Fully-Funded Saudi Scholarships: The Complete Program List

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Fully-funded Saudi scholarship programs fall into three categories: government programs overseen by the Ministry of Education, corporate programs launched by major companies such as Aramco, SABIC, Ma’aden and NEOM, and an independent program run by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). All of them cover tuition fees, and most add a monthly stipend, health insurance and travel tickets. However, they differ in admission requirements, approved university lists, and post-graduation employment obligations.

If you’re just starting to explore this landscape, you can refer to Saudi Scholarship Programs: A Complete Guide to All Pathways, from King Salman Scholarship to Cultural Scholarships to get the full picture before reading the details of each program here.

What Are Fully-Funded Scholarship Programs?

These are programs in which the sponsoring body — whether the Ministry of Education, a major company, or a university — covers the full cost of studying abroad: tuition fees, monthly stipend, health insurance, and sometimes travel tickets and accommodation. In return, the student commits to specific academic conditions, and in some programs, to working for the sponsoring organisation for a number of years after graduation.

Royal approval was issued in 2005 for sending students abroad for undergraduate and postgraduate study to meet labour market needs, and the Safeer platform was launched in 2010 to connect scholarship students with the Ministry Saudi Ministry of Education. Since then, the system has expanded to include partnerships with private sector companies and universities.

King Salman Scholarship Program "برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث": The Four Pathways

The King Salman Scholarship Program is the largest official umbrella program, allowing students to apply to study abroad through four pathways: Al-Ruwwad (Pioneers), Emdad, Research and Development, and Waeid Saudi Ministry of Education. General requirements include a high school GPA of at least 90%, along with a minimum score of 80% in both the Qudrat (Aptitude) and Tahsili (Achievement) tests Saudi Ministry of Education.

Al-Ruwwad (Pioneers) Pathway

The Al-Ruwwad pathway aims to send students to the top 30 educational institutions in the world for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and requires a direct, unconditional offer from one of these universities Ministry of Education – Scholarship Program Website.

Emdad Pathway

The Emdad pathway aims to send students to the top 200 universities and institutes worldwide in fields with high labour market demand, for bachelor’s or master’s degrees Ministry of Education – Scholarship Program Website.

Research and Development Pathway

The Research and Development pathway targets PhD degrees only, and requires admission to one of the top 200 institutions under this pathway Ministry of Education – Scholarship Program Website.

Waeid Pathway

Waeid is one of the King Salman Scholarship Program pathways, aimed at sending students to study in promising sectors and fields based on national requirements and major projects. Some of its programs end in mandatory employment with partner companies, and its details are managed through the Ministry of Education’s Safeer platform Ministry of Education – Safeer Platform. This pathway is distinctive in that it launches multiple intakes throughout the year with different companies and organisations, and each intake has its own application deadline and specific requirements. So always check the official Waeid Pathway page to see what opportunities are currently open, as older opportunities close quickly and don’t necessarily recur with the same details.

Alongside these four pathways, terms like "Excellence" pathway sometimes appear in discussions of the King Salman Scholarship Program, as well as the "Cultural Scholarship" run by the Ministry of Culture. It’s recommended to follow the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture pages directly for the latest requirements when applications for these pathways open.

Corporate Scholarship Programs

Saudi Aramco

In a previous cycle (2024), Saudi Aramco announced the opening of applications for its University Scholarship Program for high school graduates. After completing a one-year university preparation program, students are sent to top global universities based on the company’s needs. Program requirements included that applicants not exceed 22 years of age (Hijri calendar) and hold an unconditional offer from a university ranked among the top 30 globally in their field according to the QS ranking. These requirements are specific to the 2024 cycle and may change in the next cycle, so check Aramco’s current official announcement when applications open.

SABIC

The SABIC Scholarship Program aims to attract young Saudi talent to continue their university studies inside or outside the Kingdom in scientific and administrative fields determined annually based on the company’s needs. Requirements include a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 out of 4, and an English score of at least STEP 80 or equivalent (IELTS 6 / TOEFL iBT 70); applicants targeting China require a minimum HSK score of 5. As for the monthly stipend amount in Saudi riyals, confirm it directly with SABIC when applying, as figures vary across unofficial sources.

NEOM

The NEOM Scholarship Program targets high school graduates from the sons and daughters of the NEOM and Tabuk regions, enrolling them in international and local universities before employing them in NEOM sectors. Requirements include being a Saudi national from the NEOM and Tabuk region, an aptitude test score of 80% or higher, and a high school cumulative GPA of 90% or higher. NEOM’s external, employment-based scholarship program targets outstanding students from the local community and offers them the opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree from one of the top 100 universities in the world, at universities in the Kingdom, the UK and the US, with graduates then placed in NEOM sector jobs matching the required specialised skills and expertise. These details are specific to the 2024 cycle, and age and graduation requirements may differ in subsequent cycles, so check the current cycle’s announcement.

