Study Abroad Scholarships

Study Abroad Scholarships

Contents Foreword The History of Study Abroad Scholarships in the Kingdom Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad 5 7 11 Program Mission Program Goals Program for Joining the Scholarship Students Supervision of Scholarship Students Examples of the Achievements of Study Abroad Scholarship Students 12 12 17 21 25

Foreword Enabling students to study abroad is one of the most important means of developing education and raising its standard in most countries in the world. This process is of tremendous value to the students, for it gives them the opportunity to study in international universities of experience and excellence in the realm of higher education. In this way, they will be equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge, science and field experience which will assist them after their return to their homeland and contribute themselves to its progress in the areas of specialization which the labor market demands. The government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz has sought to support study abroad scholarships in order to make use of the skills of the graduates in the comprehensive development which the Kingdom is witnessing. To achieve this, young Saudi men and women are being qualified in the finest and most experienced universities around the world, in all the fields needed by the nation in its present and future development. During the past few years, the arena of study abroad scholarships in the Kingdom has witnessed a tremendous quantitative and qualitative leap as a result of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad, which embodies the aspirations of our nation s leader for the development and prosperity of our homeland, to enable it to proceed on its civilizational course and rise to the lofty station which is its due.

The History of Study Abroad Scholarships in the Kingdom

The History of Study Abroad Scholarships in the Kingdom Study abroad scholarships began to be offered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in AH 1346/1927 when the late King Abdulaziz directed that students be sent to study abroad at the state s expense. Thus, the history of study abroad scholarships predates the announcement of the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and this affords a clear indication of King Abdulaziz s attention to education and his deep conviction in the importance of study abroad scholarships in building a strong country through the efforts of citizens who have been educated in the finest regional and international universities. In accordance with the directives of the King, the Consultative Council decreed that fourteen students be sent to Egypt to complete their university education in Sharia justice, technical education, agriculture, medicine and education. This marked the true beginning of study abroad scholarships in the Kingdom. Then, in AH 1355/1936, King Abdulaziz decreed the establishment of a school to prepare students to study abroad, and this became the first secondary school to be established along modern lines, and was designed to prepare students to join university colleges in the fields of engineering, medicine, arts and education. In the same year, another group of Saudi students - ten in number - were sent to study Sharia, the Arabic sciences and education in Egypt. In AH 1361/1942, a third group of students was dispatched, followed by a fourth in the year after that. As the revenues of the State increased, so did the numbers of students being sent abroad to further their education. Moreover, students were also sent to other destinations, including the United States and Europe, as well as several Arab countries. When Saudi students first began to be sent to study in Egypt, the Saudi government established offices in both Cairo and Alexandria to care of their needs. Not only did they reside in these facilities, but all their needs were provided for them, including food, clothing, medical care and personal expenses. In return, all that was required of them was that they give their full attention to furthering their education. In effect, these were the first Saudi Arabian Cultural Missions to be founded outside the Kingdom. After the foundation of the Ministry of Higher Education in AH 1395/1975, the task of supervising study abroad scholarship students was delegated to it, as well as the responsibility for the implementation of the Kingdom s policy regarding foreign study for Saudi students. The Ministry in turn set up a Deputy Ministry for Scholarship Affairs so as to provide this important element in the Kingdom s development the attention it requires. 9

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz realized the importance of foreign study scholarships in training young Saudi men and women by affording them the opportunity to study in the foremost institutions of higher education around the world, in order to obtain a wide variety of experience in fields important to the nation, so that, upon their return to the Kingdom, they would be equipped to play their part in its progress and development. Furthermore, the King understood the role played by foreign study scholarships in the sustainable development of human resources, and so, he ordered the expansion of the foreign study scholarships program in order to develop it into an important avenue of support for Saudi universities as well as the public and private sectors. In /25, a royal decree was issued Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad. In /21, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, agreed to extend the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad for another five years, beginning with the financial year AH 1431/1432 (29/21), after the completion of the first stage of the program which began in /25. Mission of the Program foster the growth, development and qualification of Saudi Arabian human resources in an active manner in order that they might become internationally competitive in the labor market and in the realm of scientific research, as well as an important source of support for Saudi Arabian universities as well as the public and private sectors, by providing them with highly qualified individuals. Goals of the Program 1.Raise the level of professionalism among the Saudi workforce 2.Build a qualified Saudi workforce 3.Exchange scientific, educational and cultural expertise with countries around the world 4.Create a high level of academic and professional standards through the study abroad program 5.Send Saudi students to further their education in the finest universities across the globe 6.Stimulate cultural, social and scientific interchange between the Kingdom and foreign countries through the medium of the Kingdom s cultural ambassadors - the students it sends abroad to study 7.Strengthen the political, cultural and social ties between the Kingdom and the countries in which its scholarship students study Academic Levels Included in the Program The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad dispatches young Saudi men and women to further their education in the finest overseas universities at the following educational levels: 1. Bachelors 2. Masters 3. PhD 4. Medical fellowship 13

AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-28 26-27 25-26 24-25 AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-2 Specializations Approved by the Program The program provides opportunities to study abroad in the following areas of specialization which are needed by governmental and non-governmental sectors: 1. Medicine, dentistry and the medical fellowship 2. Pharmacy 3.Nursing 4. Medical sciences: radiology, medical laboratories, medical technology and physical therapy 5. Health sciences: nutrition and medical records 6. Engineering: civil, architectural, electrical, mechanical, industrial, chemical, environmental, communications, and heavy machinery 7. Computers: computer engineering, computer science, networks, etc. 8. Pure sciences: mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology 9. Other areas: law accounting, e-commerce, finance, insurance and marketing Numbers of students studying abroad according to academic level -1431/25-21 Academic AH AH AH AH AH AH 27 Muharram level 1425/24-1426/25-1427/26-1428/27- /28 143/28-1431/29- AH 1432/2 25 26 27 28 29 21 January 211 Bachelors 9,241 12,589 2,967 23,685 26,674 36,951 47,397 46,438 Masters 2,272 4,297 7,85 1,83 11,5 16,347 22,37 21,127 PhD 1,35 1,643 2,297 1,996 2,95 3,84 5,26 4,985 Fellowship 647 662 854 1,21 1,23 1,4 1,835 1,856 Other levels* 2,218 6,25 8,51 5,31 16,41 2,324 29,467 32,659 Total 15,728 25,441 4,19 42,86 58,71 78,826 16,95 17,65 *Particular specialization, special education, diploma, higher diploma, intermediate diploma, training course, training for one year, language, preparatory year, companion studying language Students studying abroad at the master s degree level Countries in Which Scholarship Students Study AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-28 The program began by sending students to study in the United States of America, and afterwards expanded to comprise all developed nations, including Europe, Japan, the People s Republic of China, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others. Numbers of Students Benefiting from the Program More than 7, young Saudi men and women have benefited from this program. 26-27 Students studying abroad at all levels Mode of Operation of the Program 1. Registration Registration in the program is carried out by completion of the necessary forms available on the Ministry of Higher Education s website. AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 27-28 26-27 2. Acceptance After registration is complete, the applicants documents are scrutinized and electronically archived, so as to assist in the electronic identification of applicants who fulfill the necessary conditions, and subsequent announcement of the names of the recipients. 2 January 211 28 25-26 25-26 24-25 24-25 Students studying abroad at the master s degree level 2 January 211 2 January 211 Students studying abroad at the PhD level 29-21 29-21 AH 143 28-29 28 27-28 26-27 25-26 Students studying abroad at all levels 29-21 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 28 28 27-28 27-28 26-27 26-27 25-26 24-25 24-25 25, 2, 15, 1, 5, 12, 1, 6, 4, 2, 25, 2, 6, 15, 5, 1, 4, 3, 5, 2, 1, 12, 1, 6, 4, 2, Students studying abroad at the master s degree level Students studying abroad at the bachelor s degree level 2 January 211 2 January 211 5, 2, 45, 4, 15, 35, 3, 1, 25, 2, 5, 15, 1, 5, Students studying abroad at all levels Students studying abroad at the master s degree level Students studying the medical fellowship abroad 27 Muharram 2 January 211 AH 1432 2 January 211 2 January 211 29-21 29-21 29-21 29-21 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 