Admissions
Admission to the M.S. program requires the satisfactory completion of an undergraduate BS degree in a relevant or related area, such as Engineering, Mathematics or the Physical, Chemical and Biological Sciences.
General Degree Requirements
The M.S. degree at KAUST is a 36-credit program. Students are expected to complete the M.S. degree in three semesters and one summer session. Degree requirements are divided into three sections: (1) Core Curriculum; (2) Elective Curriculum; and (3) Research/Capstone Experience.
- Core Curriculum (9-15 credits): This portion of the degree program is designed to provide a student with the background needed to establish a solid foundation in the discipline over and above undergraduate studies.
- Elective Curriculum (9-15 credits): This portion of the degree program is designed to allow each student to tailor his/her educational experience to meet individual research and educational objectives. Depending upon the program and the objectives, this may be met by added coursework or by additional research experience.
- Research/Capstone Experience (12 credits): The details of this portion of the degree program are also uniquely determined by the student and his/her advisor and will involve a combination of research and other capstone experiences that build on the knowledge gained in coursework.
At least thirty-six (36) degree credits must be completed in graduate-level courses and research projects. These courses should be 200-level or above and must be approved by the program advisor.
Thesis Requirements
Students pursuing the Thesis option must apply by the eighth week of their second semester. Thesis students are expected to conduct research and compose the thesis during the summer and subsequent fall semesters. A minimum of 6 credits of thesis research (297) is required, although it is expected that a student will enroll in 12 credits of MS thesis work. With permission of the M.Sc. thesis advisor, a student who enrolls in only 6 credits of thesis research may use one of the following options to earn the six remaining credits of degree requirements:
- Internship: Research-based summer internship (295). Students are only allowed to take one internship.
- Broadening Experience Courses: Courses that broaden a student's MS experience.
- Ph.D. Level Courses: Courses numbered 300 or greater. Any course in the Ph.D. core requirements that is passed with a minimum grade of B– may be used towards meeting the core Ph.D. requirements of the program if the student chooses to continue for a Ph.D. degree at KAUST.
Students are permitted to register more than 12 credits of M.S. thesis research as necessary and with the permission of the thesis advisor.
Committee Structure and Thesis Defense
A committee comprised of the M.S. thesis advisor and two other faculty members performs the evaluation of satisfactory completion of M.S. thesis work. The chair of the committee must be a faculty member within the program. One external faculty member, or one Research Scientist may be allowed. The evaluation of M.S. thesis credits comprises of a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade. The requirement of a public seminar based on the student's work is left to the discretion of the M.S. thesis advisor.
The student is responsible for scheduling the thesis defense date with his/her supervisor and committee members. It is advisable that the student submits a written copy of the thesis to the thesis committee members at least two weeks prior the defense date.
Non-Thesis Option
Research requirement: A minimum of 6 credits of directed research credits (299) is required. Summer internship credits may be used to fulfill the research requirement provided that the summer internship is research-based. Summer internships are subject to approval by the student's academic advisor.
Students must complete the remaining credits through one or a combination of the options listed below:
- Broadening Experience Courses: Courses that broaden a student's M.S. experience.
- Ph.D. Level Courses: Courses numbered 300 or greater. Any course in the Ph.D. core requirements that is passed with a minimum grade of B– may be used towards meeting the core Ph.D. requirements of the program if the student chooses to continue for a Ph.D. degree in at KAUST.
- Internship: Research-based summer internship (295). Students are only allowed to take one internship.
It should be noted that a student might be able to also combine courses to satisfy the six-credit requirement. For example, a student could take one Ph.D.-level course and one graduate-level course in another program. A student may not enroll in two summer internships.
Thesis format requirements are described in the KAUST Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.
Students may select a KAUST faculty member from another program to act as a research advisor (for either thesis or directed research), but must provide a one-page description of the research and an explanation of how such research would be relevant to the degree program. Upon approval by the program and the Dean, the faculty member would be allowed to act as an affiliated faculty member and advisor for the student.
Please Note: Degree Programs may have additional requirement to those listed above.
Program Descriptions
The Master's and Doctoral degree program requirements represent general university-level expectations. The specific details of each degree requirements are outlined in the descriptions of the individual degree programs.
The M.S./Ph.D. Program
The M.S./Ph.D. program is an attractive option for students looking for fast entry into the world of research. Students can apply for the Ph.D. program after completing a BS degree and are engaged in exciting research from the beginning of their program. The program typically takes four to five years to complete and students may complete a M.S. degree on the way to their Ph.D.
IDB Scholarship
About the Program
Scholarships sponsored jointly by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to study at KAUST.
The IDB-KAUST PhD Scholarship Program was established in 2012 within the scope of the IDB Merit Scholarship Program and the KAUST PhD Program. Under the scholarship program, citizens of IDB member countries are eligible to apply for the scholarship to study at KAUST for a full-time 4-year PhD. The Program is jointly funded by IDB and KAUST to award 5 scholarships annually. The scholarship is a fully funded program as per the KAUST rules and procedures will be supported throughout the eligible duration of the study program. Visit the KAUST Admissions page for PhD program details.
Requirements
The candidate must be:
- A citizen of an IDB member country (visit the IDB Merit Scholarship Program for a full listing of member countries)
- Age not over 35 years
- Engaged in full-time employment in an academic, research or development institute in the home country and the application is nominated by that institution
- Meets the eligibility criteria of the IDB Merit Scholarship Program
- Have a firm admission offer at the KAUST for a PhD program
Selection of candidates under this joint program will be within the scope of the IDB Merit Scholarship Program. Interested candidates must follow these criteria and procedures to apply for the scholarship. Information about IDB and KAUST is available from their respective websites.
Contact
Scholarship Division
Islamic Development Bank
Qasr Khuzam,
Al Malik Khalid Road,
Jeddah 21432,
Saudi Arabia
Tel. (9662) 646 6833 / 6835
Fax. (9662) 646 6887
e-mail:scholar@isdb.org
website: www.isdb.org
If you have questions concerning admission to KAUST please email: admissions@kaust.edu.sa
For more official information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/applying-to-kaust