Alfaisal University
جامعة الفيصل
A small, English-medium private university in Riyadh, set in the grounds of King Faisal's former palace.
- Students
- 3,443
- International
- 37%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- SAR 94,000
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 2002
About Alfaisal
Alfaisal University was founded in 2002, with the King Faisal Foundation first among its founders, and welcomed its first students in 2008. It sits on the historic grounds of the palace of the late King Faisal in Riyadh and is accredited by the national accreditation body, NCAAA. Teaching is in English, and the university is small: THE's 2026 ranking data list about 3,400 students, with 37% of them international and a student-to-staff ratio of about 11 to 1.
Undergraduate study is spread across six colleges: Business; Engineering and Advanced Computing; Medicine; Pharmacy; Science and General Studies; and Law and International Relations. Programmes range from a six-phase MBBS and a Pharm.D to engineering, architecture, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, business majors and an LLB. The university works closely with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and lists industry partners such as Boeing, BAE Systems and Thales among its founders and partners.
Admission is competitive and depends on your school system: Saudi applicants are judged on school grades plus the Qudurat and Tahsili tests, while American, British, IB and other curricula have their own published thresholds. Medicine asks for the highest scores. Alfaisal suits students who want a compact, English-taught campus with close contact with faculty, especially in medicine, engineering and business, and who can cover private-university fees or win a scholarship.
Why students choose Alfaisal
All teaching is in English, and the College of Medicine publishes a list of graduates who matched into US residency programmes at hospitals such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.
A single undergraduate tuition fee of SAR 94,000 a year applies to every bachelor's degree, Saudi or international.
The university says 44% of students receive some form of financial aid, and in 2023-24 it awarded more than SAR 9 million to over 450 students.
A University Preparatory Program lets applicants who narrowly miss direct-entry scores improve their English and academic skills before joining a degree.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (applications open 1 March 2027); latest published criteria are for 2025-26
Selectivity
Alfaisal does not publish an acceptance rate. It describes admission as very competitive and says it receives thousands of applications each year, reviewed holistically on school grades, standardised test scores and extracurricular activities.
Typical entry requirements
| American high school diploma | Direct admission: 90% average with SAT 1000/1600 or ACT 22 for most colleges; Medicine requires 98%, SAT 1200 or ACT 28, and two AP tests (Biology and Chemistry) at 4 or ACT subject scores of 28 (2025-26 criteria) |
|---|---|
| Saudi secondary certificate | School grades plus Qudurat and Tahsili scores; Medicine requires 98% in high school and 85 in both Qudurat and Tahsili (2025-26 criteria) |
| British curriculum | Two A2 subjects related to the chosen major, two AS subjects and four GCSEs, with a 12th-grade transcript and diploma; Medicine requires A,A at A2 in Biology and Chemistry (2025-26 criteria) |
| IB Diploma | Three HL subjects, two related to the major (Biology and Chemistry for Medicine and Science; Mathematics and Physics for Engineering); Medicine requires HL 5,6,6 and 30 points (2025-26 criteria) |
| Other international curricula | Proof of 12 years of schooling, evaluated by the Saudi Ministry of Education, plus college interviews and one of the listed entrance exams where applicable |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 61 Direct admission (2025-26 criteria): TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 6.0 for most colleges, TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5 for Medicine. The university also offers its own Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT) for applicants without TOEFL or IELTS (B2 needed, C1 for Medicine). Lower scores (TOEFL 45, IELTS 5.0) can qualify for the University Preparatory Program. |
Deadlines
- Fall 2027 admission (international students) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~10 months1 March to 26 July 2027
The FAQ gives 1 March to 26 July as the fall window for international students; the general window runs from 1 March until the fall semester begins.
- Spring 2027 admission Non-bindingApplications open 1 November 2026 and run until the start of the spring semester
Admission is currently closed and re-opens for spring in November.
Dates follow the admissions office's standing schedule (fall opens 1 March, spring opens 1 November); the international fall window of 1 March to 26 July is from the student FAQ and may be updated for 2027.
How to apply
Apply online through the Alfaisal admissions portal with a non-refundable SAR 600 application fee. Upload your high school certificate and transcript, Qudurat and Tahsili (for Saudi-curriculum students), SAT or other test scores, TOEFL or IELTS, passport or ID, a photo and, for non-Saudis, medical insurance. The university says decisions usually take one to two weeks.
What admissions looks for
- The strength of your high school curriculum and the grades you earned.
- Standardised test scores: Qudurat and Tahsili, SAT or ACT, AP, A-levels or IB, depending on your school system.
- English proficiency at the level set for your college, with a higher bar for Medicine.
- Extracurricular activities, and for some international curricula, performance in college interviews.
Tips for applying to Alfaisal
- 1 Check the criteria PDF for your own school system: the thresholds for Medicine are much higher than for Business, Engineering or Science.
