Introduction: Universities in Saudi Arabia are very popular among residents and expats alike, so much so they attract foreign nationals to study in the country. Officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is a country in western Asia. Interestingly, the country is second largest among the Arab countries and largest in western Asia.
One of the blessed countries in the world, to be precise, the country has the largest economy in the whole wide world. It is also known as the super power of petroleum industry and natural gases. Saudi Arabia has second largest reserves of petroleum and natural in the world and provides jobs to a majority of foreign nationals.
Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the world that said, the country’s government has no qualms in investing in education infrastructure and in creating a world class experience for their students and because of that reason it attracts students from all over the globe.
List of Universities in Saudi Arabia
University/College | Foundation | City | Website |
Riyadh Region | |||
King Saud University | 1957 | Riyadh | www.ksu.edu.sa |
Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University | 1970 | Riyadh | http://www.pnu.edu.sa/en/ (in Arabic) |
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University | 1974 | Riyadh | www.imamu.edu.sa |
Prince Sultan University | 1999 | Riyadh | www.psu.edu.sa |
College of Telecom & Information | 1985 | Riyadh | www.cti.edu.sa |
Arab Open University | 2002 | Riyadh | www.arabou.org.sa |
Riyadh College of Dentistry and Pharmacy | 2004 | Riyadh | www.riyadh.edu.sa, |
Al Yamamah University | 2004 | Riyadh | www.alyamamah.edu.sa |
Dar Al Uloom University | 2005 | Riyadh | www.dau.edu.sa |
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
(Riyadh Campus) |
2005 | Riyadh | www.ksau-hs.edu.sa |
Alfaisal University | 2007 | Riyadh | www.alfaisal.edu |
Arab East Colleges | 2008 | Riyadh | www.arabeast.edu.sa, |
Almaarefa University | 2008 | Riyadh | www.um.edu.sa |
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University | 2008 | Al Kharj | www.psau.edu.sa |
Al Farabi College of Dentistry and Nursing | 2009 | Riyadh | www.alfarabi.edu.sa, |
Technical Trainers College | 2009 | Riyadh | www.ttcollege.edu.sa |
Majmaah University | 2010 | Majmaah | www.mu.edu.sa |
Shaqra University | 2010 | Shagra | www.su.edu.sa |
Saudi Electronic University | 2011 | Riyadh | www.seu.edu.sa |
SBS Swiss Business School | 1998 | Riyadh | https://sbs-uae.org/ |
Macca Region | |||
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
(Jeddah Campus) |
2010 | Jeddah | www.ksau-hs.edu.sa |
King Abdulaziz University | 1967 | Jeddah | www.kau.edu.sa |
Umm Al-Qura University | 1979 | Mecca | www.uqu.edu.sa |
Leadership Community College | 2015 | Jeddah | [1] |
Jeddah College of Technology | 1987 | Jeddah | www.jct.edu.sa |
Effat University | 1999 | Jeddah | www.effatuniversity.edu.sa |
Dar Al-Hekma College | 1999 | Jeddah | www.daralhekma.edu.sa |
Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences | 2003 | Jeddah | [2] |
College of Business Administration (CBA) | 2000 | Jeddah | www.cba.edu.sa |
Prince Sultan Aviation Academy | 2004 | Jeddah | www.fo.sv.net/psaa |
Taif University | 2004 | Taif | www.tu.edu.sa |
Taif College of Technology | 2003| | Taif | www.tvtc.gov.sa |
Batterjee Medical College | 2005 | Jeddah | www.bmc.edu.sa |
Arab Open University | 2006 | Jeddah | www.arabou.org.sa |
Prince Sultan College For Tourism and Business | 2007 | Jeddah | www.pscj.edu.sa |
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology | 2009 | Thuwal | www.kaust.edu.sa |
Jeddah Teacher’s College | Jeddah | www.jtc.edu.sa | |
College of Telecom & Electronics | Jeddah | ||
Jeddah International College | Jeddah | www.jic-edu.sa | |
Jeddah College of Health Care | Jeddah | [3] | |
Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies | Jeddah | www.ibnsina.edu.sa | |
University of Jeddah | 2014 | Jeddah | http://uj.edu.sa/Home.aspx?Lng=EN |
Prince Mohammad bin
Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship |
2016 | King Abdullah Economic City |
www.mbsc.edu.sa |
Medina Region | |||
Islamic University of Medina | 1961 | Medina | www.iu.edu.sa |
Yanbu Industrial College | 1989 | Yanbu | www.yic.edu.sa |
Madinah College of Technology | 1996 | Medina | www.mct.edu.sa |
Taibah University | 2003 | Medina | www.taibahu.edu.sa |
Yanbu University College | 2005 | Yanbu | www.yuc.edu.sa |
Madinah Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (MILE) | 2010 | Medina | www.mile.org |
Prince Mugrin University | 2017 | Medina | https://www.upm.edu.sa/ |
Eastern Province | |||
Mohammed Almana college of Medical sciences | 2003 | As safa, Dammam | WWW.MACHS.EDU.SA |
Dammam College of Technology | Dammam | www.dct.gotevot.edu.sa | |
Dammam Community College | Dammam | www.dcc.edu.sa | |
Al Ahsa College of Technology | Al Ahsa | www.act.edu.sa | |
King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals | 1963 | Dhahran | www.kfupm.edu.sa |
