The fundamental organizing unit of KAUST will not be Schools or Departments, but Research Centers and Academic Divisions.

Research Centers are the primary research units at KAUST. Centers are strategic in nature focusing on topical areas that drive research projects toward achieving their goals.

The initial Research Centers at KAUST will focus on:

• Catalysis
• Clean Combustion
• Computational Bioscience
• Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization Research Center
• Membranes
• Plant Stress Genomics and Technology Research Center
• Red Sea Science and Engineering
• Solar and Alternative Energy Science and Engineering Research Center
• Water Desalination and Reuse Center

A typical Research Center at KAUST will include eight to 10 members of the faculty, 40 to 50 graduate students, research scientists and engineers, postdoctoral researchers, visiting researchers (including resident and visiting scientists from industry) and administrative and technical staff.

The administrative structure of KAUST consists of three Academic Divisions:

• Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering
• Mathematical and Computer Sciences and Engineering
• Physical Sciences and Engineering

Academic Divisions are responsible for educational activities and degree-granting programs. Students at KAUST pursue graduate degrees that span the fundamental and applied sciences.

Each Division operates under the executive direction of a Dean. The Deans are responsible for recommending academic salaries and promotions, setting the Division's instructional schedule and teaching assignments, managing the faculty bassline research enterprise and managing the Division budget and degree programs.

As members of an Academic Division, the faculty teaches graduate courses, supervise M.S. and Ph.D. candidates, and participate in Boards of Study that set the program requirements and standards for the degrees KAUST offers.

Research Centers at KAUST

Academic Divisions at KAUST

KAUST is a graduate-level university.

As of September 2009, KAUST offers two degrees:

• The M.S. degree, which can be a terminal graduate degree or may serve as a gateway to the Ph.D. program. The M.S. degree will typically take 18 months to complete, and will be offered to both traditional full-time students and part-time students; for example, industry-sponsored students on semester-long company leaves.
• The Ph.D. degree is typically a three to four year post-master's degree. The Ph.D. involves original research, culminating in a research dissertation.

KAUST offers degrees in 9 fields of study:

• Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS)
• Bioscience (B)
• Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE)
• Computer Science (CS)
• Earth Science and Engineering (ErSE)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Environmental Science and Engineering (EnSE)
• Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)

The specific degree requirements are outlined in the KAUST Graduate Programs Guide 2009.

The KAUST Graduate Programs Guide 2009 describes all courses that will be available beginning when the campus opens in September 2009.

Recruiting leadership and faculty is an ongoing priority. KAUST began recruiting worldwide in January 2008.

Faculty Information

KAUST faculty will be non-tenured and employed with renewable or rolling two- to five-year contracts.

Unlike a traditional university, where faculty members are tenured and reviewed through a school or department, every KAUST faculty member is a member of one or more Academic Division(s), administrative units designed to organize the University's faculty and academic structures.

If you do not already have official travel documents from your country of residence, we encourage you to obtain them as soon as possible.

Those who receive a KAUST Discovery Scholarship or King Abdullah Scholar Award must obtain a visa to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the annual KAUST Discovery Scholarship Global Conference and for either the start of your degree program of study, or the annual King Abdullah Scholars Global Conference. KAUST will assist recipients in obtaining travel documents to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

To obtain instructions on the visa application process, please refer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Embassy or consulate in your country. If you already have travel documents, please check to make sure that they are valid and up-to-date. You are responsible for paying the costs of obtaining these documents.

Visit the Moving to KAUST section of the Web site to learn more about the University's relocation program.

When KAUST Human Resources receives your signed contract, they will create an account for you in the private relocation Web site and assign you a Relocation Coordinator. The Relocation Coordinator will contact you to begin the relocation process.

Your Relocation Coordinator will provide you with the details of the process to bring your pets along with you.

Your Relocation Coordinator can probably answer most of your questions, or direct you to someone who can. Your Coordinator is reachable by e-mail or through the private relocation Web site. If your question is urgent, you can contact our 24/7 help desk.