How to Apply for the KAUST Fellowship 2027: One Form, No Fellowship Essay

You apply for a graduate programme. The Fellowship is attached to admission. The official how-to lives at admissions.kaust.edu.sa/how-to-apply. Start the live application from the Apply button on that site or on the Study page — do not hunt for a second “fellowship portal”.

Application tracker

The five steps from the official How to Apply page. This is a planning tool, not an official KAUST decision.

From programme pick to submit

1. 1
   Find a programme

   KAUST lists 17 STEM M.S. and Ph.D. fields on Study. Read faculty profiles and research areas. You may list faculty on M.S./Ph.D. and Ph.D. applications; you do not need a confirmed advisor first. You can apply to only one academic programme per year. See Programmes.

2. 2
   Check the Admission Timeline

   Spring 2027 was Ph.D. only and closed on 27 September 2026. Fall 2027 (M.S., M.S./Ph.D., Ph.D.) opened on 28 September 2026 and closes on 3 January 2027. Dates are tentative. See Deadlines.

3. 3
   Gather documents

   Transcripts, CV, a ~750-word statement of purpose, three referees (academic or professional emails), passport or Saudi national ID, and an English score if you have one. Full checklist on Documents.

4. 4
   Create an account and upload

   Use the Apply link on How to Apply or the programme “Apply for Fall” buttons on Study, which now point to the portal at apply.kaust.edu.sa. Always start from the official admissions site so you land on the live portal. You can log back in as documents arrive.

5. 5
   Submit

   There is no application fee. After submit you cannot edit unless Admissions asks. You can still manage referees (add, replace, remind, track). Check status by logging back into the portal. One application at a time; unsuccessful applicants may reapply the next year.

The five-stage review

Official process page: Admission Process.

1. 1
   Submit

   Through the portal before the round deadline.

2. 2
   Admission review

   A completeness check. Missing items can pause the file; they will contact you.

3. 3
   Faculty review committee

   Ranking against the pool and a shortlist for interview.

4. 4
   Academic interview and/or test

   Online, with faculty in your area: background, interests, career goals. Reply quickly — the timeline page says prompt interview responses help you get a timely decision.

5. 5
   Decision by email

   Each round has a published notification date. Wait until that date before chasing. Offers have a short acceptance window; silence can withdraw the place. Decisions are final, and KAUST does not give individual feedback.

Do not wait for a supervisor email

The official FAQ says you do not need a faculty advisor before applying, and you do not need to email professors first. After submission, Admissions reviews M.S./Ph.D. and Ph.D. files; well-qualified candidates are forwarded to faculty, who may then reach out. Listing faculty you want to work with is the designed path. Cold-emailing every PI is an optional extra, not a requirement — and it will not replace a complete portal file.

Referee requests go out the moment you type the email

Reference requests are sent as soon as you enter referee details — they are not held until you submit. Ask people first. Use academic or professional addresses; personal Gmail-style addresses are not accepted. Academic referees are the default. If your last higher-education qualification finished more than three years ago, professional referees are allowed. They should say how they know your work, how you compare (top 1% of the class, best in five years), and what they think of your research ability.

KAUST expects all references within seven calendar days of the application deadline.

Late letters can delay the file. After you submit you can still replace a referee and send reminders in the portal. You do not upload the letters yourself.

Open the official portal

It is free to apply and there is no separate Fellowship form. If the apply hostname changes, the button on the official admissions site is the one that matters: Official Site — How to Apply.