Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarships (for Saudis)

Overview

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program is a prestigious initiative launched by the Saudi Arabian government to provide Saudi citizens with opportunities to pursue higher education at world-renowned universities abroad. Named after the honorary title of the King of Saudi Arabia, this scholarship program is one of the largest and most comprehensive government-sponsored education initiatives globally. The program aims to develop Saudi human capital, enhance the country's competitiveness in the global knowledge economy, and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by creating a highly skilled national workforce.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Nationality: Must be a Saudi citizen.
  • Age:
    • For bachelor's programs: Applicants must be under 22 years of age
    • For master's programs: Applicants must be under 27 years of age
    • For doctoral programs: Applicants must be under 30 years of age
    • For medical fellowship programs: Applicants must be under 35 years of age
    • Age requirements may be waived for government employees nominated by their employers
  • Academic Background:
    • For bachelor's programs: High school diploma with a minimum grade of 90% or equivalent
    • For master's programs: Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
    • For doctoral programs: Master's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
  • Language Proficiency:
    • For English-speaking countries: IELTS score of at least 5.5 or TOEFL iBT score of at least 61 (higher scores may be required for specific programs)
    • For non-English speaking countries: Proficiency in the language of instruction or willingness to complete a language preparation program
  • Health: Applicants must be in good health, verified by a medical certificate.
  • Other Requirements:
    • Must not have previously received a scholarship from the Saudi government for the same degree level
    • Must have a clean criminal record
    • Must agree to return to Saudi Arabia after completing the program
    • For government employees: Must obtain approval from their employer

Types of Scholarships

1. Self-Sponsored Scholarship Track

For students who have secured admission to one of the approved universities abroad on their own initiative.

2. Government Agency Nomination Track

For government employees nominated by their respective agencies to pursue studies relevant to their work.

3. University Nomination Track

For outstanding students nominated by Saudi universities to pursue graduate studies abroad.

4. Excellence Scholarship Track

For exceptional students with outstanding academic achievements and potential.

5. Research and Innovation Track

Specifically for students pursuing research-intensive programs in fields of strategic importance to Saudi Arabia.

Fields of Study

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program prioritizes the following fields of study:

Priority Fields (Most Supported)

  • Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Engineering (Various Specializations)
  • Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
  • Data Science and Big Data Analytics
  • Renewable Energy
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Advanced Materials Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cybersecurity
  • Robotics and Automation

Secondary Fields (Also Supported)

  • Business Administration
  • Finance and Economics
  • Law
  • Education
  • Tourism and Hospitality Management
  • Architecture and Urban Planning
  • Agriculture and Food Security
  • Social Sciences
  • Humanities

Note: The list of approved fields may change based on the country's strategic needs and Vision 2030 priorities.

Approved Countries and Universities

The scholarship program allows Saudi students to study in top-ranked universities in the following countries:

Top Destination Countries

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • France
  • South Korea
  • China
  • Singapore
  • Netherlands
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden
  • New Zealand
  • Ireland

Universities are typically selected from the top 200 globally ranked institutions or the top 50 in specific fields. The Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) in each country maintains a list of approved universities and programs.

Application Process

The application process for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program involves the following steps:

  1. Visit the official scholarship portal at https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/scholarship/Pages/default.aspx or https://studyabroad.sacm.org.
  2. Create an account and complete the online application form.
  3. Select your preferred scholarship track, field of study, and destination countries.
  4. Upload the required documents:
    • Copy of Saudi national ID and passport
    • Recent passport-sized photographs
    • Academic transcripts and certificates
    • Language proficiency certificates (IELTS/TOEFL)
    • Curriculum vitae/resume
    • Statement of purpose
    • Two letters of recommendation
    • Medical certificate
    • Admission letter from an approved university (for self-sponsored track)
    • Employer approval letter (for government employees)
  5. Submit the application before the deadline.
  6. Attend an interview if shortlisted.
  7. Wait for the final selection results.
  8. If selected, attend pre-departure orientation sessions.
  9. For those without university admission, the Ministry of Education will guide the process of applying to approved universities.

Deadlines

The application period for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program typically follows this schedule:

  • Main Application Cycle:
    • Application Opening: December-January
    • Application Deadline: February-March
    • Selection Process: April-May
    • Results Announcement: June
    • Pre-departure Orientation: July-August
    • Program Start: August-September (Fall semester)
  • Secondary Application Cycle (if available):
    • Application Opening: June-July
    • Application Deadline: August
    • Selection Process: September
    • Results Announcement: October
    • Pre-departure Orientation: November-December
    • Program Start: January-February (Spring semester)

Note: Exact dates may vary each year. Please check the official website for the most current information.

Benefits

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program provides comprehensive support to Saudi students studying abroad, including:

  • Tuition Fees: Full coverage of university tuition fees.
  • Monthly Stipend: Monthly allowance to cover living expenses (varies by country and city).
  • Housing Allowance: Additional allowance for accommodation costs.
  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical insurance coverage.
  • Air Tickets: Annual round-trip air tickets to and from Saudi Arabia.
  • Book and Computer Allowance: One-time payment for academic materials and equipment.
  • Conference Attendance: Financial support to attend academic conferences (for graduate students).
  • Research Support: Additional funding for research projects (for doctoral students).
  • Dependents Allowance: Additional stipend for accompanying spouse and children.
  • Language Preparation: Coverage of language courses if needed before starting the academic program.
  • Academic Supervision: Support and guidance from Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) staff.

Scholarship Duration

The maximum duration of the scholarship depends on the program level:

  • Language Preparation: Up to 1 year
  • Bachelor's Degree: 4-5 years (depending on the program)
  • Master's Degree: 2-3 years
  • Doctoral Degree: 3-5 years
  • Medical Fellowship: 2-4 years (depending on the specialty)

Extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances with proper justification and approval.

Obligations and Responsibilities

Scholarship recipients have certain obligations:

  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress
  • Adhere to the laws and regulations of the host country
  • Submit regular academic reports to SACM
  • Complete the program within the approved timeframe
  • Return to Saudi Arabia after completing the program
  • Fulfill any service commitment required by the scholarship terms (especially for government employees)

Contact Information

For more information about the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, you can contact:

Ministry of Education - Saudi Arabia
Scholarship Affairs Department
P.O. Box 87982
Riyadh 11652, Saudi Arabia
Email: scholarship@moe.gov.sa
Website: www.moe.gov.sa/en/scholarship

Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) - United States
8500 Hilltop Road
Fairfax, VA 22031, USA
Phone: +1-703-573-7226
Email: sacm@sacm.org
Website: www.sacm.org

Note: SACM offices are also located in other major destination countries. Contact information for these offices can be found on the Ministry of Education website.

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