28 AH 28 1429 28 28 27-28 27-28 27-28 27-28 26-27 26-27 26-27 26-27 25-26 25-26 25-26 25-26 24-25 24-25 24-25 24-25 12, 25, 2, 1, 2, 1,8 1,6 6, 15, 1,4 1,2 4, 1, 1, 8 2, 5, 6 4 2 Students studying abroad at the bachelor s degree level Students studying abroad at the PhD level Students studying abroad at all levels 2 January 211 27 Muharram 2 January 211 AH 1432 2 January 211 2 January 211 29-21 29-21 29-21 29-21 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 AH 28 1429 28 27-28 27-28 26-27 26-27 25-26 25-26 24-25 24-25 Students studying abroad at the PhD level 29-21 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 AH 143 28-29 28 28 28 27-28 27-28 27-28 26-27 26-27 26-27 25-26 25-26 24-25 Students studying the medical fellowship abroad 25-26 24-25 AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-28 26-27 25-26 25-26 24-25 24-25 24-25 25, 5, 45, 12, 6, 4, 35, 1, 3, 25, 4, 6, 2, 3, 15, 4, 1, 2, 5, 2, 1, 2, 1,8 1,6 6, 1,4 5, 1,2 1, 4, 8 6 3, 4 2, 2 1, Students studying abroad at the bachelor s degree level Students studying abroad at all levels 5, 45, 12, 4, 35, 1, 3, 25, 6, 2, 15, 4, 1, 5, 2, AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-28 26-27 25-26 24-25 AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-28 26-27 25-26 24-25 Students studying the medical fellowship abroad Students studying Students abroad studying at the abroad bachelor s at the degree PhD level level 3. Forum for Study Abroad Scholarship Students The Ministry of Higher Education organizes an 2, 5, annual forum 1,86, for candidates for the King Abdullah Scholarship 45, 1,6in order to 4, 5, provide them with the information and skills they 1,4will require 35, 1,2 to face the challenges of daily life in the countries 3, 4, to which 1, 25, they are sent. This is accomplished by means of 8 an 3, orientation 2, on study abroad scholarships in general, including 6 15, 2, the rights 4 and responsibilities of the students studying abroad. 1, This is 2 1, 5, followed by an orientation regarding the country in which the AH 143 27 Muharram 2 January 27 Muharram 211 AH 1432 AH 29-21 1432 28-29 AH 143 AH AH 143 1429 AH 27-28 1429 AH 26-27 1428 AH 25-26 1427 AH 24-25 1426 candidate 2 January 211 will 29-21 study, 28-29with particular 27-28 26-27attention 25-26 24-25 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 27-28 26-27 25-26 24-25 being paid to its laws and statutes, social norms, educational system, in addition to information regarding housing and medical care. In order to prepare candidates in the best possible manner, they are Students studying the medical fellowship abroad also given psychological and social preparation, and basic self-improvement skills. The forum programs are prepared and presented by a selection of experts and officials 2, in Saudi embassies in the destination countries, as well 1,8 as prominent 1,6 individuals in Saudi society. At the end of the forum, the 1,4 Ministry distributes academic acceptances certification 1,2 to the candidates, thereby enabling them to commence 1, the steps 8 necessary to obtain student visas form the embassies of their 6 destination countries. 2 AH 143 4. Steps 2 January 211 Required 29-21 28-29 to Issue 28 an 27-28 Official 26-27 25-26 Scholarship 24-25 Decree Once the student has obtained acceptance from his chosen university, and the student visa from the country in which it is located, he will be issued an official decree regarding his scholarship in addition to air tickets to his destination. 4 Students studying the med AH 143 2 January 211 29-21 28-29 28 15 27-2 Students studying abroad at the PhD level

