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​​​​​​​​​​​Master of Science Degree​

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Admissions


Admission to the Master of Science (M.S.) program requires the satisfactory completion of an undergraduate science degree in a relevant or related area, such as Engineering, Mathematics or the Physical, Chemical and Biological Sciences. 

Application Deadlines ​

APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 ARE OPEN


General Degree Requirements


The M.S. degree at KAUST is a 36-credit program. Students are expected to complete the M.S​. degree in three semesters and one summer session. Degree requirements are divided into three sections:
  • ​Core Curriculum (9-15 credits): This portion of the degree program is designed to provide a student with the background needed to establish a solid foundation in the discipline over and above undergraduate studies.
  • Elective Curriculum (9-15 credits): This portion of the degree program is designed to allow each student to tailor his/her educational experience to meet individual research and educational objectives. Depending upon the program and the objectives, this may be met by added coursework or by additional research experience.
  • Research/Capstone Experience (12 credits): The details of this portion of the degree program are also uniquely determined by the student and his/her academic advisor and will involve a combination of research and other capstone experiences that build on the knowledge gained in coursework.
At least 36 degree credits must be completed in graduate-level courses and research projects. These courses should be 200-level or above and must be approved by the academic advisor.

Thesis Requirements


Students pursuing the thesis option must apply by the eighth week of their second semester. Thesis students are expected to conduct research and compose the thesis during the summer and subsequent fall semester. A minimum of six credits of thesis research (297) is required, although it is expected that a student will enroll in 12 credits of M.S. thesis work. With permission of the academic advisor, a student who enrolls in only 6 credits of thesis research may use one of the following options to earn the six remaining credits of degree requirements:
  • ​Internship: Research-based summer internship (295). Students are only allowed to take one internship.
  • Broadening-Experience Courses: Courses that broaden a student's M.S. experience.
  • Ph.D. Level Courses: Courses numbered 300 or greater. 
Students are permitted to register in more than 12 credits of M.S. thesis research as necessary and with the permission of the academic advisor.

Committee Structure and Thesis Defense


A committee comprised of the academic advisor and two other faculty members performs the evaluation of satisfactory completion of M.S. thesis work. The chair of the committee must be a faculty member within the program. One external faculty member, or one research scientist may be allowed. The evaluation of M.S. thesis credits comprises of a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade. The requirement of a public seminar based on the student's work is left to the discretion of the academic advisor.

The student is responsible for scheduling the thesis defense date with his/her academic advisor and committee members. It is advisable that the student submits a written copy of the thesis to the thesis committee members at least two weeks prior the defense date.

Non-Thesis Option


Research requirement: A minimum of six credits of directed research credits (299) is required. Summer internship credits may be used to fulfill the research requirement provided that the summer internship is research-based. Summer internships are subject to approval by the student's academic advisor.

Students must complete the remaining credits through one or a combination of the options listed below:
  • ​Broadening-Experience Courses: Courses that broaden a student's M.S. experience.
  • Ph.D. Level Courses: Courses numbered 300 or greater. 
  • Internship: Research-based summer internship (295). Students are only allowed to take one internship.
It should be noted that a student might be able to also combine courses to satisfy the six-credit requirement. For example, a student could take one Ph.D.-level course and one graduate-level course in another program. A student may not enroll in two summer internships.

Thesis format requirements are described in the KAUST Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.

Please Note: individual programs may have additional requirement to those listed above.

Program Descriptions


The Master's and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree program requirements represent general university-level expectations. The specific details of each degree requirements are outlined in the descriptions of the individual degree programs.

The M.S./Ph.D.​ Program


The M.S.​/Ph.D. program is an attractive option for students looking for fast entry into the world of research. Students can apply for the Ph.D. program after completing a bachelor's degree. They will be engaged in exciting research from the beginning of their program which typically takes four to five years to complete. Students may complete a M.S. degree while working toward their Ph.D.​