King Saud University in Riyadh is one of the largest universities in Saudi Arabia, and its international scholarship is a fully funded route into a bachelor's degree there. The part that trips people up is the process. You do not apply on a KSU form. The scholarship is administered mostly through Saudi Arabia's centralized international student portal, studyinsaudi.sa, and that is where your application goes. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing before you start.
This guide is for students who have finished (or are finishing) high school and want a funded undergraduate degree. The scholarship is mainly documented at the undergraduate level, so if you are looking for a master's or PhD, this is probably the wrong page for you. It suits a younger applicant with a solid school record and a decent SAT score. It does not suit someone who already holds a bachelor's degree or who left school many years ago.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded (full tuition; stipend and housing to be verified) |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Fields | Open, subject to program |
| Deadline | Varies annually |
| Country | Saudi Arabia (King Saud University, Riyadh) |
| Where to apply | studyinsaudi.sa |
| Official site | dar.ksu.edu.sa |
Why you apply through studyinsaudi.sa and not KSU
Saudi Arabia runs a central portal for international students who want government-funded places at its universities. KSU's scholarship sits inside that system. So the university's admissions site, dar.ksu.edu.sa, is useful for checking dates and program information, but the application itself is submitted on studyinsaudi.sa.
This matters for a simple reason. Students who search for "KSU scholarship apply" often end up on unofficial pages or wait for a KSU-specific form that never appears. Go straight to the national portal, create your account there, and pick King Saud University as your choice when the portal asks.
What full funding means here, and what is still unconfirmed
The scholarship is listed as fully funded, and full tuition is the part that is clearly covered. Beyond tuition, Saudi government scholarships typically include a stipend and housing, and it is likely that KSU's does too. But this has not been explicitly confirmed for KSU specifically. Treat the stipend and accommodation as probable rather than guaranteed, and verify them directly with the university or through the portal before you make plans around them.
For a Pakistani family, that distinction is practical. If you are budgeting for flights, the first few weeks in Riyadh, or personal costs, do not assume a monthly allowance until you see it in writing in your offer.
The eligibility rules, and the ones that knock people out
KSU lists eight requirements. Read every one of them before you spend time on documents, because several are hard cutoffs.
- You must be aged 17 to 25.
- Your high school diploma must be no older than five years.
- You need an SAT score of 1010 or above.
- Your high school average must be 75% or above.
- You need English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6 or STEP 85.
- You must not already hold a KSA scholarship or be enrolled in Saudi Arabia.
- You must not have a prior bachelor's degree.
- You must pass a medical exam.
The age window is strictly enforced. If you are close to the upper limit, work out exactly where you will stand when you submit, and do not assume an exception will be made. The five-year limit on your diploma works the same way: a student who finished school long ago and then did other things may simply fall outside it.
On nationality, the material available does not state which countries are eligible. Pakistani students should check eligibility for their nationality on studyinsaudi.sa before preparing anything else.
A note on the SAT for Pakistani students
Many students in Pakistan finish FSc or A Levels without ever sitting the SAT. If that is you, this requirement is the real gating factor. You need a score of 1010 or above, and you need it before you apply, so plan your test date around the application window rather than the other way round.
The 75% average and your Pakistani marks
The requirement is a high school average of 75% or above. If your board result sits right on the line, do not round up in your own head. Use the percentage on your official transcript.
The five documents you will upload
The documents list is short, which is good news, but each item has to match the eligibility rules above.
- Your high school diploma (remember the five-year limit).
- Transcripts showing your average.
- Your SAT and English test scores.
- A medical report.
- Your passport.
Pakistani applicants will usually want their educational documents attested before submission. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains how that works. For a general list of what international scholarships ask for, see the documents checklist for Pakistani students.
The medical exam deserves attention. Passing it is a stated eligibility requirement, not paperwork you can sort out later. Get the medical report done properly and keep a clean copy ready to upload.
Applying through the national portal
The documented process has one main step: apply via studyinsaudi.sa, Saudi Arabia's centralized international student portal. In practice, that means getting everything else ready first so the online part is quick.
- Confirm your age, diploma date, SAT score, average and English score all meet the requirements.
- Check the current cycle's dates on dar.ksu.edu.sa and studyinsaudi.sa.
- Prepare scanned copies of your diploma, transcripts, test scores, medical report and passport.
- Register on studyinsaudi.sa and submit your application there, choosing King Saud University.
When the application window opens
There is no fixed deadline. Timing varies annually, so check dar.ksu.edu.sa and studyinsaudi.sa for the current cycle. Do not rely on dates from a previous year that you find on forums or social media. Because the SAT and English test both need to be done before you apply, the safest approach is to sit those tests well ahead of time so you are ready the moment the portal opens.
Mistakes that cost applicants a place
The most common one is applying in the wrong place. If you are filling in something on a site other than studyinsaudi.sa, stop and check.
The second is ignoring the hard limits. Age, diploma age and the no-prior-degree rule are not things a strong essay can fix. If you already have a bachelor's degree or are enrolled in Saudi Arabia, you are out.
The third is treating the stipend as certain. Full tuition is covered. Living support is likely but should be verified for KSU directly.
Finally, students sometimes leave the English test to the last minute. KSU accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS or STEP, so pick whichever you can take and score on in time.
If you are comparing options, the guide to all Saudi Arabia scholarships lists the other funded routes into the country.
Frequently asked questions
Do I apply on KSU's own website?
No. Applications are submitted through Saudi Arabia's centralized international student portal, studyinsaudi.sa, not KSU's site directly. Use dar.ksu.edu.sa to check dates and program information.
Is a medical exam really required?
Yes. Passing a medical exam is a stated eligibility requirement, and a medical report is one of the five documents you need.
Does the scholarship include a monthly stipend and housing?
Full tuition is covered. A stipend and housing are typical of Saudi government scholarships and likely here, but they are not explicitly confirmed for KSU, so verify directly before counting on them.
Can I apply for a master's degree with this scholarship?
The scholarship is mainly documented at the undergraduate level, and one of the requirements is that you have no prior bachelor's degree. It is aimed at students starting a first degree.
Which English tests are accepted?
You can meet the requirement with TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6 or STEP 85.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The available information does not list eligible nationalities. Check eligibility for Pakistani applicants on studyinsaudi.sa before you start preparing documents.
Check the current cycle on the official website, dar.ksu.edu.sa, and keep our KSU scholarship page handy for the full details.