Are you searching for your next adventure? Have you considered studying abroad, but aren’t sure where? Look no further! King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia may be the school for you. As a graduate student, you’ll get to explore your academic interests through a critical lens in either a masters or doctoral program, pursue your research goals, and receive a global education.

What makes KAUST different from other graduate schools? KAUST offers our students opportunities that you wouldn’t see anywhere else. Discover the top three reasons you should study at KAUST:

1. Tuition-free graduate programs

Everyone’s dream is to not have to pay for school. Well, at KAUST, this dream is a reality thanks to the KAUST Fellowship. Every admitted student will receive this fellowship which will grant you:

• Full free tuition support
• Monthly living allowance — from $20,000 to $30,000 USD annually, depending on qualifications and degree progress (approximately $26,000 to $40,000 CAD)
• On-campus housing
• Medical and dental coverage
• Relocation support

So, not only will you go to school tuition-free, but you’ll have plenty of resources and support to make your time at KAUST the best. You’ll be able to focus on your research as you change the world.

2. Internship program

At KAUST, you have plenty of options for your studies. If you’re not sure about pursuing a whole degree at KAUST just yet, you have the option to get a feel for the campus and conduct innovative research for a shorter period with our Visiting Student Research Program (VSRP).

VSRP internships are approximately three to six months long, depending on your type of research. If you’re an undergraduate student in your third year or above, or you’re a master’s student, you can undertake research ranging across diverse disciplines and programs with the support and guidance of KAUST faculty members. With VSRP, you’ll have access to benefits like:

• $1,000 USD monthly stipend (approximately $1,339 CAD)
• Private bedroom/bathroom
• Visa and airfare fees
• Health insurance
• Social and cultural activities
• Access to core laboratories and major research and community facilities

For more information on the Visiting Student Research Program and its eligibility requirements, check out our VSRP page.

3. Research centres

KAUST provides a unique environment for our students to conduct high-impact research. Students at KAUST have access to unrivalled facilities in the faculty laboratories, research centres, and the university's Core Labs. Our research centres invest in major projects and help students pursue goal-oriented research that addresses significant challenges for the world, such as environmental crisis, and global water and food supply challenges.

These are just a handful of the many research centres available to you and what type of research is conducted at each:

Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Centre — develop membranes and porous materials for separations in the fields of natural gas and petrochemicals, carbon capture, and the production of potable as well as industrial water.

Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Centre — develop methods for increased hydrocarbon recovery with reduced environmental and economic costs related to reservoir access and production.

Centre for Desert Agriculture — seek to find ways to improve the ability of plants to withstand droughts and the hot and salty environment of the desert.

Clean Combustion Research Centre — develop innovative combustion processes with cleaner-burning fuels with an emphasis on sustainable ease of production, energy efficiency, and abatement of airborne pollution.

Computational Bioscience Research Centre — develop methods to store, retrieve, organize, and analyze vast amounts of data. The centre contributes to areas such as biotechnology and food, medicine, safety, and environmental protection.

For a full list of research centres and the types of projects conducted within each, you should explore our research centres page.

So, if you’re interested in pursuing research and want to make an impact on our world, choose KAUST for your tuition-free studies.