King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is an international, graduate-level research university. Research at KAUST will focus on areas that are important to the future of Saudi Arabia, the region and the world and will take place in world-class facilities serving students, researchers and faculty in disciplines such as energy and environment, water desalination, industrial biotechnology, and scientific computing. All classes at KAUST will be conducted in English. KAUST will create and support the highest standards of scholarship through merit-based opportunities for men and women from around the world.
About KAUST: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/default.aspx

The University is being developed in a unique coastal location on the eastern shore of the Red Sea at Thuwal, approximately 80 kilometers north of Jeddah and approximately an hour north of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Campus Information: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/campus-plan.aspx

As an independent university governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees and supported by a multi-billion dollar endowment, KAUST will convene the best minds – based strictly on merit – and create a collaborative community of passionate and talented researchers from around the world. The University will act as a catalyst for research that applies science and technology to problems of human need, social advancement, and economic development in Saudi Arabia, across the region, and around the globe.

The KAUST campus and surrounding community will incorporate a distinctive blend of traditional regional architecture and modern styles and amenities. The buildings will evoke ancient centers of learning within a context of high-tech science and research facilities. The University will be located in a secure environment featuring a well-planned and landscaped academic core and research laboratories, along with a seaside community and commercial center with a wide variety of shops and housing, from apartments to single-family homes. There will be parks, playgrounds, and schools for families with children; recreation amenities will include a golf course, yacht club, and marina. The campus will overlook the sea, and many of the residences will have waterfront views.
Campus Information: http://kaust.edu.sa/about/campus-and-community.aspx

Please sign up for KAUST news updates using the following form.
Register for KAUST News Updates: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/register.aspx

You may contact KAUST by mail at:
New Address!
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
P.O. Box 55455
Jeddah 21534, Saudi Arabia

KAUST's fundamental organizing unit will be interdisciplinary Research Institutes. Within each Institute will be Research Centers, some of which will be developed in collaboration with other institutions or the private sector. Researchers and scholars across disciplines will be drawn to KAUST to collaborate on specific scientific or technical problems. The first four Institutes will be Resources, Energy and Environment; Biosciences and Bioengineering; Materials Science and Engineering; and Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences.
Institutes and Centers: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/institutes-centers.aspx
Curriculum Features: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/curriculum-features.aspx

KAUST is a graduate-level university and will offer only master’s and Ph.D. levels of education. Traditional “coursework” master’s degrees will be limited, as the emphasis will be on research training.
Degrees & Fields of Study: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/degrees-fields-of-study.aspx
Specific Research Subjects Within Each Field of Study: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/institutes-centers.aspx

KAUST will initially offer degrees in five fields of study:

• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Computational Earth Science and Engineering
• Applied Mathematics and Computer Science
• Biosciences and Bioengineering

It is anticipated that programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering and in Electrical Engineering will be added in subsequent years.

Degrees & Fields of Study: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/degrees-fields-of-study.aspx

The University will offer four horizontal programs containing core courses and electives that will apply across all the scientific and technical fields of study and degrees:

• Communication Skills
• Teaching and Learning of Science & Technology
• Management and Entrepreneurship
• Technology and Society

Curriculum Features: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/curriculum-features.aspx

KAUST is currently establishing academic and research agreements and scholarship programs. The first group of KAUST graduate students will begin their studies in September 2009.

Details regarding regular admission will be made available soon on the student section of the KAUST Web site. In the meantime, you can apply for admission through the KAUST Discovery Scholarship program.
KAUST Discovery Scholarship Information: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/students/discovery-scholarships.aspx

Yes. KAUST is merit-based and will welcome men and women from around the world.

The KAUST Discovery Scholarship is the general scholarship program of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

The scholarship is designed to attract highly talented students from Saudi Arabia and around the world who are qualified and eligible to enroll in KAUST. The University will offer a pre-enrollment version of this general scholarship program to students with one to three years remaining until completion of their first university (bachelor’s) degree. Upon graduation, these students will enter KAUST as master's degree students and complete their graduate studies on a fully funded scholarship.

Students awarded the KAUST Discovery Scholarship will receive the following benefits:

• For the remainder of their first university degree, they will receive:
  • Full tuition to complete their first university degree
  • A living stipend based on their current city and country of residence
  • An allowance to purchase text books
  • An allowance to purchase a laptop
  • All economy class travel costs associated with their participation in KAUST-sponsored enrichment activities throughout the remainder of their current degree program of study. In particular, travel associated with the following activities:
    • Scholarship award ceremony event
    • Global workshop at the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia
    • Regional leadership workshop
• Upon the completion of a first university degree program of study, they will receive:
  • Admission into a master's degree program at the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia
  • A full scholarship at KAUST, including tuition, housing and travel costs

Applicants must complete a secure, on-line application and are required to submit the following information:

• Personal data
• Two (2) letters of reference addressing the academic, leadership and research abilities of the applicant
• Statement of purpose
• Personal statement
• Official academic transcript(s)
• TOEFL or IELTS score

Online Application and Information: www.kaust.edu.sa/students/discovery-apply.aspx

1. Applications are judged on merit in an open and independent review conducted by selection panels composed of international education experts and premier global research faculty from around the world.
2. A global selection panel will then recommend finalists for in-person interviews with KAUST representatives or faculty prior to final selection as Discovery Scholarship recipients.

