Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
جامعة الأميرة نورة بنت عبد الرحمن
The world's largest women's university, with fully funded places for international women through Study in Saudi.
- Students
- 34,433
- 27,735 undergraduates
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- SAR 23,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1970
About PNU
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) is a public university for women in Riyadh and describes itself as the largest women's university in the world. It began in 1970 as the Kingdom's first College of Education for women. The women's colleges in Riyadh were merged in 2004, and in 2008 the university took the name of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman, sister of King Abdulaziz. The purpose-built campus opened in 2011 and includes a university hospital, research centres, student housing and its own driverless metro line.
PNU's 2024 annual report counts 34,433 enrolled students, 27,735 of them bachelor's students, in 18 colleges and institutes offering 114 programmes. The colleges range from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing to engineering, computer and information sciences, business, law, art and design, and languages. There is also an Arabic Language Teaching Institute for non-native speakers.
For international students, the key route is the Saudi government's external scholarship. Women living outside the Kingdom apply through the Study in Saudi platform. If admitted, they pay no tuition and receive housing, subsidised meals, healthcare, a monthly stipend and an annual flight home. PNU suits academically strong women who want a funded degree in a large, well-equipped, women-only setting.
Why students choose PNU
Admitted international students on the external scholarship pay no tuition and get housing, healthcare, a monthly stipend and annual return flights.
Programmes are taught in English in business, sciences and computing, alongside Arabic-taught humanities and French and Chinese language degrees.
Non-Arabic speakers can start with a funded two-year Arabic Language Diploma at the university's Arabic teaching institute.
The women-only campus has a university hospital, a large clinical simulation centre, sports facilities and an internal metro line.
Admissions
September 2027 entry (1448-1449 AH academic years)
Selectivity
PNU does not publish an acceptance rate. External scholarship places for international students are competitive: many programmes ask for a school average of 95% or 98% and, for science and business programmes, SAT or ACT scores.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma (external scholarship, English-taught science and business programmes) | Minimum average of 98%, plus SAT 1330/1600 or ACT 29/36 and ACT subject tests (e.g. Mathematics 2 and Physics 29/36) or AP Calculus AB and a science or computer science AP at 4/5 |
|---|---|
| High school diploma (humanities and language programmes) | Minimum average of 95%; Arab-country applicants to humanities colleges need at least 95 out of 100 |
| Arabic-taught programmes (non-Arab countries) | Arabic at B2 on the Hamza Academic Test; those below this level can join the Arabic Language Diploma, with no guaranteed progression to a bachelor's degree |
| Age and eligibility (external scholarship) | Aged 17 to 25; high school completed no more than five years ago; no previous scholarship at a Saudi institution; certificate authenticated by the Saudi cultural mission in the issuing country |
| English language | IELTS 5 Study in Saudi programme pages for English-taught science and business programmes list IELTS 5 or TOEFL ITP 35-45 or PBT 466. Applicants who completed high school in English in an English-speaking country are exempt from the Arabic requirement for English-taught programmes. |
Deadlines
- International students (external scholarship via Study in Saudi) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months31 January 2027
PNU lists applications opening on 1 November and closing on 31 January, results on 15 March, registration from 1 May and classes from 1 September. The page does not give the year; for September 2027 entry this cycle runs from 1 November 2026.
Dates are PNU's standard international calendar as published on its International Students page, without a year. Check the Study in Saudi platform for the programmes open in the 2027 cycle.
How to apply
International women living outside Saudi Arabia apply for PNU's external scholarship on the Ministry of Education's Study in Saudi platform (studyinsaudi.sa), uploading documents as PDF or JPEG: the authenticated high school certificate and transcript translated into Arabic, a good-conduct certificate or two recommendation letters, a passport, a criminal record clearance and a recent medical report. Approval on the platform is only preliminary; admission becomes final once the Ministry of Education approves it. Saudi citizens apply through the Unified Admission Platform. Non-Saudi residents of the Kingdom apply as internal scholarship or fee-paying students.
What admissions looks for
- Excellent school results: 98% averages for English-taught science, computing and business programmes, 95% for humanities and languages.
