Australian Universities Recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Education

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The Australian universities recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Education (وزارة التعليم) are those listed for the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث) and in the Ministry’s "recommended universities" service used for degree equivalency. The program’s Australia page lists 22 institutions by city, and each scholarship track has a narrower list (top 30 for the Arruaad track, top 200 for the Emdad and Research & Development tracks). This guide explains the lists, the rankings and how to choose.

Which Australian universities are recognised, and where is the official list?

There are two official doors to recognition in Saudi Arabia, and they should not be confused:

1) The scholarship program list (for scholarship students)

The Ministry of Education publishes its "approved universities" for the program on the Australia page of the scholarship countries list. It contains 22 institutions (page last updated 14 January 2024), grouped as follows:

City	Institutions listed
Sydney and region	University of Sydney, Macquarie University, University of Technology Sydney, Australian Catholic University, Western Sydney University (Penrith), University of Wollongong, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (Leura)
Melbourne	University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, Deakin University, Swinburne University of Technology
Brisbane	University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University
Canberra	The Australian National University
Perth	University of Western Australia, Curtin University
Adelaide	Flinders University
Other cities	Charles Darwin University (Darwin), Charles Sturt University (Bathurst), University of New England (Armidale)

Note that this general list differs from the track lists: the Arruaad (Pioneers) track requires an offer from "the top 30 educational institutions according to the program’s list", while the Emdad track and the Research & Development track require the top 200; each track’s list is viewed inside the program platform when applying. The Ministry announced that Arruaad opened for applications in September 2026; its conditions are set out in our Arruaad track guide.

2) The recommended universities service (for equivalency and self-funded students)

A self-funded student who will later need degree equivalency should check the Ministry’s recommended universities inquiry service. The service is free; you select country, university, field and degree level, and the Ministry states the list was built on criteria that align with the university’s standing and academic level and the rules of the degree equivalency committee. Check it before paying any fees, because an offer from a university that is not recommended may mean the degree cannot be equated.

3) Australian registration itself: CRICOS

On the Australian side, any institution enrolling students on a student visa must be listed on the government’s CRICOS register, and every course has a CRICOS code that appears on your offer letter. CRICOS registration is required for the visa, but it does not mean recognition by the Saudi Ministry of Education; the two requirements are independent.

What is the Group of Eight (Go8) and why is it always mentioned?

The Group of Eight (Go8) is the alliance of Australia’s major research universities. According to the Go8 website, its members are the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, the Australian National University (ANU), Monash University, the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia and Adelaide University. The group states that its members receive almost 70% of Australia’s Category 1 competitive research grant funding, and that all eight rank in the world’s top 100 in the QS World University Rankings.

Why does it matter to you? Because all eight sit within the higher track lists, and because they are usually the most expensive. It does not mean they are the best for every field; universities such as UTS, QUT and RMIT lead in particular applied disciplines.

How does the QS ranking differ from THE?

The two rankings most cited in scholarship files are the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. QS is released each June and carries the following year’s name; THE is released in October. QS gives heavy weight to academic and employer reputation, while THE leans more on research, teaching and citation indicators. The same university therefore sits at different positions in each, as the table shows:

University	QS 2027 per ABC News – 18 June 2026	THE 2026 per THE – 27 November 2025
UNSW Sydney	19	79
University of Melbourne	22	37
University of Sydney	28	=53
Australian National University (ANU)	29	=73
Monash University	31	=58
University of Queensland	40	=80
University of Western Australia	77	153
University of Adelaide	79	133
UTS	87	=145
Macquarie University	—	=166

QS 2027 positions are from ABC News on 18 June 2026; THE 2026 positions are from THE’s best universities in Australia page, updated 27 November 2025. Study Australia reported on 22 June 2026 that 9 Australian universities are in the QS 2027 top 100, 27 in the top 500 and 35 in the top 1000. THE 2026 places 6 Australian universities in the top 100 and 10 in the top 200 according to Study Australia on 9 October 2025.

Which ranking does the Ministry of Education use?

The track lists (top 30 and top 200) are "according to the program’s list" in the wording of the Arruaad track page, meaning the Ministry builds its own list rather than copying a single ranking. The practical rule: check the track list inside the platform, and do not assume a QS or THE position is enough.

A useful caution about rankings

ABC News quoted experts noting that rankings emphasise research metrics rather than employment outcomes or student satisfaction. A ranking is a door into a track, not a measure of your specific program’s quality.

How should a student choose the right university for their field?

Make the decision in four layers, in order:

Layer one: is the university and program on your track’s list?

Start from the track list, not the world ranking. The track requires a "final, unconditional" offer issued by the admissions office according to the Arruaad track conditions, and the program does not include a language year for English-speaking countries according to the program FAQ. If you are self-funded, start from the recommended universities service.

Layer two: the field before the university name

The university at the top of the overall ranking may not be the strongest in your field. Compare subject rankings in QS and THE, program content, work-integrated learning, and professional accreditation (such as Engineers Australia for engineering or CPA/CA for accounting) on the program page.