Selection for the application cycle closing on May 25, 2008, will be made in June-July.  Applicants will be notified in August with selection results.

All applicants must demonstrate proven leadership in research and academic involvement. At a minimum, you must have the following academic qualifications:

• Official university record documenting academic achievement at the highest level
• Current enrollment in a first university degree (bachelor’s) program in a KAUST-related field of study
• 550 TOEFL PBT or 213 TOEFL CBT, 79-80 iBT, or 6.0 on the IELTS for non-native English speakers
• Proven research interest and/or leadership potential
• Ability to enter a master's program at KAUST in September 2009 or after
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum major-field-of-study GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
• 80 credit hours completed, or equivalent by the end of 2008
• Ability to take graduate courses in English

Note: Students studying at universities in Europe should contact scholarships@kaust.edu.sa to receive information on special eligibility considerations for Europe.

• Agreement to matriculate at KAUST following completion of your first university degree (bachelor’s).
• Participation in KAUST-sponsored enrichment activities that include an award ceremony, a workshop in home region, and a conference in Saudi Arabia
• Obtaining necessary documents for travel outside of the your home country (KAUST will assist with travel documents for entrance into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
• Maintenance of the highest academic standards and results at your current university through graduation
• Return of the signed copy of the KAUST Discovery Scholarship Terms and Conditions upon acceptance
• Copies of the first three (3) pages of your international travel documents, which should include your photograph, birth date, location of birth, and expiration date of your travel documents

KAUST expects all selected students to comply with the ongoing conditions of the Scholarship. If it is determined that the scholarship recipient fails to meet the criteria of the scholarship, as defined in the KAUST Discovery Scholarship Terms and Conditions document, the award will be immediately terminated.

KAUST will initially offer degrees in six fields of study:

• Chemical Engineering
• Applied Mathematics and Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Computational Earth Science and Engineering
• Biosciences and Bioengineering

It is anticipated that programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering and in Electrical Engineering will be added in subsequent years.

Specific Research Subjects Within Each Field of Study: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/institutes-centers.aspx

The Institutional Testing Program (ITP) TOEFL test is administered at approved university and secondary school venues frequently. The ITP test is administered using previous version of the official TOEFL. The minimum score for the KAUST Discovery Scholarship is 550. ITP scores are acceptable for the scholarship application only. Recipients will be required to submit official TOEFL scores.

To be eligible for the Discovery Scholarship, you must take the TOEFL ITP or IELTS exam. Exceptions will be considered for students who are from an English-speaking country or are enrolled in universities where English is the language of instruction. KAUST will determine final acceptance after the interview, which KAUST representatives or faculty will conduct in English. Applicants who are unable to produce an English language proficiency test score by the deadline may still apply.  If selected, the award offer will be considered conditional until the student can provide a satisfactory test score at a later date.

Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts or grade reports to the application for review. If selected, applicants will be required to submit official transcripts for verification. All applicants are required to submit transcript or grade reports in English. If the university administration is unable to provide academic records in English, an official translation is required.

If you graduate in 2008 and are selected as a Discovery Scholarship recipient, you would participate in student conferences and enrichment seminars funded by KAUST and be connected with the online KAUST student community until the campus opens in September 2009. Through these experiences you will get to know your fellow students before the University opens. The Discovery Scholarship would fund the remainder of your undergraduate or first university degree. Expenses incurred after you graduate and before you enter KAUST to pursue your master's degree are not covered by the scholarship.

You are required to have an equivalent of 80 credit hours of coursework completed by the end of the 2008 academic year in order to be eligible. You must also be able to matriculate at KAUST in September, 2009 or September, 2010.

Only currently enrolled undergraduate students are eligible for KAUST Discovery Scholarships. Current graduate students are welcome to apply directly to KAUST when general admissions open in 2008. KAUST will post information to the Web site about the general application when it becomes available.

Students who currently receive funding and/or scholarships at their current institution are eligible. KAUST will consider these other funding sources when determining the Discovery Scholarship award amount. Students should check with their university financial aid offices if they have questions regarding their funding, awards, and scholarships.

Yes. While TOEFL test exam scores are preferred, you may submit IELTS scores.