Ma’aden

In a previous cycle, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the opening of registration for the employment-linked scholarship program with Ma’aden under the Waeid pathway, for bachelor’s degree study at the Colorado School of Mines in the US and the University of New South Wales in Australia, running from 19 July to 2 August 2026 Saudi Press Agency (SPA). This window has now actually closed: registration ended on 2 August 2026, weeks before this update, so don’t rely on it to apply now. If you’re looking for a similar opportunity, check the official Waeid Pathway page to see if a new intake has opened with Ma’aden or other companies under this pathway, as it continuously opens and closes new opportunities throughout the year. This is a direct example of how the Waeid pathway intersects with corporate programs, and it’s particularly relevant for anyone considering study in Australia specifically; if you’re weighing this option, also see University Admission in Australia for Saudi Students: The Complete Guide to understand Australian university admission requirements.

KAUST Fellowship: A Scholarship With No Prior Approval Needed

Every student admitted to KAUST automatically receives the KAUST Fellowship, which includes full tuition coverage, university housing, health insurance and relocation support, with a total value ranging between US$70,000 and US$80,000 annually depending on the student’s circumstances. The monthly stipend under the KAUST Fellowship is approximately US$20,000 annually for master’s students, and between US$25,000 and US$30,000 annually for PhD students, depending on qualifications and academic progress. What sets this program apart is that it doesn’t require applying through the Ministry of Education — admission to the university itself is the gateway to funding.

Other Programs Within the System

Alongside the programs above, there are narrower-scope programs announced periodically, such as scholarships for health specialisations through health agreements, scholarships for space-related fields, scholarships for teaching assistants and lecturers (faculty members), and the Cultural Scholarship run by the Ministry of Culture. Details of these programs and their opening dates change from cycle to cycle, and it’s more accurate to follow them directly from the Ministry of Education’s website or the announcing body whenever a new announcement is made.

Quick Comparison of Leading Programs

Program	Sponsoring Body	Approved Universities	Key Requirement	Post-Graduation Employment
Al-Ruwwad Pathway	Ministry of Education	Top 30 globally	Prior unconditional offer	Not mandatory
Emdad Pathway	Ministry of Education	Top 200 globally	Fields with market demand	Not mandatory
Research and Development	Ministry of Education	Top 200 (PhD)	PhD degree only	Not mandatory
Waeid Pathway	Ministry of Education and partners	Varies by partnership and intake	National sectors and projects	Varies by intake
Aramco	Saudi Aramco	Top 30 per QS	Age not exceeding 22 (Hijri)	Usually mandatory
SABIC	SABIC	Based on annual need	GPA 2.75/4 and IELTS 6	Usually mandatory
NEOM	NEOM	Top 100 globally	From NEOM and Tabuk region	Mandatory
Ma’aden	Ministry of Industry/Ma’aden	Colorado School of Mines, UNSW	Under Waeid Pathway	Mandatory
KAUST	The university itself	KAUST only	University admission	Not mandatory

How Do You Apply for a Fully-Funded Scholarship Program?

Application steps are broadly similar across most programs, with differences in detail depending on each body:

1. Check your high school cumulative GPA and your scores in the Qudrat and Tahsili tests, as most programs set clear minimum thresholds.
2. Determine the program suitable for your field of study and academic level: bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD.
3. For programs requiring a prior offer, such as Al-Ruwwad and Aramco, start by applying to universities on the approved list before applying for the scholarship itself.
4. Follow application opening dates via the Safeer platform for Ministry of Education programs, or the sponsoring company’s official website, since Waeid pathway opportunities in particular are announced and closed throughout the year.
5. Prepare your official documents and language test results (IELTS or TOEFL) according to the requirements of the sponsoring body and target country.
6. After acceptance, check the obligations tied to the scholarship, especially if it ends with mandatory employment with the sponsoring organisation.

If you’re specifically considering studying in Australia under one of these programs, the KD International team can help with university admission steps, and the company states that its admission service is free for students wishing to enrol in fields and universities approved under Ministry of Education scholarship programs.

Conclusion

This broad system of fully-funded scholarship programs gives you multiple options depending on your field and academic level, but each program has its own conditions and timelines, and some — like the Waeid pathway — change continuously throughout the year. It’s always best to verify financial and timing details from the sponsoring body’s official website before applying. If you’d like help choosing the right program for you, or with university admission procedures in Australia, you can register via the KD International form or contact the team directly.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• برامج الابتعاث — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• الابتعاث – نبذة عن البرنامج — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• مسار الرواد — وزارة التعليم – برنامج الابتعاث
• مسار إمداد — وزارة التعليم – برنامج الابتعاث
• مسار البحث والتطوير — وزارة التعليم – برنامج الابتعاث
• منصة سفير — وزارة التعليم السعودية

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