- 2 Send SAT or ACT scores even if your system does not require them; Alfaisal says they improve your chances and can unlock extra merit scholarships.
- 3 If you narrowly miss direct admission, the University Preparatory Program (SAR 60,000 a year) is a route into a degree.
- 4 Need-based and merit-based scholarships are only awarded to new students at the start of the year, and the need-based form is submitted through the admission application, so apply for aid at the same time.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
Alfaisal offers merit-based and need-based scholarships to new undergraduates: the need-based award covers 20% of tuition, and the College of Science and General Studies offers a 50% tuition scholarship for high achievers, open to domestic and international students. International students can apply for merit scholarships; students sponsored by a third party are not eligible. There are also Dean's List awards (20% of tuition for a 3.75 GPA), sibling discounts of 15-25% and athletic scholarships for Saudi athletes.
- 44%
- Students receiving some form of financial aid
- More than SAR 9 million to over 450 students
- Aid awarded in 2023-24
- 20% of tuition
- Need-based scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and spring, with an optional summer term)
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
A spiral curriculum in three interlocking phases, from normal body function to clinical clerkships, with a published list of graduates matched to US residencies.
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D)
A professional clinical pharmacy degree taught in the College of Pharmacy.
Artificial Intelligence (BS)
One of several advanced-computing majors, with tracks in AI and big data, AI and healthcare, and AI and robotics.
Biomedical Engineering (Bachelor)
Links engineering with the university's medical focus, with tracks in medical imaging and medical devices.
Law (LLB)
Offered by the College of Law and International Relations alongside majors in diplomacy and governance and public policy.
Entrepreneurship and Family Business (Bachelor)
A distinctive business major reflecting the Saudi family-business economy, alongside finance, accounting and business analytics.
Research
- Alfaisal partners closely with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, one of its founding partners.
- Industry partners listed by the university include Boeing, BAE Systems Saudi Arabia and Thales Group.
- The College of Engineering and Advanced Computing runs an undergraduate research programme and a yearly Engineering Expo of student projects.
Schools & faculties
- College of Business
- College of Engineering and Advanced Computing
- College of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Science and General Studies
- College of Law and International Relations
The College of Medicine publishes a US residency match list; its 2021 list includes graduates matched to Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and George Washington University Hospital, among others.
Student life
Alfaisal is a commuter campus: the university states that it does not currently offer student accommodation, so students live with family or find their own housing in Riyadh. Campus life runs through college professional associations for medical, engineering, science, pharmacy, business and law students, and through clubs for culture, community service, entrepreneurship, art and sport, including football, basketball, equestrian, chess and volleyball. More than a third of students (37% in THE's 2026 data) come from outside Saudi Arabia.
- Professional associations for each college, from the Medical Students' Association to the Law Students' Association.
- Clubs for football, basketball, equestrian, chess and volleyball.
- Entrepreneurship clubs that help students develop and sell their own products.
- Study abroad and exchange programmes run by the Office of International Students and Exchange, including research internships and clinical rotations.
Housing. Alfaisal does not currently offer student accommodation.
Location
Alfaisal's campus is in the al-Ma'dhar district of central Riyadh, around the 1952 al-Ma'dhar Palace built by the future King Faisal. Riyadh is the Saudi capital and a large, car-oriented city of government, finance and a fast-growing entertainment scene. International students need a Saudi student visa, which the university processes after admission, and medical insurance.
Nearest airport: King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
Notable alumni
- RB Rayyanah BarnawiFirst Saudi woman astronaut; Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from Alfaisal
Frequently asked questions
How much does Alfaisal University cost?
Undergraduate tuition is SAR 94,000 a year (SAR 47,000 per semester) for every degree, plus VAT. The preparatory programme costs SAR 60,000 a year.
Does Alfaisal University teach in English?
Yes. English is the language of instruction, and applicants need TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 6.0 for most colleges (79 or 6.5 for Medicine), or the university's own placement test.
When can I apply to Alfaisal for 2027?
Spring applications open on 1 November 2026. Fall 2027 applications open on 1 March 2027, and the FAQ gives 26 July as the end of the international fall window.
Does Alfaisal offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. International students can apply for merit-based scholarships, and the College of Science and General Studies offers a 50% tuition scholarship to high achievers. Students with third-party sponsorship are not eligible.
Does Alfaisal University have student housing?
No. The university says it does not currently offer accommodation, so students arrange their own housing in Riyadh.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Alfaisal University: About Us
- Alfaisal University: Founders and Partners
- Alfaisal Admissions: Freshman requirements
- Alfaisal Admissions: Admission criteria 2025-2026, Saudi curriculum (PDF)
- Alfaisal Admissions: Admission criteria 2025-2026, American curriculum (PDF)
- Alfaisal Admissions: Admission criteria 2025-2026, British curriculum (PDF)
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