Northern Border University
جامعة الحدود الشمالية
The only university in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders Region, with colleges from medicine to design spread across four towns.
- Founded
- 2007
- QS World Ranking
- 1001-1200
- 2027 edition
About NBU
Northern Border University (NBU) describes itself as the only university in the Northern Borders Region of Saudi Arabia, and its name comes from the region. Its history starts in 1402 AH with the Middle College for Girls, which became a Teachers' College in 1408 AH. In 1426 AH the College of Science in Arar and Rafha's Community College were set up as branches of King Abdulaziz University. In 1428 AH (2007), King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz announced the royal decree that created Northern Borders University by merging these institutions.
The university's Arar main campus was followed by new colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Applied Medical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration and a Community College, with further branches in Rafha, Turaif and Al Uwayqila. Today its colleges include Science, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Applied Medical Sciences, Computers and Information Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, Designs and Arts, Business Administration and an Applied College, after a Common First Year.
The university's own page lists 959 faculty members and 15 faculties. Admission is through the Ministry of Education's Unified National Admission Platform, and the undergraduate requirements page says the applicant must be a Saudi national, so non-Saudi students generally come through the university's scholarship service for non-Saudi students. It suits students who are looking for a regional Saudi public university, with a strong health-sciences and engineering offer, and who read Arabic.
Why students choose NBU
The university has a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and College of Applied Medical Sciences on one campus system.
Non-Saudi students with strong records can apply for university scholarships that fund tuition fees, which are approved by the Ministry of Education.
It is ranked in the ARWU 2026 901-1000 band and the THE World University Rankings 2026 801-1000 band.
Campuses in Arar, Rafha, Turaif and Al Uwayqila serve the whole Northern Borders Region.
Admissions
Admission guide for 1447 AH (2025-26); 2027 entry not yet published
Selectivity
NBU publishes no acceptance rate. Saudi applicants are ranked by a weighted percentage of their secondary school percentage, the Qudurat test and the Tahsili test; the applicant must be a Saudi national (children of a Saudi mother and non-Saudi wives of Saudis with children are also eligible). Non-Saudi students apply through the university's scholarship service.
Typical entry requirements
| General secondary education certificate (Saudi applicants) | Certificate or equivalent from inside or outside the Kingdom; no documents to upload as data are retrieved from the Ministry of Education's Noor system and the Qiyas (ETEC) results |
|---|---|
| Certificate from outside Saudi Arabia | Documents attested by the Saudi Cultural Mission in the country of graduation, or equivalency from the Ministry of Education |
| Non-Saudi scholarship applicants | High school certificate with grading statement, translated into Arabic or English and certified by the Saudi Embassy or Cultural Attache; valid passport; recommendation or sponsorship letters; security clearance certificate; government consent to study abroad; recent medical report |
Deadlines
NBU has not published dated admission or scholarship deadlines for 2027 entry on the pages checked; the scholarship service says applications open 'when announced'. Check the Unified National Admission Platform and the university's announcements.
How to apply
Saudi applicants apply through the Unified National Admission Platform of the Ministry of Education. The undergraduate requirements page says the applicant must be a Saudi national (children of a Saudi mother and non-Saudi wives of Saudi citizens with children are also eligible), so there is no open international undergraduate application. Non-Saudi students instead apply for a scholarship when NBU's Scholarship Programme is announced, through the university's website (Scholarship Vice Presidency); the papers are checked, the data is uploaded to the Ministry of Education, and the student is notified when the scholarship is approved. The Ministry's Study in Saudi platform (which NBU links to) describes the general route in the same way: the request goes to the university the student chooses, which reviews and accepts it, and the Ministry of Education then processes the scholarship; a student cannot hold two scholarships for the same degree.
What admissions looks for
- For Saudi applicants, a weighted score based on the school percentage, Qudurat and Tahsili.
- Good conduct, medical fitness and passing any test or interview required by the university council.
- Not currently enrolled at another university and not previously dismissed from a university.
