technical skills needed to boost your career in cyber security. The primary goal of this funding initiative is to assist and fully support excellent international students who are interested in starting a master’s degree program in the academic years.
2. KAUST Al-Khwarizmi Doctoral Fellowships in Saudi Arabia
Founded in the year 2009, the Kaust Al-Khwarizmi Doctoral Fellowships in Saudi Arabia offer educational and graduate training programs in English as the official language. Also, as KAUST is a co-ed educational institution (first in Saudi Arabia), it ranks as the 19th fastest growing university with an amazing academic performance in science and technology.
3. Deanship of the Faculty of Science International Scholarships at Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia
The Deanship of the Faculty of Science International Scholarships at the Islamic University of Madinah is for international students who want to pursue undergraduate courses in Saudi Arabia. All the science stream people who have amazing scoring qualities can apply for it!
4. IU Fully-Funded Bachelor of Science International Scholarship in Saudi Arabia
The IU Fully-Funded Bachelor of Science International Scholarship is another scholarship for undergraduate aspirants coming to Saudi Arabia. It was founded in the year 1961, for several courses that they are interested to opt to pursue their career in.
5. Ambassador of Academic Excellence Scholarships at Effat University, Saudi Arabia
The Ambassador of Academic Excellence Scholarships at Effat University is another amazing scope of scholarship that financially funds the education of students in all the bachelor’s degree programs by making education entirely easy and affordable.
Requirements
Saudi Arabia is known as one of the best locations in the world that impart world-class education to its international students enrolling in the top universities located in vivid cities of the country.
Popular Courses To Study In Saudi Arabia
Although there are a lot of English-taught course programs, some of the most popular courses that international students have chosen in Saudi Arabia comprise of,
Business degrees, computer degrees, engineering degrees, medicine, and natural science degrees.
How To Apply In The Universities?
There are a set of norms that you need to abide by, and some crucial eligibility criteria to undergo while applying to any of the major universities in Saudi Arabia. Some of the most essential ones are as envisaged:
Documents Required:
- A copy of your diploma (high school diploma or bachelor’s degree)
- A copy of your previous course transcripts/records
- A copy of your passport and/or birth certificate in digital format
- Your curriculum vitae
- Test results
- Evidence of a scholarship or financial assistance
- recommendation letters (2 or 3)
- Writing examples and/or a portfolio
Scores Required For Admission:
- For Bachelor programs: 2.00 out of 4.00
- For Master’s programs, a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.00 is required.
- For Doctoral studies, a master’s degree with a GPA of 3.00 is required.
Also, admissions to Saudi Arabian universities are based on the results of the General Aptitude Test (GAT) and the Standardized Achievement Aptitude Test (SAAT). The National Center for Assessment in Higher Education organizes these university admission assessments (QIYAS).
Working While Studying in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian students are not permitted to work while studying. They can work after finishing their studies if they have a valid work permit. Working hours: 8 hours per day on average. Saturday to Wednesday is the working week, with Thursday and Friday being the weekend. Some private enterprises, however, work on Thursdays as well.
Medical Insurance
To receive medical care in Saudi Arabia, students must obtain private international health insurance. A regular doctor’s office visit costs $30-$60 with private health insurance. The Ministry of Health owns and operates more than half of Saudi Arabia’s hospitals. All international students ought to ensure that they have the health and travel insurance that is required before entering the country. In case of any health urgency/ surgery/ or illness, this will help you get treatments at minimal costs and act as a shield throughout your stay in Saudi Arabia.
English language proficiency
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS Academic
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
Why Study In Saudi Arabia
While combing the abroad universities in the USA, the UK, Germany, and other countries that are the most talked topic in town, you must be missing out on one of the most amazing countries that have abundant resources in terms of academics and job rewards at your disposal, and that is Saudi Arabia. If you want the best reasons to study in any of the top universities for a preferred course program in Saudi Arabia, then count on the following.
Education Versatility: Almost 29 universities rank in the top QS University Rankings list of academic institutions where international students are willing to pursue higher education in Saudi Arabia. Most of the degrees pertaining to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctorate education last for a duration of four years. It has been found that over 20 percent of the annual budget of Saudi Arabia is invested in higher educational degrees to over 25 public universities and 65 private universities.
State-of-the-art Amenities: Undoubtedly, Saudi Arabia has a fascinating economic evolution being among the top 20 economies in the whole wide world. This makes it an evergreen contributor to the modernized infrastructure and facilities from air conditioning, gyms, swimming pools, and restaurants.
Working Opportunities: You will be occupied with numerous working opportunities while studying in Saudi Arabia. The universal economic development of this country opens job opportunities in terms of finance and manufacturing, oil, IT, healthcare, banking, teaching, telecommunications, and construction industries. Once you qualify from the universities with your degrees, you can apply to the top companies in Saudi Arabia namely, AE Systems, Cisco Systems, Procter & Gamble, Schlumberger, Nestlé, and Siemens.
Student Life: Being an international student, you can engage yourself in a major series of leisure activities like, gyms that are segregated for both men and women, followed by theatre, cinema, and other community activities that will help you socialize with people from vivid countries.
Sightseeing and Traveling: The crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea are home to a vast variety of marine life, making Saudi Arabia a world-renowned scuba-diving destination. The deserts of Saudi Arabia, which cover much of the country, are a popular day excursion from the major cities and can be explored by camel, jeep, or quad bike.
