King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
جامعة الملك فهد للبترول والمعادن
Saudi Arabia's English-taught STEM and business university in Dhahran, the only Arab university in the QS 2027 top 100.
- International
- 28%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 12:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- Free
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1963
About KFUPM
KFUPM was founded by royal decree in 1963 as the College of Petroleum and Minerals, to train engineers for Saudi Arabia's energy sector. It became a university in 1975 and took its current name in 1986. Its campus is in Dhahran in the Eastern Province, the centre of the kingdom's oil industry.
Teaching is in English and focused on what KFUPM calls STEMB: engineering, science, computing, design and business. It is organised into the College of Engineering and Physics, the College of Computing and Mathematics, the College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, the College of Chemicals and Materials, the College of Design and Built Environment, the KFUPM Business School and the College of General Studies. Since a 2020 transformation, AI is built into every major (the AI+X model). Undergraduate programmes have admitted women since 2021.
KFUPM suits strong maths and science students who want a rigorous, research-heavy, industry-linked degree. For international undergraduates from outside Saudi Arabia, tuition is waived and the full scholarship includes housing and a stipend. The trade-off is a demanding, test-driven admissions process and an intense workload on a self-contained campus.
نحلم ونحقق
“Dream Big and Accomplish” — university motto
Why students choose KFUPM
International undergraduates living outside Saudi Arabia get tuition waived plus free on-campus housing, textbooks, medical care and a monthly stipend.
The top four ISEF winners each year receive guaranteed admission, a full scholarship and a free choice of major.
Petroleum Engineering ranked 5th and Mineral and Mining Engineering 7th in the world in QS's 2024 subject tables, per KFUPM.
KFUPM's 0-0-0 policy lets students keep full ownership of their inventions, with no royalty or equity taken by the university, and Dhahran Techno Valley supports startups.
Admissions
Academic year 2027-28 (1448-1449 AH)
Selectivity
Admission is competitive and track-based rather than a single admit rate. Saudi applicants in the Primary Track are ranked by a weighted score of 50% General Aptitude Test (Qudrat) and 50% KFUPM Achievement Test, and placed into majors from the top score down until seats fill. The SAT track requires 1350 or higher. Interviews may be held for shortlisted candidates.
Typical entry requirements
| Saudi secondary certificate (Primary Track) | Natural sciences / computer science and engineering / health and life tracks; ranking by 50% Qudrat + 50% KFUPM Achievement Test |
|---|---|
| International high school (SAT Track) | Natural-sciences-focused diploma from the current or previous year, SAT 1350+, then the KFUPM maths assessment |
| Science Olympiad / ISEF | Direct admission for qualifying placings in approved competitions; top four ISEF Grand Award winners get guaranteed admission and a full scholarship |
| English language | All teaching is in English. For the Primary Track the minimum is STEP 65, IELTS 4.5, TOEFL iBT 45 or Duolingo 80. The SAT and Olympiad tracks do not require a separate English test. Graduate minimums: TOEFL iBT 70 / IELTS 6.0 (MSc), 80 / 6.5 (PhD). |
Deadlines
- Primary Admission Track (Saudi applicants) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months16 Sha'ban 1448 (24 January 2027)
Registration opens 2 Sha'ban 1448 (10 January 2027). Requires the KFUPM Achievement Test, a recommendation letter and a short personal statement; nominated students must confirm within 24 hours
- SAT Track (local and international) Non-binding In ~4 months4 Ramadan 1448 (11 February 2027)
Registration opens 24 Sha'ban 1448 (1 February 2027). SAT 1350+, followed by the KFUPM maths assessment
- Olympiad Track Non-binding In ~8 months26 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 (1 June 2027)
Registration opens 24 Dhu al-Qa'dah 1448 (1 May 2027). For winners of approved science olympiads and ISEF
- Vacancies (Secondary) Track Non-bindingTo be announced
Competitive path to fill remaining seats; the window for 2026 entry was 9 to 16 Muharram 1448 (24 June to 1 July 2026)
KFUPM's admissions site publishes the 2027 registration windows in Hijri dates; Gregorian dates here are Umm al-Qura calendar conversions and could differ by a day. Check admissions.kfupm.edu.sa before each window opens.
How to apply
Apply online through KFUPM's admissions portal (apply.kfupm.edu.sa) during your track's window. Saudi applicants register for Qudrat and the KFUPM Achievement Test with the National Center for Assessment, and most tracks ask for a short personal statement on your goals. SAT applicants send scores via College Board to KFUPM, sit KFUPM's maths assessment, then complete the application; KFUPM arranges the student visa after admission.
What admissions looks for
- Strong aptitude and subject knowledge, measured by Qudrat and KFUPM's own achievement test (or the SAT for the SAT track).
- A natural-sciences-focused high school background.
- Minimum English proficiency for most tracks, as teaching is entirely in English.
