KFUPM Grad Scholarship 2026 Offering Full Tuition, Stipend & Housing to Study at the Arab World’s #1 University
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals has opened its Fall 2026 second-cycle application window for fully funded Master of Science and PhD programmes, with an online submission deadline of 26 April 2026.
The KFUPM Scholarship 2026 is among the most financially comprehensive graduate funding packages available in the Middle East, and this cycle arrives as the Dhahran-based institution cements its position as the Arab region’s highest-ranked university—67th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, and first in the QS Arab Region Rankings for 2026.
What the KFUPM Scholarship Covers?
The KFUPM graduate scholarship, available for all PhD programmes and PhD Direct Entry tracks, eliminates the financial burden of advanced study almost entirely. Scholarship recipients pay zero tuition and receive a monthly stipend calibrated to their admission category. Beyond the stipend, the King Fahd University scholarship provides free furnished and air-conditioned on-campus housing with utilities and maintenance included, along with medical and dental coverage. International students additionally receive round-trip air tickets.
Subsidized campus meals, free textbooks, library and departmental resource access, conference travel funding under qualifying conditions, and paid research assistantship opportunities round out the package. The campus itself—situated in Dhahran on the Arabian Gulf coast—includes recreational facilities and a private beach, a detail often overlooked but relevant for students weighing quality of life alongside academic rigour.
Who Qualifies for KFUPM Graduate Admission?
For the thesis-based MS scholarship track, applicants need a recognized four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale, an English proficiency score (IELTS 6.0+, TOEFL 70+ iBT, or Duolingo 105+), two academic recommendation letters, a CV, a one-page statement of purpose, and a short two-minute introductory video.
English test requirements are waived for KFUPM graduates and those from English-speaking countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. PhD candidates must hold an MS in engineering or science from an institution with programmes equivalent to KFUPM’s, with a 3.00 GPA in both undergraduate and master’s degrees. Some programmes require GRE or GMAT scores. The KFUPM scholarship 2026 is open to both Saudi and international applicants of all genders—a notable shift reflecting the university’s ongoing transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms.
Self-Sponsored and Project-Based MS Options
Students who do not secure the full KFUPM scholarship can still enrol as self-sponsored candidates. Tuition for thesis programmes runs at SAR 5,000 per semester for Saudi nationals and SAR 7,500 for non-Saudis during coursework, dropping to SAR 2,500 and SAR 3,750 respectively during the dissertation phase, plus SAR 500 per credit hour.
Separately, KFUPM has launched project-based Master of Science programmes in disciplines including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and business analytics—fields aligned with Vision 2030 priorities. These programmes offer a Hybrid Immersive Visual Education (HIVE) option combining in-person and online instruction, and some offer an accelerated one-year track. Tuition discounts range from 25% for international students under the Vision 2030 Destination KSA Discount to 60% for recent KFUPM graduates, with an additional 25% early-bird discount for those registering in the early cycle.
Why KFUPM Matters in the Global Graduate Landscape?
Founded in 1963 with just 67 students, KFUPM has evolved into a research-intensive institution with over 1,000 researchers and 20-plus research centres. It holds the 5th global ranking in petroleum engineering in the 2026 QS Subject Rankings and ranks 184th in the THE World University Rankings 2026. Its engineering and computing programmes carry ABET accreditation, and its business school was the first in Saudi Arabia to receive AACSB recognition.
For graduate applicants from South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East—regions where fully funded research-track options at globally ranked institutions remain scarce—the KFUPM scholarship represents a genuinely competitive alternative to European and North American funding. The combination of zero tuition, living support, and access to industry-linked research in the energy, AI, and computing sectors makes this more than a regional offering.
Application Dates
The online application of KFUPM Graduate Scholarship for the Fall 2026 second cycle opened on 5 April 2026. The deadline for submitting applications for KFUPM admission, uploading documents, and receiving recommendation letters is 26 April 2026. Results are expected by June 2026. A non-refundable processing fee of SAR 100 plus VAT applies for the project-based MS track. Applications are submitted through the KFUPM Graduate Studies portal at cgis.kfupm.edu.sa.
In a higher-education market saturated with underfunded master’s programmes and opaque doctoral funding, the KFUPM Scholarship 2026 stands out for its transparency and breadth. The window is narrow—three weeks from opening to close—so prospective applicants should treat this as a priority deadline, not a back-pocket option.