Effat University
جامعة عفت
A small private English-medium university in Jeddah that says it opened Saudi Arabia's first engineering programmes for women.
- Students
- 1,172
- International
- 43%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- SAR 101.2K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1999
About Effat
Effat University grew out of Effat College, which opened in Jeddah in 1999 (1419 H) as a women's college founded in the name of Queen Effat Al-Thunayyan, wife of King Faisal. It became a university by royal decree on 30 January 2009 and operates as a private non-profit institution under the King Faisal Charitable Foundation. Its early departments were Computer Science and Kindergarten, and in 2005-06 it launched Architecture and Electrical and Computer Engineering, which the university describes as the first engineering programmes ever open to women in Saudi Arabia.
Teaching is in English across four colleges: Humanities, Business, Engineering, and Architecture and Design. Bachelor's programmes include Digital Media and Communication, Clinical Psychology, English and Translation, Accounting and Finance, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Architecture, Design and Cinematic Arts. Effat was among the first six Saudi universities to receive institutional accreditation from the national accreditor NCAAA in 2010.
Effat is small, with about 1,200 students in THE's 2026 data, a large share of them from outside Saudi Arabia, and admissions now open to both male and female applicants. It suits students who want small classes, an English-medium curriculum and design- or media-focused programmes in Jeddah, and who can meet private-university fees or win a merit scholarship.
Aspire to Achieve
University motto
Why students choose Effat
English-medium degrees in fields such as Architecture, Cinematic Arts, Digital Media and Communication and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Institutional accreditation from NCAAA since 2010, plus NCAAA accreditation for programmes including Electrical and Computer Engineering, Accounting and Finance, Marketing and Psychology.
Overseas students with a high-school average of 80% or more can receive a 20% scholarship.
A self-contained Jeddah campus with a library and cultural museum, residences, studios and 46 computer labs.
Admissions
2026-27 academic year (rolling admission)
Selectivity
Effat describes admission as very competitive but does not publish an admit rate. Applicants are assessed on the strength of their high-school curriculum and grades, standardized test scores, an essay and a personal interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Saudi Secondary School Certificate | At least 80% overall (85% in mathematics and physics for Engineering and Computer Science), with GAT and SAAT minimums of 60% and 65% in Effat's admission table |
|---|---|
| IGCSE / A-levels | 8 IGCSE O-levels at grade C or above, or 5 O-levels at C plus one A-level at D or above, or 5 O-levels plus two AS-levels |
| Overseas high school certificate | 12 years of schooling, certified by the Ministry of Education and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi embassy in the country of graduation |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 53 Minimum IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 53 or Effat LNGT 162 for direct entry; students below the benchmark can join the English foundation levels (placement by Linguaskill test). |
Deadlines
- Undergraduate admission (rolling) Non-bindingNo fixed deadline published
Effat's homepage banner states that admissions for male and female students are open in all bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes, and its regular undergraduate admissions page welcomes national and international, male or female applicants.
Effat does not publish a fixed application deadline for 2027 entry on its admissions pages; contact the admissions office for semester start dates and overseas visa timelines.
How to apply
Apply online and pay the non-refundable application fee (SAR 600 plus VAT), submit ID and certificates, sit placement tests if needed, attend a personal interview, then pay the first instalment of SAR 5,000 to confirm your place. Overseas students also go through Effat's visa process.
What admissions looks for
- The strength of the high-school curriculum and grades earned.
- Standardized test scores (GAT and SAAT for Saudi applicants, English proficiency for all).
- A written essay.
- Performance in a personal interview.
Tips for applying to Effat
- 1 Engineering and Computer Science applicants need 85% in mathematics and physics, not just a high overall average.
- 2 If you have no TOEFL or IELTS score, you can sit Effat's own LNGT English placement test instead.
- 3 Overseas applicants should start attesting certificates early: they need Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi embassy attestation plus English translations.
- 4 AP, IB HL, A-level and Qiyas results can earn credit through the Ruwwad advanced placement track.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
Effat offers merit-based scholarships (academic, sports, cultural and for overseas students), donor-funded and programme-specific scholarships, financial aid and loans, with partial or full coverage. Overseas undergraduates with a high-school average of 80-100% (or GPA of 3-4 out of 4) qualify for a 20% scholarship.
- 20% (high-school average 80% or above)
- Overseas student scholarship
- SAR 288,100 to SAR 442,040
- Estimated total bachelor's programme cost (VAT excluded)
- SAR 600 (SAR 690 with VAT)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
BSc Architecture
Launched in 2005-06 as one of the first two engineering-track programmes for women in Saudi Arabia; 163 credit hours.
BSc Electrical and Computer Engineering
Effat's original engineering programme, accredited by NCAAA; requires 85% in high-school mathematics and physics.
BSc Cinematic Arts
A film programme taught in the College of Architecture and Design (132 credit hours).
BSc Digital Media and Communication
Offered by the College of Humanities at the higher engineering and design fee band.
BSc Entrepreneurship
One of five NCAAA-accredited business bachelor's degrees alongside Accounting and Finance, Marketing, HR and Operations and Supply Chain Management.
Research
- Effat's first graduate programme, a Master's in Islamic Financial Management launched in 2011, was developed with Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University) and ESA Beirut.
- The campus has 17 research labs and four research centres, and the university hosts research chairs.
- Graduate programmes include NCAAA-accredited master's degrees in Energy Engineering, Urban Design, Finance and Translation and Interpreting.
Schools & faculties
- Effat College of Humanities
- Effat College of Business
- Effat College of Engineering
- Effat College of Architecture and Design
Student life
Effat's campus in Jeddah combines teaching buildings for its four colleges with the Effat Library and Cultural Museum, Effat Hall, a restaurant, a mosque, sports facilities including an indoor swimming pool, and two residence buildings. With around 1,200 students, classes are small and many students are from overseas. Students are called Effat Ambassadors, and the university celebrates their achievements in areas such as the Saudi Games and international competitions like a space challenge in New York.
- Effat Library and Cultural Museum.
- Indoor swimming pool and other sports facilities on campus.
- Two residence buildings with 138 rooms.
- A large share of international students in a small community.
Housing. Effat has two on-campus residence buildings with 138 rooms (capacity 247).
Location
Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea port and a major commercial city in Makkah Province. Effat's campus is in the city, and the university's overseas admissions pages include guidance on life in Jeddah and on the student visa process for international students.
Nearest airport: King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), Jeddah
Notable alumni
- FA Fatima Al-BanawiFilmmaker and actress (Barakah Meets Barakah); graduated in counseling psychology from Effat
Frequently asked questions
Is Effat University only for women?
Effat was founded as a women's college, but its website now states that admissions are open to both male and female students in all bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes.
How much does Effat University cost?
Average yearly tuition and mandatory fees for bachelor's programmes run from about SAR 71,500 to SAR 86,860 (VAT excluded). Overseas students pay about SAR 101,208 to SAR 123,288 a year including VAT.
What IELTS score do I need for Effat University?
IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 53 or Effat's LNGT 162. Students below this can start in the English foundation levels.
Does Effat University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Overseas undergraduates with a high-school average of 80% or more can receive a 20% scholarship, and Effat also has merit, donor-funded and programme-specific awards.
Is Effat University accredited?
Yes. Effat received institutional accreditation from Saudi Arabia's NCAAA in 2010, and many programmes, including Electrical and Computer Engineering and Accounting and Finance, are accredited individually.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Effat in the QS World University Rankings 2027.