King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh was established by royal decree in 1957.[1] It is ranked 107th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2] Since 2023 it has been an independent, non-profit academic institution under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.[1]
International students can apply from abroad for KSU’s external scholarships. KSU lists free education, free accommodation (based on marital status), a monthly stipend, a free return ticket in the summer and free healthcare as benefits.[3] Applicants must be aged 25 or under and, for the bachelor’s route, have a SAT score of at least 1010.[4][5] Fee-based places for non-residents are limited to health-sciences bachelor’s programmes.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | King Saud University (جامعة الملك سعود) |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (main campus; a Diriyah campus and a women’s university campus also exist)[1] |
| Type | Public university; since 2023 an independent, non-profit academic institution under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City[1] |
| Founded | Royal Decree No. 17 of 12 November 1957; first college: Arts, with 21 students[1] |
| Earlier name | Riyadh University, before the original name was restored[1] |
| Colleges | 23 or 24 (the KSU history page gives both counts); Wikipedia lists 22 colleges and institutes[1] |
| Students | No reliable current total; Wikipedia gives 61,412 (2022) in its infobox but about 40,000 in its text[6] |
| Language of teaching | English and Arabic in undergraduate programmes, depending on the major[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 107th[2] |
| External scholarship age limit | 17 to 25 (bachelor’s route)[4] |
| SAT requirement (external scholarships, bachelor’s) | At least 1010[4] |
| Monthly stipend, scholarship students | SR 1,000 (science, undergraduate) · SR 850 (humanities and social sciences) · SR 900 (postgraduate)[7] |
| Fee-based graduate programmes (College of Science example) | MSc SAR 80,000 · PhD SAR 120,000 per programme, excluding VAT (page updated 1 Mar 2023)[8] |
| Official website | ksu.edu.sa |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About King Saud University
King Saud University was founded by Royal Decree No. 17 of 12 November 1957, which states: “A university shall be established in Our Kingdom, to be named King Saud University.” It opened with two colleges, Arts and Science, and the College of Arts started with 21 students.[1] The name was changed to Riyadh University and the original name was restored in 1402 AH (1981 CE) according to KSU’s history page;[1] Wikipedia dates the Riyadh University period from 1964 to 1982.[6]
In 2023 a royal order turned KSU into an “independent, non-profit academic institution” under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.[1] The main campus is in Riyadh. KSU also has a campus in Diriyah and a Women University Campus, which opened for students in the 2013/14 academic year (1434/1435 AH).[1]
How is King Saud University ranked?
Saudi and regional press reports on the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published in June 2026) place King Saud University 107th in the world. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is the highest-ranked Saudi institution at 63rd, and King Abdulaziz University is 200th.[2][9][10]
Wikipedia lists KSU at 143rd in the QS edition of 2026.[6] QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access, so we rely on these press reports. How we compile rankings.
What can international students study at King Saud University?
The programmes open to you depend on the route.
- External scholarships (applicants living abroad): engineering, computer and information sciences, architecture and planning, natural sciences, food and agricultural sciences, and business administration. KSU notes that some programmes are limited by gender.[4] The scholarship page names diploma, bachelor’s and postgraduate levels.[5] The French Language Department offers master’s scholarships for French-speaking students.[3]
- Fee-based bachelor’s programmes: for non-residents, health sciences only; for residents of Saudi Arabia, the fields above plus medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and applied medical sciences.[4]
KSU also runs an Arabic Language Preparatory Programme for non-native speakers, including an intensive diploma in Arabic for speakers of other languages.[3] Wikipedia counts 22 colleges and institutes plus a Preparatory Year Programme.[6]
How much does King Saud University cost for international students?
Scholarship route. KSU lists free education, free accommodation (based on marital status), a monthly financial stipend, a free return ticket during the summer vacation and free healthcare at the university medical center.[3] The international students’ office states the stipend as SR 1,000 a month for undergraduates in science fields, SR 850 for humanities and social sciences and SR 900 for postgraduates. It adds housing for all scholarship students, a furnishing allowance equal to two months’ stipend on arrival, a graduation allowance equal to three months’ stipend and discounted meals.[7] The university’s stipend page gives the same amounts and does not say they are monthly; it adds an excellence reward of SR 1,000 for students who meet the grade criteria.[11] These pages do not show a year for the amounts.