- For non-Saudi scholarship applicants, complete attested documents and government consent to study abroad.
Tips for applying to NBU
- 1 If you are not Saudi, watch for the scholarship programme announcement: the service is the route the university publishes for non-Saudi students.
- 2 Get your secondary certificate attested by the Saudi Cultural Mission or the Saudi Embassy early.
- 3 Prepare a medical report from an accredited centre certified by the Saudi Embassy, and the security clearance certificate.
- 4 Create an account on the Ministry of Education's Study in Saudi platform (linked from NBU's site) and check its scholarship listings, but rely on NBU's own Scholarship Service page for dates and requirements: the platform's FAQ says a scholarship request is reviewed by the university first and then processed by the Ministry.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
NBU's Scholarship Service lets outstanding non-Saudi students benefit from scholarships that fund their tuition fees. Applications are made through the university's Scholarship Vice Presidency when the programme is announced, and the Ministry of Education approves the award. The service is free.
- Funds tuition fees; amount and number of awards not stated
- Scholarships for non-Saudi students
Academics
Medicine
The College of Medicine lists departments from Anatomy and Physiology to Surgery, Pediatrics and Family and Community Medicine.
Pharmacy
The College of Pharmacy has departments including Clinical Practice, Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Engineering
Departments of Industrial, Civil, Electrical, Chemical and Materials, and Mechanical Engineering.
Computer Science and Information Technology
The College of Computers and Information Technology has Computer Sciences, Information Systems and Information Technology departments.
Nursing
Departments include Internal and Surgical Nursing, Emergency and Intensive Care, Maternal and Child Health, and Public Health Nursing.
Research
- The Research and Consultations Institute (RCI) supports research, and the university publishes the North Scientific Journal.
- Wikipedia lists partnerships with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Stavanger and the University of Strathclyde.
- The university launched a startup incubator and accelerator, announced on its Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research site.
Schools & faculties
- Common First Year
- College of Science
- College of Engineering
- College of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Nursing
- College of Applied Medical Sciences
- College of Computers and Information Technology
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Designs and Arts
- College of Business Administration
- College of Applied Sciences
Student life
NBU is a regional university with campuses in four towns of the Northern Borders Region. Its site lists a Talented Students Unit and student e-services, and the admissions deanship offers a Common First Year for new students before they move to their college. The published English pages do not describe clubs, housing or traditions in detail, so applicants should ask the university directly for current information on residence and activities.
- A Talented Students Unit for gifted students.
- Campuses in Arar, Rafha, Turaif and Al Uwayqila.
- A Common First Year before college specialisation.
- Student e-services through the 'My NBU' portal.
Location
The main campus is in Arar, the seat of the Northern Borders Region in the north of Saudi Arabia, and the university also has campuses in Rafha, Turaif and Al Uwayqila. The Northern Borders Region is the location the university is named for, and its plans are tied to the region's culture, resources and Vision 2030.
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study at Northern Border University?
Not directly for undergraduate admission: NBU's requirements say the applicant must be a Saudi national. Non-Saudi students can apply for a scholarship that funds tuition through NBU's Scholarship Service when the programme is announced; the university checks the papers and the Ministry of Education approves the award. The Ministry's Study in Saudi platform describes the same process and allows one scholarship per degree.
How does NBU choose Saudi applicants?
By a weighted score of high school percentage, Qudurat and Tahsili: for scientific track applicants 30%, 30% and 40%.
Is Northern Border University ranked?
It is in the QS World University Rankings 2027 band 1001-1200, the THE World University Rankings 2026 band 801-1000 and the ARWU 2026 band 901-1000.
When was Northern Border University founded?
It was created by royal decree in 1428 AH (2007) by merging the Teachers' College with two branches of King Abdulaziz University in Arar and Rafha.
What does it cost to study at NBU?
The university does not publish tuition for international students on the pages checked. Its Scholarship Service for non-Saudi students funds tuition fees.
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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