KAUST Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded MS and PhD

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) in Saudi Arabia is one of the few universities in the world where a graduate degree for an Indian student usually costs nothing. Its admissions site states that over 90% of admitted students receive full tuition support along with a monthly stipend, housing, medical coverage and relocation assistance, and the university puts the total value of the KAUST Fellowship at between US$70,000 and US$80,000 per year.

There is no separate scholarship form to fill in. You apply for admission, and fellowship details are given to the students who are offered a place. Applications for Spring 2027 entry (PhD only) close on 27 September 2026, while the Fall 2027 round – open to MS, MS/PhD and PhD applicants – opens on 28 September 2026 and closes on 3 January 2027.

KAUST Scholarship 2027 - fully funded MS and PhD in Saudi Arabia for Indian students

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KAUST Scholarship 2027 (KAUST Fellowship)

Quick facts2026-27

Scholarship from	KAUST – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. It is a graduate research university, and the funding is offered as the KAUST Fellowship. Full details are on the KAUST admissions site.
Study level	Master’s (MS), the Master’s/PhD pathway, and PhD. Spring 2027 admission is open only to PhD applicants; the Fall 2027 round is open to MS, MS/PhD and PhD applicants. PhD study at KAUST is research based and is done in English.
Who can apply	International students, including Indian students. A bachelor’s degree in a subject relevant to the programme is needed for master’s admission and a master’s degree for PhD admission. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at entry and should meet the English language requirement.
What is covered	Full tuition and bench fee (up to US$35,000 per year), a monthly stipend (worth US$20,000 per year for MS students and US$25,000 to US$30,000 per year for PhD students), base accommodation, health insurance for the student and eligible dependents, and relocation support for the move to KAUST and the return home after graduation. KAUST states the total value of the fellowship is between US$70,000 and US$80,000 per year.
Last date to apply	3 January 2027 for Fall 2027 admission (MS, MS/PhD and PhD). Students applying for Spring 2027 entry, which is PhD only, had to apply by 27 September 2026.
Official website	https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/

Go to official website

What the KAUST Fellowship covers

The fellowship is standard for admitted graduate students, so the amount is not negotiated student by student. The published break-up on the KAUST fees and funding page is:

Tuition and bench fee: covered in full, worth up to US$35,000 per year. The bench fee is the laboratory and research cost that is charged separately by many science universities.
Monthly stipend: worth US$20,000 per year for MS students and US$25,000 to US$30,000 per year for PhD students, depending on qualifications and academic progress.
Accommodation: base accommodation is included – shared accommodation for single students and a two-bedroom unit for married students. A housing upgrade can be requested for an extra fee.
Health insurance: provided for the student and eligible dependents living on campus.
Relocation support: visa, relocation and travel costs for the first move to KAUST, and the return home after graduation.

Some students who already hold an external sponsorship or funding may not be eligible for the KAUST Fellowship, so it is worth declaring any other funding clearly in the application.

KAUST eligibility requirements for Indian students

KAUST says admission is based on a holistic review and not on marks alone, but the minimum bar is written clearly on the admissions site:

A bachelor’s degree from a recognised higher education institution for entry into a master’s programme, in a subject relevant to the programme you apply for.
A master’s degree from a recognised institution for entry into a PhD programme. Professional master’s degrees are not treated as directly equivalent, so they must be declared properly in the application.
At least 18 years of age at entry.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale (or the equivalent). KAUST adds that typically 90% of admitted applicants have a GPA above 3.3, and 75% have a GPA above 3.5.
Evidence of English language proficiency. The accepted tests and cut-offs are listed in the English language table on the entry requirements page.

Documents required for the KAUST application

Official university transcripts and degree records from every institution attended.
Curriculum vitae (CV).
Statement of purpose.
Contact details of three referees.
Official English language test score, if you already have it.
A clear copy of the passport page showing your photograph and personal details.

All supporting documents, including transcripts, must be in English. KAUST also states that if your current degree is not yet complete you can submit your most recent academic record, such as a partial transcript or an official screenshot from your institution’s student records system.

How to apply to KAUST step by step

The admission process has five stages, as described on the KAUST admissions site:

Submit your application on the KAUST application portal before the deadline for your round.
Admission review – the admissions team checks that all documents are in order and contacts you if anything is missing.
Faculty review committee – your file is ranked against others and shortlisted candidates are selected for interviews.
Academic interview and/or test – an online interview with KAUST faculty from your subject area, focused on your academic background, interests and career goals.
Decision – you are informed by email, and each round has a fixed notification date. Admitted students get a limited time to accept the offer.

KAUST admission dates for 2026-27

These are the dates published on the KAUST admission timeline page. KAUST notes that they are tentative and can change with application volume.

Spring 2027 (PhD only): application deadline 27 September 2026, decisions released 8 November 2026, spring semester starts 17 January 2027.
Fall 2027 (MS, MS/PhD and PhD): applications open 28 September 2026, application deadline 3 January 2027, decisions released 14 February 2027, fall semester starts 29 August 2027.

Is KAUST a good option for Indian students?

KAUST is a research-only graduate university on the Red Sea coast, and the campus is a purpose-built community with laboratories, housing, schools and recreation in one place. The admissions site states that 46% of students are international, more than 120 nationalities are represented on campus and 37% of students are women. Because the fellowship covers tuition, a stipend, housing and insurance, the main cost that remains is the travel to Saudi Arabia and personal expenses.

Two practical points are worth planning for. The Fall 2027 deadline of 3 January 2027 falls in the same window as many European and American funding deadlines, so transcripts and referee letters should be requested early. And because the process includes a faculty interview, it helps to write a statement of purpose that clearly names the research area you want to work in.

KAUST scholarship FAQ

Is the KAUST scholarship open to Indian students?

Yes. KAUST admits students from more than 120 nationalities and the wealth of the funding does not depend on nationality – over 90% of admitted students receive full tuition support along with a stipend, housing, medical coverage and relocation assistance.

How much is the KAUST stipend for MS and PhD students?

The monthly stipend is worth US$20,000 per year for MS students and US$25,000 to US$30,000 per year for PhD students, depending on qualifications and academic progress. With tuition, housing, insurance and relocation added, KAUST values the fellowship at US$70,000 to US$80,000 per year.

What is the last date to apply to KAUST for 2027?

Fall 2027 admission (MS, MS/PhD and PhD) opens on 28 September 2026 and the application deadline is 3 January 2027. Spring 2027 entry, which is open only to PhD applicants, closed on 27 September 2026.

Is there a separate KAUST scholarship application form?

No. You apply for admission to a KAUST graduate programme, and the fellowship is part of the offer – KAUST says detailed information about the fellowship is provided to students who are offered a place.

What GPA and degree do I need for KAUST?

A bachelor’s degree for master’s admission and a master’s degree for PhD admission, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. In practice, about 90% of admitted applicants have a GPA above 3.3 and 75% have a GPA above 3.5.

Does the KAUST fellowship cover travel from India?

Relocation support covers visa, relocation and travel costs for the student’s first move to KAUST and the return home after graduation. Day-to-day personal expenses are met from the monthly stipend.

Official links

If you are comparing fully funded options abroad, see study abroad scholarships, international scholarships and post graduation scholarships for more schemes with open applications.

KAUST Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded MS and PhD in Saudi Arabia