Fee-based route. Fee-paying bachelor’s applicants pay the full tuition of the first semester (Level 1) when they confirm their place. The page does not give the amount.[4] KSU’s admission FAQ also mentions an electronic portal for fee-based bachelor’s programmes in Health, Science and Business colleges, again without amounts.[12]
Graduate programmes with fees. As one example, the College of Science lists its MSc programmes at SAR 80,000 and its PhD programmes at SAR 120,000 as flat programme costs, excluding VAT, on a page updated on 1 March 2023. The page does not say which students pay or for which year, and it states that fees can change.[8] Ask the college for the current figure.
How do you apply to King Saud University?
KSU admits non-Saudi students in two categories that differ in programmes and benefits: non-residents (external scholarships and fee-based health-sciences bachelor’s programmes) and residents of Saudi Arabia (internal scholarships and fee-based bachelor’s programmes).[4]
- External scholarships: apply online through the External Scholarships Portal. The requirements listed are a high school diploma or equivalent obtained within the last five years, a high school average of at least “very good”, no earlier acceptance into a similar programme in Saudi Arabia, an age of 25 or under and medical fitness.[5] For the bachelor’s route the admission page lists an age of 17 to 25, a SAT score of at least 1010 and a pass in the medical examination.[4]
- Fee-based bachelor’s programmes: a high school diploma or equivalent from the last five years (two years for Medicine) and an age of no more than 25. Residents must hold a valid residency (Iqama) and are assessed with the Qiyas scores (Qudurat and Tahsili).[4][12]
We give no deadlines, because they change every year. Use the dates on KSU’s official admission pages.
Which language do you need for King Saud University?
Undergraduate programmes are taught in English or Arabic, depending on the major.[6] The KSU admission and scholarship pages we read do not state a language test or score, so ask the programme which language it uses and what proof it accepts.[4][5] Students who need Arabic can join the Arabic Language Preparatory Programme for non-native speakers.[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is King Saud University free for international students?
What is the age limit for King Saud University scholarships?
How is King Saud University ranked in 2027?
How much is the stipend for scholarship students?
SR 1,000 a month for undergraduates in science fields, SR 850 for humanities and social sciences and SR 900 for postgraduates, according to KSU’s international students’ office.[7]
Can I pay my own way and study at King Saud University?
Non-residents can apply for fee-based bachelor’s places in health sciences only. Residents of Saudi Arabia have a wider choice of fee-based programmes.[4]
More about studying in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Saudi Arabia
- Alfaisal University
- King Abdulaziz University
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Sources
[1] King Saud University: History (page updated 29 Oct 2026)
[2] Asharq Al-Awsat: 22 Saudi universities recognized in QS World University Rankings 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 23 Jun 2026)
[3] King Saud University, College of Languages and Translation: International students (page updated 5 Nov 2026)
[4] King Saud University, Deanship of Admission: Admission for non-Saudi students (page without a date (footer 1960–2025))
[5] King Saud University, International Students Deanship: External scholarships (page updated 22 Oct 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: King Saud University (type, students, QS 2026, language of teaching)
[7] King Saud University, International Students Deanship: Care provided to scholarship students (page updated 22 Oct 2026)
[8] King Saud University, Graduate Studies: College of Science graduate programs with tuition fees (page updated 1 Mar 2023)
[9] Leaders MENA: KFUPM leads 22 Saudi universities in latest QS rankings (article of 24 Jun 2026)
[10] Al Riyadh Daily: 22 Saudi universities included in QS World University Rankings 2027 (article of 22 Jun 2026)
[11] King Saud University, Deanship of Admission: Stipends (page without a date (footer 1960–2025))
[12] King Saud University, Deanship of Admission: Frequently asked questions about admission (page without a date; refers to the 2026/2027 admission guide)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.