KAUST Fellowship Scholarship Program

The KAUST Fellowship is a distinguished, fully-funded program aimed to recruit outstanding Master's and doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars from all around the world. KAUST, located on the Red Sea coast, is a graduate-level research institution dedicated to improving science and technology through multidisciplinary research, education, and innovation.
The fellowship does not require a separate application; rather, all admitted students to KAUST's graduate programs are automatically eligible for its benefits. This means that if you are admitted to a Master's or Ph.D. program at KAUST, your studies will be fully funded. Similarly, the KAUST Global Fellowship Program provides fully financed opportunities for postdoctoral researchers.

Programs Offered

KAUST is a graduate-only university offering Master of Science (MS) and Ph.D. degrees across three academic divisions, focusing on science and engineering solutions for global challenges.

Academic Divisions & Sample Programs:

• Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE): Bioscience, Bioengineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Marine Science, Plant Science.
• Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE): Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics.
• Physical Science and Engineering (PSE): Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Earth System Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering.

Benefits

The KAUST Fellowship is extremely generous, providing extensive financial and logistical support while allowing you to focus solely on your academic and research endeavors. Benefits available to admitted graduate students include:

• Full Tuition and Bench Fee Coverage: You are covered for all tuition and bench expenses for the duration of your study.
• Monthly living allowance (stipend): A competitive monthly stipend is provided to help with living expenses. This normally varies from $20,000 to $30,000 per year, depending on your qualifications and accomplishments in your degree program.
• On-Campus Housing: You will be supplied with on-campus housing that includes utilities such as electricity and Wi-Fi. (Fees may apply for dependent housing).
• Medical and Dental Coverage: Comprehensive insurance is provided. (Charges may apply for dependant coverage).
• Relocation Assistance: Assistance with relocation, including visa and travel fees for your first move to KAUST and return home after graduation.

The KAUST Global Fellowship Program offers extensive advantages to postdoctoral researchers, including a generous annual income (reportedly approximately $75,000), medical insurance, housing, and schooling for up to two children, relocation, and travel allowances. Furthermore, research ideas for Global Fellows may win up to $40,000 in funding.

Eligibility Criteria

KAUST welcomes applications from all nationalities, however Pakistani people are especially encouraged to apply. While precise requirements may differ slightly between Master's, Ph.D., and postdoctoral programs, the following are the overall eligibility criteria:

For Master's and Ph.D. Programs

• Academic background:
  • A bachelor's degree from a recognized higher education institution is required for the Master's program.
  • For the Ph.D., you must have a master's degree in a subject relevant to the program you are applying for from a recognized higher education institution.
• GPA: A competitive GPA is anticipated. Typically, 90% of approved applicants have a GPA above 3.3, with 75% having a GPA above 3.5 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent). The minimum allowed GPA is 3.0.
• English Language Proficiency:
  • Official proof of English competence is necessary. KAUST accepts the following.
    • IELTS: A minimum score of 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each individual section.
    • TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): A minimum of 79 overall, including at least 17 in each individual component. (KAUST admission code: 4107).
    • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 62 total, including at least 59 in each specific section.
    • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) / Linguaskill: 176 overall, including at least 169 in each particular section.
  • Waiver: The English proficiency test requirement may be eliminated if you hold a degree from a recognized university in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
• GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): Although not required, a good quantitative score on the GRE will help your application.
• Age: Applicants should be at least 18 years old at the time of entrance. The age limit for the IDB-KAUST Joint PhD Scholarship Program (which Pakistani citizens can apply for because Pakistan is an IDB member country) is normally 35 years.
• Other Qualities: KAUST takes a comprehensive approach, examining not just academic scores but also personal characteristics such as motivation and potential effect in the scientific community.

For KAUST Global Fellowship (Postdoctoral Researchers)

• Ph.D. Degree: Must have received a Ph.D. within the last four calendar years (with few exceptions for legitimate career pauses such as maternity leave).
• Research Project: The applicant must propose an independent research project that is consistent with KAUST's research aims.
• Host Principal Investigator: Identify and obtain a KAUST faculty member who has confirmed and agreed to host your research project if successful.
• Relocation: Must be willing to relocate to KAUST to carry out the suggested three-year research study.
• Nationality: All nationalities, including Pakistanis, are welcome to apply.

How to Apply

The KAUST Fellowship is part of the graduate admissions process. Here's how to apply:

• Choose Your Program: Select a Master's or Ph.D. program aligned with your interests.
• Identify Host (Postdocs Only): If applying for a postdoctoral fellowship, secure a KAUST faculty member as your Host PI before applying and obtain their support letter.
• Prepare Documents: Gather official transcripts (with English translations if needed), CV, Statement of Purpose, three letters of recommendation, English test scores (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Cambridge, if applicable), passport/ID copy. Postdoctoral applicants also need a research proposal and two publications.
• Complete Online Application: Fill out the free online application on the KAUST Admissions website and upload all documents.
• Submit Application: Review thoroughly and submit by the relevant deadline (Spring intake: early October; Fall intake: early January or mid-April). Applications typically open mid-August.

FAQs

1. Do I need to apply separately for the KAUST Fellowship?

Nope, if you're admitted to a Master's or Ph.D. program, you’ll automatically get the KAUST Fellowship, as long as you’re not getting funds from other sources. If you're a postdoc, you’ll need to apply to the KAUST Global Fellowship Program.

2. Is there an application fee for KAUST?

No, applying to KAUST is free.

3. Is the GRE required for admission?

The GRE isn’t mandatory, but a solid score in the quantitative section can really help your application.

4. What are the English language requirements for Pakistani students?

Generally, you need an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each section) or a TOEFL iBT score of 79 (with no section below 17). If you have a degree from an English-speaking country like the USA, UK, or Australia, you might not need to take the test.

5. Can I apply if I haven't finished my current degree?

Yes, you can apply with a partial transcript or proof of your current studies. Just remember, you’ll need to send in your final transcripts before you get admitted.

6. How important are letters of recommendation?

They’re pretty crucial. You want them to be written by professors or advisors who can talk about your academic skills, research potential, and character. Make sure your recommenders know KAUST will reach out to them.

7. Can I contact faculty members before applying?

For Master’s and Ph.D. applicants, reaching out to a faculty member isn’t a must. But if you’re a postdoc, you need to find and secure a Host PI before you apply.

8. What’s the minimum GPA required?

The lowest GPA you can have is 3.0 on a 4-point scale, but most admitted students have over 3.3, and many have above 3.5. KAUST looks at your entire application, not just the GPA.

9. How long do the Master's and Ph.D. programs last? 

Master’s programs usually take about 1.5 years for non-thesis or 2 years for thesis tracks. Ph.D. programs are typically around 4 years, while postdoctoral fellowships last 3 years.

10. What kind of research opportunities are available? 

KAUST has top-notch research facilities and focuses heavily on research. You’ll get to use advanced equipment and work with leading faculty on important projects related to water, energy, environment, food, health, and digital issues.