The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced fully-funded scholarships for Pakistani students for studies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The scholarship will be for students seeking to continue their studies at the diploma, bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels in the Kingdom, the commission said.

“Students residing in Pakistan and legal residents of the Kingdom both can apply for these scholarships,” the education body said.

Procedure to apply for Scholarships

♦ Students must apply directly on the respective Saudi's university website/ online portal.

♦ Each university has its own eligibility criteria and application time frame. Students need to consult website for eligibility criteria of each discipline/course /university.

♦ The scholarships are offered at diploma, bachelors, masters and PhD Level.

♦ These scholarships are offered for almost all discipline, political science, Law, Education, Administration, Economics, Engineering, computer science, Agriculture, Arabic/ Islamic studies and Media sciences.

♦ These scholarships are offered by 25 universities in the Kingdom as given below.

♦ Each university is authorized to enroll only 5 percent international students except Princess Noor Binte Abdul Rehman University for girls, Riyadh and Jamia Islamia Madinah Munawara. The admission percentage of Princess Noor Binte Abdul Rehman university for girls, Riyadh on scholarship is 8 percent, whereas Jamia Islamia Madinah Munawara grants admission on scholarships 85 percent of total seats.

♦ University will forward the application to the Saudi Ministry of education which decides the final award of scholarships to eligible applicants.

♦ Applicants should share copy of the submitted application on the official email of the embassy of Pakistan, Riyadh Pahrepriyad@mofa.gov.pk for follow up with Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia and respective university for grant of scholarships.

Eligibility criteria

♦ The applicant must be a Pakistani or AJK national.

♦ 75% of students will be awarded scholarships from Pakistan. Whereas 25% scholarships will be given to Pakistani students residing in the Kingdom.

♦ Males and females can apply for these scholarships.

♦ The applicant should be between 17 to 25 years for the bachelor's programme, must be below 30 years for the master's programme and less than 35 for the PhD programme on the closing date of the application portal of the respective university.

♦ The selected applicants will join the respective programme in September/October each year in Saudi Arabia.

♦ The applicant must not be holding any other scholarship at the time of availing Saudi scholarship.

♦ The applicant must not have any criminal record.

♦ The applicant must not have been suspended from any educational institution on disciplinary or any other valid grounds.

♦ Any other requirement set by the respective Saudi University or Saudi Government.

Benefits of Scholarship

♦ The scholarship covers free lodging.

♦ 03 months furnishing allowance on arrival in KSA for married scholars.

♦ Return air ticket.

♦ Free medical for the students and his/her family, if married.

♦ 3 Months graduation allowance for shipment of books.

♦ Subsidized meal at the campus.

♦ Sports & recreational activities on the campus, support for dependents and travel expenses.

♦ Monthly allowance, a monthly allowance of 900 Saudi Riyal (SR) will be given to science students and 850 SR to humanities students

For details of Sudi Arabian Universities offering scholarships visit the HEC website here.