Gulf University for Science and Technology
الجامعة الخليجية للعلوم والتكنولوجيا
Kuwait's first private university (according to GUST), an English-medium campus in West Mishref with per-credit-hour fees.
- Students
- 1,715
- International
- 14%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- KWD 6,300
- From · 2025-26 fee schedule (latest available; archive.org copy of 28 January 2026)
- Founded
- 2002
About GUST
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) describes itself as the first private university established in Kuwait. It grew out of a 1997 plan by a group of Kuwait University faculty, was built with the University of Missouri-St. Louis as its partner, and was legally established by Emiri Decree No. 156 in 2002, with its first academic year in 2002-2003. Today it sits in the Mubarak Al-Abdullah area of West Mishref.
GUST has three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, and Engineering and Architecture. Undergraduate majors include Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Management Information Systems, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Mass Communication and several English degrees. English is the language of instruction, so applicants prove proficiency by IELTS, TOEFL or the Accuplacer placement test, and those who fall short take foundation English courses first.
The university states that its College of Business Administration holds AACSB accreditation for all its programs, its Computer Science department is accredited by ABET, and its Mass Communication department by the American Communication Association. It suits students who want a small, English-medium, US-style credit system in Kuwait, and who are ready to pay tuition per credit hour.
Why students choose GUST
Tuition is published per credit hour (KD 210 in Business and Arts and Sciences, KD 260 in Engineering and Architecture), so total cost is easy to work out.
The College of Business Administration is reaccredited by AACSB and Computer Science is accredited by ABET, according to GUST.
Named scholarships are open to all nationalities, including an Outstanding Scholarship for students with a high school GPA of 3.5 and a Financial Aid Scholarship.
International students can apply through the university website, and GUST says it can help admitted students obtain Kuwaiti residency.
Admissions
Latest published calendar: Fall 2026 and Spring 2026 admission (Fall 2027 and Spring 2027 dates not posted in the archived page copy)
Selectivity
GUST does not publish an acceptance rate. Wikipedia describes admission as competitive, with applicants reviewed on high school performance and on the GUST English and Mathematics placement tests.
Typical entry requirements
| Kuwaiti or Ministry-approved high school certificate | Kuwaiti public school certificate, or a private Arabic or foreign school certificate approved by the Ministry of Education in Kuwait |
|---|---|
| High school certificate from outside Kuwait | Original, stamped and authenticated by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the originating country and the Kuwaiti Embassy, then authenticated by the Ministry of Education in Kuwait (Private Education Department) |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 61 Students with IELTS 6.0 (Reading and Writing 6) or TOEFL iBT 61-75 enter the credit-bearing course ENGL 100; IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 76-88 enter ENGL 110. Lower scores (IELTS 4.5-5.0, TOEFL iBT up to 60) lead to one- or two-semester foundation English courses. IELTS Academic only; the listed IELTS score is required in each part. |
Deadlines
- Spring semester admission (Spring 2026, previous cycle) Non-binding PassedLast day of Spring admission: 22 January 2026
Last day for the new-student placement test was 21 January 2026; classes began 25 January 2026. Spring 2027 dates have not been published.
- Fall semester admission (Fall 2026, most recent published; previous cycle) Non-binding PassedLast day for Fall admission: 17 September 2026
Last day for the placement test was 16 September 2026; classes began 20 September 2026 (15-week semester).
These dates come from the 2025-26 academic calendar on GUST's site (archive.org copy of 3 March 2026), which also lists Fall 2026; they are shown as the previous cycle. GUST's live site is behind Cloudflare and could not be fetched on 30 September 2026, and no calendar for Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 was visible in the archived copy, so confirm those dates with GUST.
How to apply
Apply online through the GUST website; international students are admitted if they meet the admission requirements and submit the required documentation. Sit the English and Mathematics placement tests (or submit TOEFL/IELTS), submit an authenticated high school certificate, and pay the KD 30 application and placement fee.
What admissions looks for
- An approved and correctly authenticated high school certificate.
- English proficiency shown by IELTS, TOEFL or the Accuplacer English test.
- Mathematics readiness: GUST publishes math placement guides for Business, Computer Science, English, Engineering and Mass Communication majors.
- For international students, meeting Kuwait's visa requirements.
Tips for applying to GUST
- 1 Start the certificate authentication chain early, since certificates from outside Kuwait need approval from your home ministries, the Kuwaiti Embassy and the Kuwait Ministry of Education.
- 2 A valid IELTS or TOEFL score can save you from foundation English courses, which add one or two semesters and cost KD 1,920 per level.
