Saudi youth can start 2015 right, knowing that they can fund their entire international education as a King Abdullah Scholar. This scholarship, founded in 2005, provides students in Saudi Arabia the opportunity to attend partnering foreign universities through government sponsorship. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education‘s  mission being to foster the professional and intellectual competitiveness of Saudi youth in the international job market and in their own country. Since its establishment, the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) has become the main source of funding for more than 90% of Saudi students who are completing degrees abroad.

The Break Down

Through the King Abdullah Scholarship, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education provides federal funding for students to study the following degrees abroad:

  • bachelor´s
  • master’s
  • doctorate
  • medical fellowship

Scholars may also have the option to use the scholarship in order to enroll in an English institute. In order to be eligible, applicants must be current university students or have at least completed secondary school.

In 2012, about 51% of KASP scholars chose to attend universities in the United States, however other countries chosen by KASP scholars, as their educational destination, include the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and South Africa.

Program Benefits

The scholarship can last up to 5 years with the possibility of extensions. If selected as a King Abdullah Scholar you are granted with the following:

  • full academic tuition
  • a monthly stiped for scholar and dependents (spouse and children)
  • medical and dental coverage
  • rountrip airfare for scholar and dependents

In addition to funding for various degree programs, KASP has also expanded to include an internship program and a patent program for scholars studying in the U.S.  Once enrolled in a university the internship program provides Saudi youth with the opportunity to get practical and hands-on work experience in over 40 U.S. companies. The patent program was put in place in 2011 by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) in order to encourage the innovative ideas of Saudi youth by allowing them to secure a U.S. patent.

For more information regarding the scholarship and application process make sure to check out the Ministry’s website.

If you still need some extra tips on how to pay for your degree abroad, make sure to stop by our Funding Your Education Overseas section for more posts on scholarships and your international loan options.