Jouf University
جامعة الجوف
The main university of Saudi Arabia's northern Al-Jouf region, with free tuition and campuses in Sakaka, Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal.
- Students
- 11,978
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 9.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- Free
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 2005
About JU
Jouf University was founded by royal decree in 2005 and is based in Sakaka, capital of the Al-Jouf region in north-western Saudi Arabia. It describes itself as the only university serving the region, and its mission centres on regional development and on preparing graduates for the labour market. Besides the main Sakaka campus, it has branches in Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal.
Its colleges include Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Applied Medical Sciences (in Sakaka and Al-Qurayyat), Engineering, Science, Computer and Information Sciences, Business, Sharia and Law, Education, Arts, and an Applied College offering diplomas and short professional programmes. Many programmes are open to both male and female students on separate tracks, while some, such as Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, admit only male students and Dentistry only female students.
Tuition is free, and the university states that financial support is available for Saudi and international students. It suits Saudi students from the north who want health, engineering or computing degrees close to home, and international students who win a fully funded Saudi government scholarship through the Study in Saudi Arabia platform.
Why students choose JU
Tuition is completely free, and the university offers financial support to Saudi and international students.
International scholarship students receive accommodation, healthcare, a monthly allowance and annual travel tickets.
Health programmes include Medicine, Dentistry, a PharmD in Pharmacy, Nursing, Physical Therapy and Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Academically outstanding Saudi students can be admitted directly to Medicine, Dentistry or Nursing through the national platform.
Admissions
2027-28 academic year (1449 AH); dates shown are from the 1448 AH (2026-27) guide
Selectivity
Jouf University does not publish an admit rate. Saudi applicants are ranked on a weighted percentage of their secondary school result and Qiyas tests, then placed by preference order and seat availability.
Typical entry requirements
| Saudi General Secondary Certificate (or equivalent) | Plus Qiyas Aptitude and Achievement scores; health specialisations require the certificate to be no more than two years old |
|---|---|
| International scholarship applicants (from outside Saudi Arabia) | High school diploma or equivalent with at least a 'Very Good' grade, age 17-25, documents authenticated by home-country authorities and the Saudi embassy |
| Non-Saudi residents of Saudi Arabia (internal scholarship) | High school diploma from a school in the Kingdom or equivalent, valid residency permit, and the university's general admission criteria |
Deadlines
- National Unified Admission Platform (previous cycle, 1448 AH) Non-binding Passed18 July 2026
2026-27 cycle: preference lists prepared from 5 November 2025 to 18 July 2026; interviews and tests 1 April to 16 July 2026; results announced 19-21 July 2026; remaining places shown until 2 August 2026.
Dates shown are from the 1448 AH (2026-27) admission guide. The 1449 AH guide for 2027-28 entry had not been published when checked; expect a similar summer timetable on the national platform.
How to apply
Saudi applicants (and children of Saudi mothers or mothers of Saudi children) apply through the National Unified Admission Platform (UAP.SA), ranking up to 25 programme preferences. Applicants from outside the Kingdom apply for a government-funded scholarship through the Study in Saudi Arabia website; non-Saudi residents apply for internal scholarships through the university.
What admissions looks for
- A high weighted percentage combining the secondary school result with Qiyas Aptitude and Achievement scores.
- Carefully ordered programme preferences, since placement follows the weighted score, preference order and seat availability rather than application date.
- Success in any interview or test required by a college.
- For international scholarships, strong school grades ('Very Good' or better), good conduct and authenticated documents.
Tips for applying to JU
- 1 Enter as many of the 25 allowed preferences as you can, in the right order: the university says this increases your chances of admission.
- 2 Apply to health specialisations within two years of finishing secondary school, as older certificates are not accepted.
- 3 Check the gender column for each programme: some engineering and business majors are male-only and Dentistry and Accounting are female-only.
- 4 International scholarship students may not work for outside employers while studying, and female scholarship students must be accompanied by a mahram under the university's rules.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
Tuition is free, and the university states that financial support is available for Saudi and international students. External scholarships for students from outside Saudi Arabia cover all educational and living expenses, including accommodation, healthcare, a financial allowance and annual travel tickets; internal scholarships support non-Saudi residents of the Kingdom.
- Free
- Tuition
- Accommodation, healthcare, monthly allowance, annual travel tickets
- External scholarship benefits
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Hijri academic year)
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Open to male and female students at the Sakaka campus, with direct admission for academically outstanding applicants.
Bachelor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
A professional pharmacy doctorate offered in Sakaka to male and female students.
Bachelor of Computer Science and Information Systems
Offered to both male and female students in the College of Computer and Information Sciences, alongside Software Engineering and Computer and Network Engineering.
Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Engineering-track bachelor's degrees at the main Sakaka campus, admitted by weighted Qiyas score.
Applied College diplomas
Short, job-focused programmes such as Cybersecurity and Environmental Protection Technology, offered across Sakaka, Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal.
Research
- The College of Dentistry's Dental Clinics Center renewed its institutional accreditation from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties for four years, through 2029 (announced January 2026).
- Jouf University students won five medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze) at the 12th International Exhibition of Inventions (IEI 2026) in Guangzhou, China.
- The university was honoured for its participation in the Third Al-Jouf International Agricultural Forum in December 2025, reflecting the region's farming economy.
Schools & faculties
- College of Medicine
- College of Dentistry
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Nursing
- College of Applied Medical Sciences (Sakaka)
- College of Applied Medical Sciences (Al-Qurayyat)
- College of Engineering
- College of Science
- College of Computer and Information Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Sharia and Law
- College of Education
Student life
Most students study on the main campus in Sakaka, with many programmes offered to both male and female students, while branch campuses in Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal serve nearby towns. International students are a small community of many nationalities; the university runs orientation, advising and cultural events for them, such as International Students' Day (November 2025) and a Ramadan iftar, and in August 2026 the president met international students to hear their needs. Scholarship students have the right to university housing and access to sports halls, libraries and university-affiliated health services.
- International Students' Day and Ramadan iftar events for international students.
- University housing for scholarship students.
- Access to sports halls, laboratories, libraries and cafeterias.
- Branch campuses in Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal.
Housing. International scholarship students have the right to university housing under the university's International Students Guide.
Location
Sakaka is the administrative capital of the Al-Jouf region in north-western Saudi Arabia, which the university describes as the country's northern gateway and an ancient trade and pilgrim route between Arabia, the Levant and Egypt. The region is known for its palm and olive trees and historic sites such as the Omar ibn Al-Khattab Mosque and Marid Palace in nearby Dumat Al-Jandal.
Nearest airport: Al-Jouf Domestic Airport (AJF), near Sakaka
Frequently asked questions
Is Jouf University free?
Yes. The university states that tuition is completely free, and financial support is available for Saudi and international students.
How can international students apply to Jouf University?
Students from outside Saudi Arabia apply for a government-funded scholarship through the Study in Saudi Arabia website. You need a high school diploma with at least a 'Very Good' grade, must be 17-25 years old, and must have your documents authenticated by the Saudi embassy.
What does the Jouf University scholarship cover?
External scholarships cover educational and living expenses, including accommodation, healthcare, a monthly allowance and annual travel tickets.
How are Saudi students admitted to Jouf University?
Through the National Unified Admission Platform, ranked by a weighted percentage: for science, engineering, health and business colleges, 30% secondary school, 30% Qiyas Aptitude and 40% Qiyas Achievement.
Does Jouf University admit women to engineering?
Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are listed for male students only in the 2026-27 guide, but women can study Computer Science, Information Systems, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and many other programmes.
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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