Checkout the Is it cheap to Study in Saudi Arabia....
Apr 09, 2025 03:04:46
Public universities: Many offer free or very low-cost education, particularly for students on scholarships.
Private universities: These can be more expensive, with tuition ranging from $5,000 to $20,000+ per year, depending on the program and institution.
Scholarships often cover tuition, accommodation, monthly stipends, healthcare, and even airfare.
Examples: King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals offer full scholarships for international students.
Cost of living is relatively affordable compared to the U.S., UK, or Europe.
Housing: Around $200–$500/month depending on location and whether you stay in student housing or rent privately.
Food & Transport: Fairly cheap — public transport is growing, but many students rely on ride-sharing or university buses.
Student visas are typically sponsored by the university.
Part-time work for international students is limited, so budgeting ahead is key.
Tuition Fees:
Public universities: Often free or very low for both local and international students (especially under scholarships like the King Abdullah Scholarship Program).
Private universities: Around $2,500–$10,000 per year depending on the program.
Living Costs:
Around $500–$1,000/month, depending on the city and lifestyle.
Scholarships:
Generous government-funded scholarships (e.g., KAUST, King Saud University, Islamic University of Madinah).
Often include tuition, housing, monthly stipend, and even airfare.
Tuition Fees:
Public universities: $10,000–$25,000/year for international students.
Private universities: $30,000–$60,000/year.
Living Costs:
$1,000–$2,000/month.
Scholarships:
Limited for undergraduates, competitive for graduate students.
Tuition Fees:
£10,000–£38,000/year (~$12,500–$48,000), depending on course and university.
Living Costs:
£1,000–£1,500/month, higher in London.
Scholarships:
Chevening, Commonwealth, university-specific awards.
Tuition Fees:
$15,000–$35,000/year.
Living Costs:
Around $800–$1,500/month.
Scholarships:
Available but limited; competitive.
Tuition Fees:
Public universities: Free or very low (~€200–€500/semester).
Private universities: €5,000–€20,000/year.
Living Costs:
Around €800–€1,200/month.
Scholarships:
DAAD and others.
For Saudi citizens: Often free, especially in public universities.
For international students: Many public universities offer scholarships, especially for students from Muslim countries or those applying for Islamic studies, Arabic, or science/engineering programs.
Without a scholarship: $2,000 to $5,000 USD/year, but this varies.
Tuition can range between $6,000 to $20,000+ USD/year, depending on the university and program.
Example: Prince Sultan University or Alfaisal University have higher tuition fees compared to public schools.
Accommodation: $200 – $700 USD (shared housing vs. single apartment)
Food: $150 – $300 USD
Transportation: $50 – $100 USD
Miscellaneous: $50 – $100 USD
Annual living cost: Roughly $4,000 – $10,000 USD
Public university with scholarship: Almost free or minimal costs for living only
Public university without scholarship: $6,000 – $12,000 USD
Private university: $10,000 – $30,000+ USD
Which is the Cheapest University in Saudi Arabia for International Students
Most public universities in Saudi Arabia are tuition-free for Saudi citizens and often for international students if they’re on scholarships.
Full tuition coverage
Free accommodation (on-campus housing)
Monthly stipend (varies, but often $250–$800/month)
Free healthcare
Airfare ticket (to and from your home country once a year)
Sometimes even meals and transportation within the university
One of the biggest and most prestigious
Offers fully funded scholarships for many programs, especially science, medicine, Arabic, Islamic studies
Offers fully funded master’s and PhD scholarships for international students
Covers everything mentioned above
Best for engineering, science, and technology fields
Fully funded graduate programs for international students
Focuses on Islamic studies, Arabic language, and related fields
Fully funded bachelor’s programs for Muslim male students
For women only (including international students)
Offers scholarships to
Public universities in Saudi Arabia often do not charge tuition fees for international students who are on scholarships.
Even without a scholarship, tuition is generally lower than in Western countries.
Private universities may charge more, but they're still often more affordable than similar institutions in the West.
Very generous scholarship programs are available for international students.
Offered by top universities like King Saud University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).
Most scholarships cover:
Full tuition
Monthly stipend (~$250–$1,000 depending on level)
Free housing
Healthcare
Travel costs (including annual round-trip tickets)
Saudi Arabia's cost of living is moderate compared to Western countries.
University-provided housing is often free or subsidized.
Food, transportation, and other daily expenses are relatively low.
Cities like Riyadh and Jeddah are more expensive than smaller towns, but still manageable, especially with scholarship support.
Cultural and religious norms are different, so international students should be open to adapting.
Many programs are in English, especially for graduate-level STEM courses.
The quality of education is strong in technical fields (engineering, IT, sciences), especially at the top universities.