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University | 1975 | Dammam | www.iau.edu.sa |
King Faisal University | 1975 | Al Ahsa | www.kfu.edu.sa |
Jubail Industrial College | 1978 | Jubail | www.jic.edu.sa |
Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences | 1988 | Dhahran | www.psmchs.edu.sa |
Hafr Al-Batin Community College | 1999 | Hafr Al-Batin | www.hbcc.edu.sa |
Jubail Technical Institute | 2005 | Jubail | www.jti.edu.sa |
University College of Jubail | 2006 | Jubail | www.ucj.edu.sa |
Qatif College of Technology | 2006 | Qatif | |
University of Hafr al Batin | 2014 | Hafr al Batin | www.uohb.edu.sa |
Arab Open University | 2006 | Dammam | www.arabou.org.sa |
Prince Mohammad University | 2006 | Khobar | www.pmu.edu.sa |
Al-Kharj University | 2010 | Al-Kharj | www.ku.edu.sa |
Asir Region | |||
King Khalid University | 1998 | Abha | www.kku.edu.sa |
IBN Rushd College for Management Sciences | Abha | www.ibnrushd.edu.sa | |
Al Qassim Region | |||
College of Food and Environment Technology in Buraydah | 2000 | Buraydah | www.tvtc.gov.sa |
Qassim University | 2004 | Al-Qassim | www.qu.edu.sa |
Sulaiman Al Rajhi University | Bakireya | www.sr.edu.sa/en | |
Al Jawf Region | |||
Al Jawf University | 2005 | Sakakah | www.ju.edu.sa |
Jizan Region | |||
Jazan University | 2005 | Jizan | www.jazanu.edu.sa |
Ha’il Region | |||
University of Hail | 2006 | Ha’il | www.uoh.edu.sa |
Al Baha Region | |||
Al Baha University | 2006 | Al-Baha | www.bu.edu.sa |
Najran Region | |||
Najran University | 2006 | Najran | www.nu.edu.sa |
Northern Border Region | |||
Northern Borders University | 2007 | Arar | |
Tabuk Region | |||
Tabuk University | 2006 | Tabuk | www.ut.edu.sa |
Fahd bin Sultan University | 2003 | Tabuk | www.fbsu.edu.sa |
Multi Cities | |||
Institute of Public Administration | Riyadh, Jeddah,
Mecca, Dammam |
https://www.ipa.edu.sa/
Arabic/Pages/index.aspx |
Universities in Saudi Arabia Admission Process
Aspirants and interested individuals should know that the admission requirement into a course in the university is dependent upon the program in which the admission is sort. However individual university in Saudi Arabia may have different requirements.
Admission Criteria for Various General Degree Program
Undergraduate Program | Students must have completed their general secondary education in order to gain entry to an undergraduate program, i.e. they must possess a secondary school diploma. |
Master’s Program | Students must have completed undergraduate studies. |
Doctoral Program | Students must hold a master’s degree in order to be eligible for doctoral studies. |
Universities in Saudi Arabia Admission Process
Admission Criteria for Specific Degree Program
Aspirants must hold a secondary school diploma in order to get admission in the universities higher education institution in Saudi Arabia.
Minimum GPA requirement
|
· For bachelor program: 2.00 out of 4.00
· For master’s program, a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.00 is required. · For doctoral studies, master’s degree with GPA of 3.00 is required. |
Technical and Vocational Colleges | Students must have a general secondary education certificate in science stream, the secondary commercial schools diploma or the secondary vocational schools diploma. |
Entrance Examination
For admission into technical or medical courses university might consider scores for entrance exam. |
General Aptitude Test (GAT) and Standardized Achievement Aptitude Test (SAAT) for admissions. These university admission tests are organized by the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education (QIYAS).
|
Universities in Saudi Arabia Language Tests Requirement
International is required to demonstrate their English or Arabic language level of proficiency. Scores of following language tests are accepted:
For English proficiency: Standardized tests for English proficiency (STEP)
For Arabic language proficiency: Arabic language test for non-native speakers
Application Process:
Students seeking admission can apply into the university through their official website or may directly visit the university. Make sure to fill in the documents correctly and attach all the relevant documents with it.
Documents Required
- Secondary school diploma or certificate: Original and photo copies
- Academic records: Undergraduate documents (for post-graduate studies)
- A good conduct certificate
- Identification cards: 2-3 photocopies
- 4 photos for male students
- Letter of recommendation: At least two academic recommendation letters.
- Approval of the custodian for female students
- A valid copy of passport
- A birth certificate
- For Post-graduate Studies: Candidates who are non-Saudi must have an official grant for post-graduate studies in Saudi Arabia
********Admission seekers who are non-Saudi have to mandatorily have to attest their documents from Saudi Officials in the embassy in their home country.
Saudi Arabia Education Department Official Website
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