- 3 Check the math placement guide for your major, because Computer Science and Engineering each have their own requirement.
- 4 International students receive a visa only after paying the full fees for an academic year (two semesters), so plan the cash flow.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 fee schedule (latest available; archive.org copy of 28 January 2026) · figures in KWD
GUST offers Outstanding and Financial Aid Scholarships to all nationalities (discount per semester set by a committee, awarded for one semester at a time), a Sheikh Jaber Funds scholarship for Kuwaitis, a Minister of Education Scholarship and a High School Merit scholarship for MIS and Computer Science majors. Family discounts give the second sibling 10% off tuition. Competitive summer scholarships pay for study abroad, including at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
- KD 210 (Arts and Sciences, Business); KD 260 (Engineering and Architecture)
- Tuition per credit hour
- KD 870 towards tuition
- Minimum payment before registration
- 10% for the second sibling, 15% each for the second and third of three, 20% for all but the first beyond three
- Sibling discount
Academics
Academic calendar: Two 15-week semesters plus a 6-week summer semester
Computer Science (BS)
ABET-accredited, 126 credits, with its own math placement guide and a Minister of Education and High School Merit scholarship route.
Business programs (Accounting, Finance, Marketing, MIS)
The College of Business Administration is reaccredited by AACSB for all its programs.
Engineering (Computer, Electrical, Engineering Management)
128-credit degrees at KD 260 per credit hour.
Mass Communication (BA)
Reaccredited by the American Communication Association, according to GUST.
English Linguistics/Translation, Literature and Education (BA)
Three English degrees in the Department of English, with English Education at 128 credits.
Research
- GUST funds internal seed grants and supports KFAS external grant applications for faculty research.
- Research and innovation units include a GUST Startup Lab, an Innovation Hub, and a Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics.
- GUST lists the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Kuwait (SDSN) among its research and innovation units.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Business Administration
- College of Engineering and Architecture
GUST has a Center for Career Services and Alumni; the pages checked do not publish a dated graduate employment rate.
Student life
GUST is a compact campus in Mubarak Al-Abdullah, West Mishref, and life outside class runs through the Office of Student Life. Athletics include men's and women's football, basketball, volleyball, tennis and table tennis, and men's handball and squash. Clubs include music, art and IT clubs, and the library has a collection of over 24,500 book titles.
- Men's and women's teams in football, basketball, volleyball, tennis and table tennis.
- A music club playing oud, guitar, tabla and piano, and an art club offering non-credit classes.
- An IT Club and a Startup Lab for student ventures.
- GUST Library with over 24,500 book titles and access to 30 subscription databases.
Location
GUST is in the Mubarak Al-Abdullah area of West Mishref (Block 5, Building 1) in Kuwait's Hawalli Governorate, near Kuwait City. Mishref is a residential area, and West Mishref also hosts the Kuwait International Fair fairground.
Nearest airport: Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
Notable alumni
- AA Abdulwahab Al-RushaidKuwaiti economist; Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investments (December 2021 to April 2023)
- AA Abdullah Al-SalloumKuwaiti economist, entrepreneur, author and founder of the Kuwait Policy Observatory
- OA Omar Al-TabtabaeeFormer Member of the Kuwaiti Parliament, elected in 2016
- AN Ali NajimKuwaiti radio personality; graduated 2012 in English Translation and Linguistics
Frequently asked questions
What is GUST's QS ranking?
QS World University Rankings 2027 places GUST in the 951-1000 band (QS publishes bands, not exact ranks, at this level). THE lists it as a Reporter institution in its 2026 ranking, without a numerical rank.
How much is tuition at GUST?
KD 210 per credit hour in Arts and Sciences and Business, and KD 260 in Engineering and Architecture. With the recommended 15 credits per semester, that is roughly KD 6,300 to KD 7,800 a year before other fees.
Do international students need IELTS or TOEFL?
Applicants may submit IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT, or take the Accuplacer English test. IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 61 puts you into ENGL 100 for credit; lower scores lead to foundation English.
Can I get a scholarship at GUST as an international student?
The Outstanding Scholarship and the Financial Aid Scholarship are open to all nationalities, awarded per semester by a committee, and need at least 45 or 30 earned credits respectively, so they are aimed at continuing students.
What are the GUST application deadlines?
The most recent published calendar shows the last day of Fall admission as 17 September 2026 (placement test 16 September) and, for Spring, 22 January 2026. Dates for Spring and Fall 2027 have not been published; confirm them with GUST.
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.
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