Who can receive the Fellowship

Sources: official Entry Requirements, Fees & Funding, and FAQs. Typically 90% of admitted applicants sit above 3.3 GPA and 75% above 3.5 — the 3.0 floor is the published minimum, not the usual admit.

Official floors

Minimum entry requirements

Source: Entry Requirements. KAUST says it reviews holistically — scores are not the only measure — but these are the published gates.

• Degree level

  A bachelor’s in a relevant subject from a recognised institution for M.S. A master’s in a relevant subject for Ph.D. Professional master’s degrees are not treated as equivalent — declare them clearly. The M.S./Ph.D. pathway can start after a bachelor’s.

• Age

  At least 18 years old on entry. Official pages do not publish an upper age limit for the graduate Fellowship.

• GPA

  Minimum permitted GPA is 3.0 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent). Typically 90% of admitted applicants are above 3.3 and 75% are above 3.5. Submit grades in the original scale; Admissions will convert. Partial transcripts are accepted if your university has not issued a final record yet — a final official transcript is required before enrolment.

• English

  Instruction is in English. Official evidence is required unless you earned an in-person degree at an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, or you already completed a degree on the KAUST Thuwal campus. Distance, satellite, joint, or branch-campus degrees outside those countries do not waive the test. A degree taught in English in another country does not waive it either.

English scores

What KAUST publishes today

Copied from the official Application Requirements / English Language tab as of 21 September 2026. Scores are valid for two years. Confirm before you book a test — ETS changed TOEFL iBT scoring in 2026, and KAUST now lists TOEFL as a 5.0 / 4.5 band, not the old 0–120 scale.

Not accepted: Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters; Duolingo (except Visiting Student applicants); TOEFL MyBest superscores; IELTS One Skill Retake. Institution-run tests for that institution only are also refused.

You may submit the application without a score. If you are admitted, you must still meet the minimum before enrolment. KAUST will not waive the requirement or pay for the test. Because the process is competitive, they strongly encourage a valid score in the file.

Optional tests

GRE and PGAT are not required

Official FAQ and entry requirements agree: GRE General or PGAT is optional. A strong score can help. Official reports are required if you list a score; both tests are valid for five years. Self-reported numbers in the form are treated as unofficial until verified.

Fellowship exceptions

Admitted does not always mean funded

Official Fees & Funding footnote: some students with external sponsorship or funding may not be eligible for the KAUST Fellowship. FAQs add: if another university, company, or sponsor covers substantive costs (tuition, relocation, living), you will not receive the Fellowship on top. Supplementary awards (a conference trip, a laptop grant) are usually fine — declare them. A second M.S. after you already hold an M.S. is rare; KAUST generally steers those applicants to a Ph.D.

No nationality quota is published. Faculty contact before applying is optional, not required. You may apply to only one academic programme per year.