17 Specializations Approved by the Program

Program for Joining the Scholarship Students The Ministry of Higher Education has updated the statutes regulating joining study abroad scholarship students so as to serve the needs of Saudis studying abroad at their own expense, and who desire to join the scholarship program to benefit from the facilities offered to their colleagues who are studying at government expense. The revised program is aimed particularly at individuals who have accompanied their wives or sisters who are scholarship awardees, and who also desire to further their own education in the countries in which they reside. Also eligible to participate are wives and children of Saudi employees of the Kingdom s diplomatic and cultural missions abroad. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad Students undertakes to include students studying abroad at their own expense in the program, so that they may enjoy all the benefits which the state grants to scholarship students studying abroad, while the Ministry bears no employment obligation regarding their fields of specialization. A student studying abroad at this own expense may apply to join the scholarship program by contacting the Saudi Arabian cultural mission in the country in which he is studying and completing the necessary forms. This program is an important adjunct to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship Program for Study Abroad as well as a support for it in those fields of specialization, which may not be included in the list of required fields. The program for joining the scholarship students includes all those studying at their own expense in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and who arrived there before 5/6/ (19/5/21), in addition to students studying at their won expense who have completed their language study and begun their academic study in Britain prior to 7/12/ (13/11/21). The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz directed that all these categories of students be admitted to the scholarship program. On 2/3AH 1432 (23/2/211), the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques directed that all students studying aboard at their own expense be admitted to the scholarship program; this is in addition to the 17, students already studying under the program. Addition of the Wife of a Scholarship Student or the Companion of a Female Scholarship Student The wife of a scholarship recipient is able to study English or any other language at the Ministry s expense. Saudi cultural attaches have the authority to disburse expenses without referring to the Ministry in such cases and without the issuance of a scholarship decree. After successfully completing language study and obtaining acceptance from an accredited university, the student may apply to be added to the scholarship students. Facilities Granted to Students Studying at Their Own Expense Students who study abroad at their won expense enjoy the following benefits: 1. Direct supervision by the Embassy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as well as the Saudi Cultural Mission, thereby assuring that students studying abroad at their own expense benefit from the educational and social follow up and advice they provide, while also maintaining an open channel of communication with the Kingdom, and working to avoid any negative social or intellectual influences which may affect them. 2. Round trip air tickets to the Kingdom every two years up to a maximum of three times, to enable the student to spend his academic breaks in the Kingdom. 3. Distinction bonuses, if the relevant conditions are fulfilled 19

21 Supervision of Scholarship Students

Supervision of Scholarship Students Supervision of study abroad scholarship recipients is an important factor in monitoring their educational progress and resolving any difficulties that may arise. This is accomplished in cooperation with a highly qualified scientific committee composed of individuals with a high degree of practical and professional competence and qualification, which is charged with monitoring a student s academic progress, extension of the duration of the scholarship, postponement of study, change of university or field of specialization, change of country of study, financial guarantees, attendance at academic conferences, travel for purposes related to the student s studies, and renewal of the duration of the scholarship decree. There is a department in the Deputy Ministry for Scholarship Affairs dedicated to assisting callers and visitors in a manner which enables them to complete their business easily and expeditiously. Benefits Enjoyed by Scholarship Recipients and Those Who Accompany Them 1. A scholarship recipient and those who accompany him receive a monthly stipend which guarantees that the student will devote his full attention to his academic life and enjoy a decent life in the country in which he lives. Stipends take into consideration the number of persons who accompany the student and the lifestyle of the country in which he is studying. 2. Medical care: students and those who accompany them receive comprehensive medical insurance which is purchased for them by the cultural mission in the country where they reside. 3. Air tickets: students and those who accompany them receive air travel tickets to the Kingdom and back on an annual basis. Tickets are also supplied in the case of emergency travel. The Relationship of Scholarship Students with Saudi Cultural Missions Saudi cultural missions throughout the world play an important role in the monitoring and supervision of scholarship students, including but not limited to the following: 1. Academic supervision of scholarship students and follow up of their academic progress according to reports provided by the relevant educational institutions and coordination with the Ministry if any difficulties should arise with regard to a student s progress. 2. Disbursement of stipends to scholarship students, and their reimbursement for any fees they may have paid, such as those for emergency medical treatment. 3. Organization of meetings for scholarship students to bolster the social and cultural bonds between them in a manner which assists them in the realization of their goals. 4. Obtain admissions for students, and facilitate admissions procedures. Maintaining Contact with Scholarship Students The Kingdom s leaders and representatives abroad are deeply concerned with the welfare of Saudi scholarship students, each according to his own sphere of responsibility. Thus, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince HRH Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz are keen to meet with scholarship recipients and become acquainted with their hopes and aspirations in the countries in which they study. maintain high standards. From another angle, the Ministry believes in the importance of keeping in touch with scholarship students through the different means of modern communications, such as email, the telephone and the postal service. Indeed, a special email address has been dedicated to scholarship students to enable them to contact the Deputy Ministry for Scholarships, and telephone operators have also been assigned to answ 23 On the ambassadorial level, the ambassadors of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques personally monitor the progress and circumstances of scholarship students studying abroad. The same is also true of top-ranking officials in the Kingdom, such as the President of the Majlis Ash-Shura and others. Scholarship students also figure among the most important concerns of the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Khalid M. Al Anqari, who makes an effort to meet with them during all his travels abroad. In the same way, the deputy ministers of higher education are also concerned with their progress. The Minister has dispatched official delegations to assess the needs of scholarship students and resolve any concerns or difficulties they may have. At the same time, these delegations assess the academic standard of the universities in which the Saudi scholarship students study, to determine whether they

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