Layer three: city and cost

Fees differ between universities by tens of thousands of dollars, and housing is the biggest difference between cities. Weigh ranking against cost, and remember that a scholarship student’s fees are covered while a self-funded student pays them; read our guide to Saudi scholarship programs to see what each track covers before deciding.

Layer four: the entry requirements you actually meet

GPA, English score and prerequisites (such as mathematics for engineering). Admission to a top-30 university (Arruaad list) usually demands a higher English score and GPA; if you do not meet them, a Foundation program or pathway diploma may be the shortest route, which is where we work with Navitas and Study Group.

Universities outside the top 100 that are on the list

Many universities on the Saudi list are not in the world top 100 yet hold strong positions: THE 2026 places Deakin, QUT and Wollongong in the 201–250 band, and Curtin and Griffith in 251–300. These universities are often lower in fees and easier to enter, and suit the Emdad track (top 200) more than Arruaad.

Do the available universities differ by degree and track?

Yes. The four tracks differ in target degree and in the depth of their list, according to the tracks page and each track’s page:

Track	Degrees	List depth	What the track page says
Arruaad (Pioneers)	Bachelor’s and master’s	Top 30 institutions	All fields, on-campus study, 8 countries (page updated 18 March 2025)
Emdad	Bachelor’s and master’s	Top 200 institutions	8 high-demand fields, 15 countries
Research & Development	PhD	Top 200 institutions	Final unconditional offer from the program list
Waaid	Re-skilling and training	Partner employers	Pass the partner’s selection criteria; English scores set per program

What "final unconditional offer" means for your choice

The track pages allow an offer conditional on language study only in non-English-speaking countries. Australia is English-speaking, so the offer from an Australian university must be final and issued by the admissions office, according to the Arruaad track conditions. In practice: choose a university whose English and GPA requirements you can meet before applying for the scholarship, not after.

Where do colleges and pathway programs fit?

The official list is not limited to comprehensive universities; it includes, for example, the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, which specialises in hospitality. Foundation programs and pathway diplomas offered by partner colleges such as Navitas and Study Group are a route for self-funded students, or for those improving their profile before applying for the scholarship, because the scholarship requires a final university offer. We work with Navitas on academic pathway programs, and Study Group awarded us its Perfect Performance award for best agent in Saudi Arabia in 2021 and an outstanding performance certificate in 2024, as announced on our X account.

Questions to ask every university before accepting an offer

• What is the course’s CRICOS code, when does it start (intake), and what is the deadline to accept and pay the first instalment?
• Is the offer unconditional, or conditional on an English score or GPA? The track does not accept conditional offers.
• Is the program professionally accredited in your field, and does it include work-integrated learning?
• What is the annual fee, and is it reviewed yearly? (UNSW, for example, states fees are reviewed annually and may increase.)
• What exactly is the English requirement, and which tests do both the university and Home Affairs accept?

How to verify a specific university in five steps

1. Open the Australia page of the scholarship program and confirm the university is listed, then check your track’s list inside the platform.
2. If self-funded, query the recommended universities service for the university, field and degree.
3. Search for the course on CRICOS and note its code; you will need it for the visa.
4. Compare the university’s QS and THE position for your subject, not just the overall table.
5. Read the admission and English requirements on the program page, then apply to two or three universities at different levels; the program allows more than one application across tracks or universities, with one accepted on merit, according to the Arruaad track page.

How KD International helps you choose

KD International is a Saudi-Australian education consultancy and university admissions company operating since 2015, with offices in Riyadh and Sydney, and describes itself as the leading intermediary between Saudi students and Australian universities. Our admissions service is free for students applying to scholarship-program fields at universities recognised by the Ministry of Education. We organised the Australian Universities Forum in Riyadh in 2023 and 2024, attended by the Australian Ambassador, and hosted meetings with representatives of Monash, Macquarie, Wollongong, Sydney and Torrens. In a post in January 2023 we referred to 28 recognised Australian universities at that time; the list changes, and the Ministry’s page is always the reference.

We help match your field, GPA and English score to the track lists, and obtain offers from more than one university so you can choose, without promising an admission we do not control. Next step: register your details on the application form or contact us with the universities you are considering, and we will tell you which apply to your track.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• أستراليا | قائمة دول الابتعاث — برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث – وزارة التعليم
• مسار الرواد — برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث – وزارة التعليم
• مسار إمداد — برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث – وزارة التعليم
• مسار البحث والتطوير — برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث – وزارة التعليم
• الأسئلة الأكثر شيوعاً — برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث – وزارة التعليم
• استعلام عن الجامعات الموصى بها — وزارة التعليم
• CRICOS – Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students — Australian Government Department of Education
• The Go8 — Group of Eight Australia
• Australian universities make ‘historic’ global rankings — ABC News
• Australia excels again in QS World University Rankings 2027 — Study Australia (Australian Government)
• Best universities in Australia 2026 — Times Higher Education
• Australia shines again in Times World University Rankings 2026 — Study Australia (Australian Government)

Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.