No, you are not required to submit a GRE score. You are required to submit official university documents of your academic achievement at your university and a TOEFL or IELTS score if you are a non-native English speaker.

Interviews, to be conducted in English, are required for finalists in the selection process. KAUST representatives or faculty will conduct interviews in person.

If you have any questions during the application process, you can contact the KAUST Scholarship Office via e-mail at

The KAUST Scholar Award provides support to outstanding doctoral students in academic and research areas related to KAUST (as defined above). The KAUST Scholar Award is a unique opportunity to recognize excellence in academics and research by select graduate students from around the world. KAUST Scholars will promote the fundamental principles of the KAUST mission through their research at leading institutions around the world. As "ambassadors" for the KAUST mission of excellence in global research, KAUST Scholars will adhere to the highest standards of innovation and advancement of academic research. Promoting program goals on a global basis is an integral part of the scholarship.

Awardees will represent KAUST as "ambassadors" at their home institutions, participate in KAUST events, and engage in summer research activities at KAUST.

KAUST will invite select universities to nominate scholars for the KAUST Scholar Award.

KAUST Scholar Award:

Benefits of the KAUST Scholar Award will include the following:

• Annual award of up to $50,000 for tuition, living stipend and educational expenses, and up to $10,000 to be used for the continuation of your research activities for up to four years.
• Research opportunities at the KAUST campus
• Travel funds to participate in KAUST-sponsored KAUST Scholar Award enrichment activities.

Please visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/institutes-centers.aspx for more information on Research Centers and major research programs.

KAUST will invite a selected number of graduate research universities from across the globe to nominate candidates for the award.  Nominations are judged on merit in an open and independent review conducted by a selection panel composed of international higher education experts and premier global research faculty.  Once nominated, the applicants must complete an online application.  The selection panel will recommend finalists to KAUST officials, who will endorse the final selection. 

All applicants are required to submit the following information:

• Personal data
• Three (3) letters of reference addressing the academic, leadership and research abilities of the applicant
• Statement of research purpose
• Personal statement
• Transcript or official university record documenting academic achievement at the highest level

KAUST has selected the first cohort of KAUST Scholars. To receive notice when the next cycle will open, please contact

KAUST will invite select universities to nominate scholars for the KAUST Scholar Award.

In addition to the minimum program requirements listed below, all KAUST Scholar Award nominees must demonstrate an exceptional research record and the potential for further excellence in research fields related to science and technology. Minimum requirements include:

• Official university record documenting academic achievement at the highest level
• Current enrollment (or acceptance) in a doctoral program in a KAUST-related field of study
• Potential to make a unique and significant scholarly contribution in a KAUST-related field of study

• Representing KAUST at home institution
• Participating in KAUST-sponsored enrichment activities that include an award ceremony, a workshop in home region, and a global conference in Saudi Arabia
• Obtaining necessary documents for travel outside of the scholar’s home country (KAUST will assist with travel documents for entrance into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
• Attending regional and global conferences sponsored by KAUST and participation in enrichment activities aimed at promoting educational, research and leadership goals  
• Returning a signed copy of the KAUST Scholar Award Terms and Conditions upon acceptance
• Submitting copies of the first three (3) pages of your passport (or travel documents), which include your photograph, birth date, location of birth, and expiration date of your passport or travel document.

KAUST expects all selected students to comply with the ongoing conditions of the Award. If it is determined that the scholarship recipient fails to meet the criteria of the scholarship, as defined in the KAUST Scholar Award Terms and Conditions document, the award will be immediately terminated.

If you have any questions during the application process, please contact the KAUST Scholar Award via e-mail at:

Recruiting leadership and faculty is a priority for the new president. KAUST began recruiting worldwide in January 2008.
Faculty Information: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/faculty/default.aspx

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

Faculty will enter KAUST with two appointments: one in their Research Institute and one in the Faculty of Science or Engineering. As members of an Institute, the faculty will conduct research and be assisted by post-doctoral fellows and Ph.D. and master's research students. As members of the faculty, they will teach master's courses, supervise Ph.D. candidates, and participate in Boards of Study.
Faculty Information: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/faculty/default.aspx

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.

The research facilities at KAUST will consist of world-class labs, offices, administrative spaces and support facilities. Importantly, while the research buildings may be designated, for example, the "Materials Science and Engineering Building," the Research Institutes at KAUST will be virtual, not physical, entities. No building will be dedicated to a single Institute, and faculty appointed in any Institute will be able to occupy space in more than one building.

A typical Research Center at KAUST will include a multi-investigator, multi-laboratory, often industry-collaborative group of professorial faculty, research scientists and engineers, post-doctoral researchers, visiting researchers (including resident and visiting scientists from industry) and administrative and technical staff.

