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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 »

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

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

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

The fundamental organizing unit of KAUST will not be Schools or Departments, but Research Centers and Academic Divisions.

Research Centers are the primary research units at KAUST. Centers are strategic in nature focusing on topical areas that drive research projects toward achieving their goals. 

The initial Research Centers at KAUST will focus on:

• Catalysis
• Clean Combustion
• Composites and Nanomaterials
• Computational Bioscience
• Earth and Subsurface Sensing
• Membranes
• Nanochemistry
• Red Sea Science and Engineering
• Plant Stress Genomic and Technology
• Solar and Alternative Energy Science and Engineering Research Center
• Terahertz Technology
• Water Desalination
• Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization

A typical Research Center at KAUST will include eight to 10 members of the faculty, 40 to 50 graduate students, research scientists and engineers, post-doctoral researchers, visiting researchers (including resident and visiting scientists from industry) and administrative and technical staff.

The administrative structure of KAUST consists of four Academic Divisions:

• Earth and Environmental Sciences and Engineering
• Life Sciences and Engineering
• Mathematical and Computer Sciences and Engineering
• Physical and Chemical Sciences and Engineering

Academic Divisions are responsible for educational activities and degree-granting programs. Students at KAUST will pursue graduate degrees that span the fundamental and applied sciences.

Each Division will operate under the executive direction of a Division Chair. The Division Chairs are responsible for recommending academic salaries and promotions, setting the Division's instructional schedule and teaching assignments, and managing the Division budget and degree programs.

As members of an Academic Division, the faculty will teach graduate courses, supervise M.S. and Ph.D. candidates, and participate in Boards of Study that set the program requirements and standards for the degrees KAUST will offer.

Research Centers at KAUST
Academic Divisions at KAUST

KAUST is a graduate-level university.

Beginning September 2009, KAUST will offer two degrees:

• The M.S. degree, which can be a terminal graduate degree or may  serve as a gateway to the Ph.D. program. The M.S. degree will typically take 18 months to complete, and will be offered to both traditional full-time students and part-time students; for example, industry-sponsored students on semester-long company leaves.
• The Ph.D. degree is typically a three- to four-year post-master's degree. The Ph.D. involves original research in one of the KAUST Research Centers, culminating in a research dissertation.

KAUST expects to open in the fall of 2009 with degrees in 11 fields of study:

• Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS)
• Bioscience (B)
• Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE)
• Chemical Science (ChemS)
• Computer Science (CS)
• Earth Science and Engineering (ErSE)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Environmental Science and Engineering (EnSE)
• Marine Science and Engineering (MarSE)
• Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)

Degrees & Fields of Study at KAUST
Course Offerings

KAUST expects to open in the fall of 2009 with degrees in 11 fields of study:

• Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS)
• Bioscience (B)
• Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE)
• Chemical Science (ChemS)
• Computer Science (CS)
• Earth Science and Engineering (ErSE)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Environmental Science and Engineering (EnSE)
• Marine Science and Engineering (MarSE)
• Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)

Degrees & Fields of Study at KAUST
Course Offerings

The specific degree requirements are outlined in the 2009 Graduate Programs Guide.

The KAUST Graduate Program Guide describes all courses that will be available beginning when the campus opens in September 2009.

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

The University’s course offerings typically combine core, advanced, and immersion courses for the student’s chosen area.  Additional elective course work provides students with the flexibility to pursue further breadth and depth in their given program.

Curriculum Features
Course Offerings

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

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

Specific requirements for each degree are outlined in the 2009 Graduate Programs Guide.

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

There are four components to the KAUST Discovery Scholarship application, including: providing the student application form with essays; official university transcripts; letters of recommendation; and an official TOEFL or IELTS English language proficiency score.

Online Application and Information

KAUST eligibility requirements include the following: current enrollment in a bachelor's/first university degree program in a KAUST-relevant field of study, such as engineering, mathematics, or the physical, chemical and biological sciences; cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent in other international grading systems; ability to enroll at KAUST in 2009, 2010, or 2011.

• 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 expects to open in the fall of 2009 with degrees in 11 fields of study:

• Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS)
• Bioscience (B)
• Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE)
• Chemical Science (ChemS)
• Computer Science (CS)
• Earth Science and Engineering (ErSE)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Environmental Science and Engineering (EnSE)
• Marine Science and Engineering (MarSE)
• Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)

Degrees & Fields of Study at KAUST

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.

Official transcripts must be uploaded into the online application form and a hard copy must be mailed to the KAUST Scholarship Office in a university-sealed envelope. All applicants are required to submit transcripts or grade reports in English. If the university administration is unable to provide academic records in English, an official translation is required.

You are required to have an equivalent of 80 credit hours of coursework completed in order to be eligible. You must also be able to matriculate at KAUST in 2009, 2010, or 2011.

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

KAUST is not accepting additional nominations for the KAUST Scholar Award at this time.

During the University’s initial development phase, KAUST Scholar Awards were conferred on a total of 17 exemplary doctoral students to accomplish two important objectives:

1. To support their continued research in fields of principal interest to KAUST.
2. To contribute to the graduate educational global enterprise linked to KAUST during this important founding period.

Recruiting leadership and faculty is a priority for the new president. KAUST began recruiting worldwide in January 2008.

Faculty Information

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

Unlike a traditional university, where faculty members are tenured and reviewed through a school or department, every KAUST faculty member will simultaneously be a member of one or more Academic Division(s), administrative units designed to organize the University’s faculty and academic structures.

Faculty Information

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.

A typical Research Center at KAUST will include eight to 10 members of the faculty, 40 to 50 graduate students, 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, KAUST is developing special Centers and Field Stations:

• KAUST is developing the Center for Marine and Oceanic Research jointly with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.  This Center is expected to provide a base of operations for scientific research conducted in the Red Sea region, not only by KAUST but also by other leading institutions in this field.

• The Center for the History of Islamic Science and Technology: In addition to conducting original research at KAUST, scholars from around the world who specialize in this topic will help curate and explicate the special collections of digital and physical artifacts in the KAUST Library and Museum that highlight the historical leadership 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.