- For some tracks, a personal statement explaining your academic goals and how you will contribute to your community; interviews may be held.
Tips for applying to KFUPM
- 1 Saudi applicants: book the KFUPM Achievement Test (8 November or 15 December 2026 sittings); it counts for half of your Primary Track score and only your best attempt is used.
- 2 International applicants: aim for SAT 1350 or higher and send scores directly from College Board to KFUPM before the SAT track opens.
- 3 Once nominated, log in within 24 hours to confirm and upload documents, or your application is cancelled.
- 4 Olympiad and ISEF medallists should use the Olympiad track, which skips Qudrat, Tahsili and English tests.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
International undergraduates living outside Saudi Arabia receive a full scholarship with waived tuition, free on-campus housing, free textbooks, medical services and a monthly stipend. PhD students and some master's students also get full scholarships with stipend, housing and air tickets. Self-sponsored graduate students pay USD 135 per credit hour plus registration fees.
- SAR 600 per semester; free for scholarship students
- Undergraduate housing fee (non-scholarship)
- 93% (National Labor Observatory), average time to job 4.8 months
- Graduate employability
- about SAR 10,600 per month
- Average graduate starting salary
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Petroleum Engineering
5th in the world in QS's 2024 subject ranking, next door to Saudi Aramco.
Mineral and Mining Engineering
7th in the world in QS's 2024 subject ranking.
Civil Engineering
37th in the world in QS's 2024 subject ranking, up from 165th in 2019.
Bioengineering (Premed track)
Offers joint admission to graduate as both an engineer and a doctor.
BS-X (design-your-own major)
Lets undergraduates build a customised bachelor's degree across departments.
Research
- 23 interdisciplinary research centres and two consortia, in fields including space, renewable energy and hydrogen.
- 2nd worldwide among universities granted US utility patents in 2025, according to KFUPM.
- Dhahran Techno Valley (founded 2006) supports startups and applied research next to campus.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering and Physics
- College of Computing and Mathematics
- College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences
- College of Chemicals and Materials
- College of Design and Built Environment
- KFUPM Business School
- College of General Studies
- Community Colleges
93% of graduates employed according to Saudi Arabia's National Labor Observatory (rising to nearly 100% including further study and government roles); average time to employment 4.8 months; average starting salary around SAR 10,600 per month.
Student life
KFUPM is a self-contained residential campus. A housing district for around 8,700 students, with separate facilities for men and women, sits a short shuttle ride from classrooms, the Student Mall, KFUPM Square and sports facilities. Life is academically intense, with a flipped-classroom teaching style, early research and senior projects shown at the annual Team Design Expo. Students from over 75 countries take part in events like KFUPM World, and the Physical Education Department runs sports and activities.
- Team Design Expo for senior projects
- KFUPM World international student festival
- Student-led GSR research conference
- On-campus clinics, pharmacy and 24/7 security in the housing district
Housing. On-campus housing costs SAR 600 per semester (free for scholarship students), in furnished single or double rooms allocated by electronic lottery.
Location
Dhahran is part of the Dammam metropolitan area on Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast and home to Saudi Aramco's headquarters. It is the heart of the kingdom's oil industry, with close links between the university and the energy sector. Summers are very hot and humid, winters mild. The causeway to Bahrain is nearby, and King Fahd International Airport serves the region.
Nearest airport: King Fahd International Airport, Dammam (DMM)
Notable alumni
- AB Abdulaziz bin SalmanSaudi Minister of Energy
- KA Khalid A. Al-FalihFormer Saudi Aramco CEO and Minister of Energy (KFUPM MBA)
- GM Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-YawerPresident of Iraq under the Iraqi Interim Government
- NA Nadhmi Al-NasrCEO of NEOM from 2018 to 2024 and interim president of KAUST in its early years
- OB Olayan bin Mohammed AlwetaidCEO of Saudi Telecom Company
- HT Hamdi TchelepiChair of Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University
Frequently asked questions
What is KFUPM's QS ranking for 2027?
KFUPM is 63rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the only Arab university in the global top 100.
Is KFUPM free for international students?
Yes, for undergraduates living outside Saudi Arabia. Tuition is waived, and the full scholarship covers on-campus housing, textbooks, medical services and a monthly stipend.
What SAT score do I need for KFUPM?
The SAT track requires 1350 or higher and a natural-sciences-focused high school background. Qualifying applicants then take a KFUPM maths assessment.
How are Saudi students admitted to KFUPM?
Through the Primary Track, which ranks applicants by 50% General Aptitude Test (Qudrat) and 50% KFUPM Achievement Test. Other routes are the SAT, Olympiad and Vacancies tracks.
Does KFUPM accept female students?
Yes. Undergraduate programmes have accepted women since 2021 (graduate programmes since 2019), with separate on-campus housing for male and female students.
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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