Study in Saudi Arabia Application Process

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Ready to apply for your dream studies in Saudi Arabia? Here’s your comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to navigating Study in Saudi Arabia portal — from creating your account to submitting a perfect application without mistakes!

Table of Contents

• 📢 Important Application Periods and Scholarship Opportunities
• 🌐 Creating Your Account on the Official Study in Saudi Portal
• ✉️ Email Verification and Password Setup
• 📝 Completing Your Personal Profile: What to Know 📝
• 🛂 Passport and Identification Details: Uploading Documents
• ⚠️ Handling Portal Errors and Tips for Smooth Submission
• 📋 Filling Out Additional Personal Details
• 🏠 Residency and Reference Information
• 💰 Financial Information: Annual Income and Scholarships
• 🎓 Academic Qualifications and Document Uploads 📚
• 🗣️ Languages Section: Highlight Your Skills
• 📑 Additional Attachments: Boost Your Application
• 🎯 Applying for Your Program and Choosing Universities
• 🏛️ Exploring Other Universities: Mecca and Riyadh Options
• ✅ Final Submission and Tracking Your Application
• ❓ FAQ: Common Questions About Studying in Saudi Arabia
• Final Thoughts

📢 Important Application Periods and Scholarship Opportunities

First things first, knowing when to apply and for what programs is crucial. The Saudi Ministry of Education has set two main application windows, especially for international students applying from outside Saudi Arabia:

• Bachelor’s Degree Applicants: The application period runs from May 1st to June 14th. This window is primarily for those seeking scholarships or general admission to undergraduate programs. ℹ️According to the official portal, this is your chance to apply to universities in Mecca, Medina, or other cities across Saudi Arabia.
• Master’s and PhD Applicants: If you’re aiming for postgraduate studies, you have a longer window — from May 1st to October 31st, 2025. This extended period reflects the more detailed evaluation process for advanced degrees.

❗In my view, it’s best to mark these dates clearly and prepare your documents well in advance to avoid last-minute rushes.

🌐 Creating Your Account on the Official Study in Saudi Portal

Let’s get practical. Here’s how to create your account step-by-step:

1. Go to the official Study in Saudi portal.
2. Click “Login” and then “Create a New Account.”
3. Choose “Other” under the ID type since you’re applying from outside Saudi Arabia (national ID is for Saudi citizens, residency ID for residents).
4. Enter your email address (make sure it’s valid and accessible).
5. Select your nationality carefully.
6. Fill in your full name in English. Arabic is optional but can be added if you want.
7. Provide your father’s and grandfather’s names — these fields are mandatory, and you cannot leave them blank or just use symbols.
8. Enter your gender, date of birth, and mobile number with the correct country code.
9. Complete the CAPTCHA verification (case sensitive).

❗Heads up: If you miss mandatory fields like your father’s name, you’ll get an error message. So be thorough here!

✉️ Email Verification and Password Setup

After submitting your details, the portal will send a verification code to your email. Here’s what to do next:

• Check your email inbox for the OTP (one-time password) sent by the portal.
• Enter the OTP on the portal to verify your email.
• Once verified, you’ll receive a link to set your password.
• Create a strong password and save your login details securely.

📝 Completing Your Personal Profile: What to Know 📝

Once logged in, you need to set up your profile before applying.

• Nationality and Place of Birth: Choose from the updated list. For example, if you were born in India but live in the UK, enter accordingly.
• Social Status: Single, married, etc.
• Disability Status: If none, select “non-existent.” Otherwise, specify the type of impairment.
• Personal Photo: This is a critical part. Use a passport-style photo with a white background, ideally 4×6 cm, under 100 KB in JPEG format. Avoid casual photos with family or group pictures.

❗Many applicants make mistakes here by uploading informal photos — don’t be that person!

🛂 Passport and Identification Details: Uploading Documents

Next, you’ll enter your passport details:

• Full name on the passport (English).
• Passport type (usually “normal”).Place and date of issue.
• Expiration date.
• Upload a clear copy of your passport page.

⚠️ Handling Portal Errors and Tips for Smooth Submission

Sometimes the portal may throw unexpected errors, such as failed uploads or saving issues. Here are some tips to keep your cool and get through:

• Try re-uploading the file a few times—sometimes it works on the second or third attempt.
• If the portal doesn’t accept empty fields (like second or third names), use a dash “-” and copy it across the required fields.
• Be patient — occasional lag or slow response is expected on the first day of portal opening.
• Keep your documents within size limits (photo under 100 KB, PDFs compressed if necessary).

📋 Filling Out Additional Personal Details

The application asks for some extra info that you should fill out carefully:

• Social Media Accounts: If you have Twitter or other accounts, add them to make your profile look complete. If not, write “non-existent.”
• Mobile Number: Select your country code and enter your number.
• Employment Status: If you’re employed, specify your job title and company. For example, “Imam” or “Quran Teacher” at “Masjid Sunnah.”
• Reason for Studying in Saudi Arabia: This is a key section! Focus on what you intend to contribute back to the community or university.

Example bullet points for this section:

• If accepted, I will actively teach others and share knowledge.
• I intend to contribute to the Islamic community where I reside.
• I plan to promote education and values globally.

❗Also, provide the same statement in Arabic because some admission officers may not be fluent in English. Start with your native language and then translate it to Arabic for clarity and better impact.

