Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

About Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University is a state comprehensive institution under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education. Its institutional development began with the College of Sharia in 1953, and it became a university in 1974. The institution combines its long-standing concentration in Islamic and Arabic disciplines with professional and scientific education intended to serve Saudi educational and workforce needs. The university was demonstrably operating in 2026. Its May 2026 graduation announcement covered the 2025–2026 academic year and reported 161 programs across diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. That breadth makes the institution materially different from a specialist religious college: students can consider fields spanning Sharia and theology, Arabic, social sciences, languages, media, business, computing, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and nursing. The main campus is in Riyadh. University information describes a University City for male students and a separate King Abdullah City for female students, so applicants should examine the availability and delivery arrangements for their intended program rather than assume every specialization is offered identically to both groups. The university’s public character, Islamic academic heritage, broad subject mix, and Arabic institutional setting are central factors in deciding whether it is a good fit. Its official site also reports institutional accreditation through 2026; applicants entering after that period should check the current accreditation record for both the institution and their specific program.

For 1448 AH undergraduate entry, applicants need a Saudi secondary-school certificate or an accepted equivalent from inside or outside the Kingdom. The university may require tests or an interview. Selection is competitive and depends on published criteria, preference order, and seat availability rather than submission time. Applicants use Saudi Arabia’s national unified admissions platform and should follow its announced calendar. The 1448 AH guide calculates the published composite score for the listed theoretical, applied, and health fields from secondary-school results, the General Aptitude Test, and the Achievement Test, weighted 30%, 30%, and 40%. Medicine additionally requires at least 90 in the secondary average, aptitude test, and achievement test, plus an interview. Nursing also requires an interview. Language and Translation applicants need at least 60 on the STEP English test or an accepted equivalent. Medicine and nursing applicants for this cycle must be graduates of the 1447/1448 AH, or 2025/2026, secondary-school year. Graduate applicants use the university’s graduate admissions portal and must follow program-specific requirements. International applicants inside or outside Saudi Arabia apply through the Study in Saudi platform on its announced dates. The university states that international scholarship candidates generally face the same academic admission conditions as Saudi applicants, alongside age, document authentication, medical, immigration, and other scholarship rules. Its international admissions page says all fields are available except medicine and nursing. Applicants should verify the live portal status and deadlines because the official page did not provide a single universal closing date.

The academic portfolio retains a strong foundation in Sharia, fundamentals of religion and الدعوة, Arabic, and related humanities. It also includes social sciences, languages and translation, media and communication, business, computer and information sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and nursing. The 1448 AH undergraduate admissions guide is the most useful current source for determining exactly which bachelor’s options are open in a given term and whether they admit male students, female students, or both. Examples listed for 1448 AH include Sharia, Arabic, psychology, sociology and social work, English language and literature, public relations, journalism and new media, accounting, business administration, economics, finance, marketing, biology, physics, chemistry, applied mathematics, environmental science, medicine, nursing, and several engineering branches. Availability is not uniform: engineering specializations in that guide are shown for male students, while many business and science programs are available to both male and female students. Medicine uses a foundation-year structure, and engineering uses a common first year before specialization under college rules. Graduate study is also a substantive part of the institution. The May 2026 graduating cohort included master’s and doctoral graduates, directly confirming both award levels. The university also supports research centers, scholarly associations, journals, laboratories, and digital academic systems. Students can access services for schedules, grades, course changes, academic advising, field training, the Saudi Digital Library, and learning platforms. Because program names, accreditation status, language, and gender-specific availability can differ, applicants should verify the current program plan and college rules before applying.

Key Highlights

• Public comprehensive university under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education
• Established through the College of Sharia in 1953 and attained university status in 1974
• Operating in 2026, with a May 2026 graduation ceremony for the 2025–2026 cohort
• Reported 161 diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in May 2026

Student Life & Environment

Campus life is organized around separate principal facilities for male and female students. The Riyadh campus includes the University City for Male Students and King Abdullah City for Female Students. Applicants should therefore consult the relevant college and student-services pages for access arrangements rather than treating facilities as universally shared. The university lists student housing, medical services, a major mosque, a planetarium, and a museum devoted to the history of Arabic and Islamic sciences among its facilities. Its student club supports cultural, social, athletic, and hobby activities, including lectures, seminars, competitions, literary events, visits, trips, and training courses. The housing information also describes sports facilities and access to food and practical services, although the detailed English dormitory page is old and should not be relied upon as a current statement of room inventory or prices. International students form a visible part of the community. In November 2025, the university reported students from more than 96 countries and participation across undergraduate, diploma, master’s, and doctoral study. Scholarship students may receive housing and other benefits depending on the type and terms of their award. Digital systems support routine student tasks such as viewing schedules and grades, adding or dropping courses, requesting deferment, and accessing advising and field-training services.

Location & Surroundings

The university’s main campus is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital and largest metropolitan center. This places students in the country’s principal center for national government, major employers, hospitals, professional services, and cultural institutions. The setting is urban rather than a small residential college town, so commuting, accommodation, and campus access deserve attention when comparing study options. Official university figures describe an extensive main campus divided into major areas, including the University City for Male Students and King Abdullah City for Female Students. Campus maps identify academic buildings, a medical center, conference facilities, student housing, sports facilities, a mosque, and other services within the university complex. Students should confirm where their college teaches and whether housing is available to their applicant category before planning travel. Riyadh’s social norms, climate, and transport patterns are practical considerations, particularly for international students. The university’s religious and Arabic institutional identity is also reflected in campus life. International applicants should assess their readiness for study and daily life in Saudi Arabia and consult official visa, residence, and scholarship guidance before committing.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The university does not publish one simple institution-wide 2026/2027 tuition figure on the reviewed official pages. Costs depend on nationality, program, and funding category, so applicants should not assume that every place is free or that a single fee applies across undergraduate, graduate, and international study. International awards may be fully funded, partially funded, or fee-paying. Depending on the award, benefits can include housing, healthcare, arrival support, annual travel, and other student benefits; applicants should rely on the individual offer for the binding package. University housing exists, but current 2026/2027 room charges were not verified. The detailed dormitory page contains older prices and was therefore not used as current cost guidance. Students should request a current schedule covering tuition, housing, deposits, meals, insurance, transport, visa expenses, and any program-specific charges before accepting admission. International applicants should also note that published withdrawal rules can limit fee refunds after teaching begins. Career preparation is connected to the university’s expanded professional portfolio and its location in Riyadh. Programs cover established religious and Arabic disciplines as well as business, computing, science, engineering, healthcare, media, and social sciences. University digital systems include field-training services, and the admissions guide links programs to structured foundation or common-year pathways where applicable. No verified graduate salary, employment-rate, or employer-placement statistics were found in the selected current official sources, so students should ask the relevant college about internships, professional accreditation, licensing eligibility, and recent graduate outcomes for the exact program under consideration.