University Admission in Saudi Arabia: Starter Guide

Applying to university in Saudi Arabia is more streamlined than many newcomers expect, but knowing which door to knock on saves a lot of time. Whether you are a Saudi citizen finishing secondary school or a resident planning your child's higher education, this starter guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through the official application channels, what you need to get started, and roughly what it costs in the 2025-2026 academic year.

The one gateway for public universities

All government (public) universities in Saudi Arabia accept new students through a single national unified admission platform, commonly known as Qabool (accessible via qabool.sa / uap.sa) under the Ministry of Education. Alongside it, there are regional unified admission portals covering areas such as الرياض, جدة and Makkah, and the Eastern Region.

The big advantage: this is currently the only official gateway for enrolling in public universities, and a single application lets you apply to multiple universities at once. There is no need to fill out a separate form for each institution.

What you need before you apply

To access the platform and complete your application, have the following ready:

• A valid Saudi National ID if you are a citizen, or a valid Iqama if you are a resident.
• An active email address.
• A mobile number registered in the national e-services system — the same number you use for government digital services such as أبشر and توكلنا. Verification codes are sent to this number, so make sure it is up to date.

It is worth confirming that your secondary school records and any standardized test results are linked to your ID before the admission season opens, as public universities weigh these heavily.

Costs: citizens vs. international students

Here is where the two paths differ most.

• Saudi citizens studying at public universities pay no tuition, and students generally receive a monthly stipend to support their studies.
• International (non-citizen) students at public universities do pay tuition, though it remains relatively affordable compared to private options.

For the 2025-2026 year, typical ranges look like this:

• Public universities (international students): roughly SAR 5,000 to 30,000 per year, averaging around SAR 15,000, depending on the university and program.
• Private universities: roughly SAR 30,000 to 150,000+ per year, averaging around SAR 60,000.

Real examples for 2026

To make these ranges concrete, here are two current examples.

A private university in الرياض (Alfaisal University):

• Preparatory Year: SAR 60,000 per year (SAR 30,000 per semester).
• Undergraduate degrees, all majors: SAR 94,000 per year (SAR 47,000 per semester).
• Master's programs: SAR 200,000 total program tuition.
• Application fee: SAR 600 (non-refundable; preparatory-year graduates are exempt).

A public university in Abha for international students (King Khalid University), charged per credit hour (excluding VAT):

• Humanities and Business: SAR 950 per credit (about SAR 17,100 for 18 credits in the first semester).
• Engineering, Architecture, Planning, Computer Science and Science: SAR 1,350 per credit (about SAR 24,300 for 18 credits).
• Tourism and Hospitality: SAR 1,500 per credit (about SAR 27,000 for 18 credits).
• Applied Colleges: SAR 900 per credit (about SAR 16,200 for 18 credits).

Fees for medicine, dentistry and similar high-demand programs are typically higher; confirm the exact figures directly with the university.

How to keep your application on track

• Watch admission calendars closely — public universities open applications for specific windows, and missing the deadline usually means waiting for the next intake.
• Apply to several universities and programs within your single application to widen your chances.
• Double-check every figure — tuition, application fees and VAT — on the official platform or the university's own admission office before you pay anything.
• Keep your contact number and email active throughout, since offers and next steps are communicated digitally.

With one platform for public universities and clear tuition ranges for both public and private options, planning your university path in Saudi Arabia comes down to preparing your documents early and confirming the specific numbers with the relevant official portal. سعودي ليفنج recommends starting your paperwork well before the admission season opens.

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