Yes. KAUST's plans include an Innovation Center that will be located within the KAUST Research Park and will serve University-sponsored activities, including support for startups and established company "skunk works," where new products may be developed outside corporate facilities.

KAUST is uniquely positioned to succeed in promoting technology transfer from the academic setting to the private-sector. It has a focused mission; the financial capacity to attract researchers in fields that are susceptible to rapid technology transfer; state-of-the-art and readily adaptable facilities; and the opportunity to offer the use of these facilities at below-market rates.

Yes. Initially, KAUST envisions that most of its private-sector engagements will involve leading Saudi companies, including Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and Saudi Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). However, multinational organizations with current or potential interests in Saudi Arabia also may be early participants.

As in collaborations with universities and non-profit research organizations, KAUST intends to be flexible and open to a range of possibilities, including:

• Private-sector entities considering substantial investments in research in Saudi Arabia and the region;
• Private-sector groups searching for partners for activities ranging from collaborative research to locating such a program at a near-campus research park; and
• Small companies, including startups, looking for incubator space near a growing R&D center.

The University will develop a number of programmatic approaches to private-sector partnerships and collaborations. Among them:

• an industrial affiliates endeavor
• a research and technology conference series
• participation in the KAUST Global Research Partnership
• sponsorships of KAUST students
• visiting researchers at KAUST Institutes

Yes. In addition to Research Centers and collaborations associated with the Institutes, KAUST may develop other special centers or field stations that are not affiliated with a particular Institute. Special Research Centers or field stations in development or planned for the future include:

• The Marine and Ocean Research Center: On October 22, 2007, KAUST and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) formalized their research partnership by signing a contract to foster research of coral reefs, ocean circulation, and fisheries along Saudi Arabia’s coast in the Northern Central Red Sea. WHOI experts will work with KAUST to design and maintain this facility, which will provide a base of operations for scientific research conducted in the Red Sea. The collaboration with the WHOI is critical to KAUST, not only because research of the Red Sea ecology is relatively new, but also because the coastal campus of KAUST will include 19 million square meters of protected marine sanctuary. The agreement signed by WHOI and KAUST creates three initial areas of research at KAUST: coral reefs; coastal hydrography; and fisheries and aquaculture. WHOI also will provide consultation on the design of the main lab facility, the seawater lab facility and the seaside dock facility for the KAUST Marine and Ocean Research Center.
• The Islamic Science and Technology Research Center: In addition to conducting original research at KAUST, scholars from around the world who specialize in this topic would help curate and explicate the special collections of digital and physical artifacts in the KAUST Library and Museum that highlight the historical leadership that Islam has recorded in scientific innovation and discovery. Over time, these collections may evolve into a world-leading repository, making KAUST an international center for this field of study.

View highlights of the Red Sea marine sanctuary on KAUST's coastal campus.

The Global Research Partnership (GRP) is a research funding program focused on discovery and innovation in areas of science and technology important to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region, and the world.

KAUST is a new institution seeking to establish a tradition of research excellence. To succeed in its mission of national, regional and global contribution, KAUST must develop a broad and deep network of research collaborators. The GRP will enable KAUST to contribute to the global community, fund world-class scientists and engineers, and establish important institutional relationships that will assist KAUST as it builds the research facilities and capacity on its campus.

The GRP has three main programs:

• Centers and Centers-in-Development — KAUST is providing five-year grant support to university-based, multi-investigator Centers, with industry participation possible.  In addition, three-year awards for KAUST Centers-in-Development are being provided to smaller groups seeking to assemble the resources for a KAUST Center.
• Investigators — KAUST is providing five-year grants to accomplished and promising individual scientists or engineers at leading university-based laboratories.  Each Investigator is expected to spend a minimum of three weeks per year on the KAUST campus participating in research and academic life.
• Research Fellows — KAUST is providing three-year support to exceptional postdoctoral researchers.  It is hoped that many of these post-docs will spend time at and consider launching their faculty careers at KAUST.

KAUST received 62 proposals from 26 leading institutions worldwide nominating postdoctoral researchers of exceptional promise. In accordance with the KAUST GRP guidelines, a rigorous review process was organized to give full consideration to all nominations.

The GRP intends to fund up to five Centers and up to six Centers-in-Development in the first funding cycle (each year it will announce a new funding cycle); 12 Investigators; and 20 Research Fellows.

The initial GRP funding cycle has an accelerated timetable. To facilitate the award management and decision process, KAUST invited proposals from about 60 universities from around the world that are known for research excellence in KAUST-relevant fields. The list of invitees may be expanded in the future, or there may be an open call for nominations and proposals.

The money for the GRP comes from the proceeds of KAUST's permanent multi-billion dollar endowment.

KAUST leadership will make the final decisions about awards, based on the recommendations of a Technical Advisory Committee made up of distinguished scientists and industry experts, who will oversee a rigorous peer review process.