🏠 Residency and Reference Information

The form will ask if you have previously been a resident of Saudi Arabia — most applicants will answer “No.”

You’ll also need to provide a reference contact who can verify your student data when needed. This could be:

• A former teacher’s contact details (email, phone, address).
• If unavailable, a parent’s contact details can suffice.

ℹ️The main purpose here is to verify your academic certificates and background.

💰 Financial Information: Annual Income and Scholarships

For most scholarship applicants, annual income information is not mandatory. However, if you’re applying for PhD studies or are self-funding, indicate your or your family’s income to show financial support.

❗If you are applying for Islamic University of Medina scholarships, it’s best to leave the income section blank since they only offer full scholarships.

🎓 Academic Qualifications and Document Uploads 📚

This section is the heart of your application — where you upload your academic credentials and transcripts.

• Qualification Type: For bachelor’s programs, choose “High School” (not “Higher Diploma” which is post-bachelor).
• Place of Qualification: Country where you studied.
• Graduation Date: Enter the date you completed your studies.
• School Name and Type: Government or private.
• GPA/Grade: Use your country’s grading scale or describe it (e.g., Excellent, Very Good).
• Upload Documents: Upload your diploma and its Arabic translation, transcript and its Arabic translation.

❗Translations into Arabic are crucial, as many admission officers may not be proficient in English.

For postgraduate applicants, upload bachelor’s or master’s degrees similarly, marking your latest qualification as “Last Qualification.”

🗣️ Languages Section: Highlight Your Skills

Here, list all languages you speak, including your proficiency levels and certificates if available.

• Select “English” and if you are a native speaker, mark it as such.
• For other languages, choose from the list or select “Other” and type the language (e.g.,Hindi, Arabic).
• If you speak Arabic, specify your level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and upload any certificates.

📑 Additional Attachments: Boost Your Application

While not mandatory at the application stage, providing extra documents can strengthen your chances:

• Police Clearance Certificate: Proof of no criminal record.
• Medical Report: Health status, original and Arabic translation.
• Recommendation Letters: Essential for Islamic studies (from an Imam or scholar) or scientific faculties (from teachers/professors).
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Ideally in your native language and Arabic, tailored to your field of study.
• Other Documents: Certificates of conversion to Islam(For e revert), significant achievements, awards, etc., preferably translated into Arabic.

ℹ️According to university admission staff, these documents are reviewed with your application, so submitting them upfront is beneficial.

❗Remember, some documents like medical reports and police certificates can be submitted after initial acceptance, but it’s best to provide everything early to present a full package.

🎯 Applying for Your Program and Choosing Universities

After completing your profile, you can finally apply to study programs. Here’s how:

• You can select up to three universities.
• Within each university, you can choose up to three faculties.
• The order matters — the first university and faculty you choose will be given priority.

For example, if you apply to Islamic University of Medina first, it will be your top choice.

🏛️ Exploring Other Universities: Makkah and Riyadh Options

Aside from Medina, many applicants dream of studying in Mecca or Riyadh. Here’s what you need to know:

• University of Mecca: Has a huge student population (~80,000) with many faculties.
• Some programs require tuition fees (e.g., 19,000 SAR or 9,500 SAR), but there are also scholarship options where no fees are required.
• Islamic faculties offering scholarships include College of Da’wah and Fundamentals of Religion, with departments for Quran and Sunnah studies.
• Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University (Riyadh): Offers scholarships and has faculties including the Arabic Language Institute for non-Arabic speakers, Sharia, and Fundamentals of Religion.

❗Choose the Arabic language institute first if you don’t speak Arabic, then proceed to your desired faculty.

✅ Final Submission and Tracking Your Application

Once you’re confident with your choices and documents:

• Review your application carefully.
• Click “Send” to submit your study request.
• After submission, you cannot make changes, so double-check everything.
• You will receive a request number to track your application status.
• Status updates (e.g., “In Progress,” “Accepted,” “Rejected”) for each university appear in your portal dashboard.

ℹ️Make sure to keep access to both your portal account and the registered email for timely updates and communication.

❓ FAQ: Common Questions About Studying in Saudi Arabia

Q1: Can I apply multiple times with different accounts to increase my chances?

No. The system links your application to your passport number, and only one application per passport is allowed. Multiple accounts won’t work. ❗

Q2: Do I need to provide a police clearance certificate at the time of application?

It’s not mandatory during application but highly recommended. You must provide it after initial acceptance. ℹ️

Q3: What kind of photo should I upload?

Upload a passport-style photo with a white background, ideally 4×6 cm, less than 100 KB, in JPEG format. Casual or group photos won’t be accepted. ❗

Q4: How important is the Arabic translation of documents?

Very important. Many admission officers may not be fluent in English, so Arabic translations help ensure your documents are properly understood. ℹ️

Q5: What if I don’t speak Arabic but want to study Islamic subjects?

You’ll start at the Institute for Teaching Arabic Language before joining your desired faculty. Always select this institute first if you’re a non-Arabic speaker. ❗

Q6: Can I apply for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs all at once?

You can only submit one application per passport. Choose the degree program that matches your qualifications and goals. ℹ️

Final Thoughts

Applying to study in Saudi Arabia has never been easier thanks to the MOE portal — but success depends on attention to detail, patience, and presenting a strong, community-focused application. Use the resources available, prepare your documents carefully (especially translations), and stay updated with official announcements.

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