- Strong standardised test scores for science and business programmes (SAT 1330 or ACT 29 with subject tests or AP 4s).
- Arabic at B2 for Arabic-taught programmes, or English schooling for English-taught ones.
- Eligibility for the scholarship: age 17 to 25, a recent school certificate, good conduct and medical fitness.
Tips for applying to PNU
- 1 Get your school certificate authenticated by the Saudi cultural mission in the country that issued it before you upload it to Study in Saudi.
- 2 If your Arabic is below B2 and you want an Arabic-taught degree, consider the two-year Arabic Language Diploma, but note that it does not guarantee a bachelor's place.
- 3 Sit the SAT or ACT and a maths or science subject test early if you are aiming at Computer Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Accounting or Economics.
- 4 Keep checking your Study in Saudi application: platform approval is preliminary, and admission only becomes final after Ministry of Education approval.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
The Saudi government's external scholarship covers the full cost for admitted international women. There is no tuition, and students get full healthcare, university housing with subsidised meals, a monthly stipend equal to that of Saudi students, an annual return ticket home plus the first flight to Saudi Arabia, and arrival and graduation allowances. PNU pays the visa fee for students admitted for 1448 AH. Non-Saudi residents in the Kingdom can win 50% or 25% fee waivers for weighted scores of 100% or 98% and above, kept with a GPA of 4.75 out of 5.
- No tuition; housing, subsidised meals, healthcare, monthly stipend, annual return flight
- External scholarship (international students)
- Two months' allowance on arrival; three months' allowance at graduation
- Arrival and graduation allowances
- 50% for a weighted score of 100%; 25% for 98% to under 100%
- Merit fee waiver for resident non-Saudi students
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters; classes start in September
Computer Sciences (BSc)
Taught in English; open to international students on full scholarship with a 98% school average and SAT 1330 or ACT 29.
Engineering (Aerospace, Biomedical, Renewable Energy and more)
The College of Engineering offers seven specialisations, from Aerospace to Mechatronics and Robotics.
Financial Technology (BSc)
English-taught FinTech degree in the College of Business Administration, listed for international scholarship applicants.
Arabic Language Diploma for non-native speakers
A funded two-year diploma at PNU's Arabic Language Teaching Institute for women who need Arabic first.
Chinese Language (BA)
Taught in Chinese and open to international applicants on full scholarship with a 95% school average, alongside French and English translation degrees.
Research
- The campus includes King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital and a clinical skills and simulation centre that the Study in Saudi platform describes as one of the largest in the world.
- PNU is ranked in the 301-400 band of ARWU 2026, which is based largely on research output and citations.
- The Study in Saudi platform notes that PNU is accredited by the World Health Organization as a Health Promoting University.
Schools & faculties
- College of Medicine
- College of Dentistry
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Nursing
- College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Computer and Information Sciences
- College of Science
- College of Business Administration
- College of Law
- College of Art and Design
- College of Languages
PNU's 2024 graduate employment report says 6,429 women graduated in 2024 and that 67% of them were employed by the end of December 2025.
Student life
PNU is a women-only campus in Riyadh, built as a self-contained university city with its own driverless metro, university hospital, sports facilities and student residences. The 2024 annual report lists 34 student clubs. The International Students Office runs airport pickup, orientation, help opening a bank account, visa and residency renewals, counselling, cultural events and field trips inside the Kingdom. Scholarship students live in university housing with subsidised meals, and the office supports students from more than 70 countries.
- 34 student clubs, according to PNU's 2024 annual report.
- An automated metro line connects the campus.
- International students get airport reception, orientation, a campus tour and help with bank accounts and residency.
- Saudi Arabia's first opera, Antar and Alba, was staged at PNU in 2017.
Housing. University housing is included in the external scholarship, and applicants download a housing application form from PNU's International Students page.
Location
Riyadh is Saudi Arabia's capital and largest city. PNU's campus lies in the north of the city and works as a separate university city, with its own metro, hospital, schools and services. International students need an educational visa, which requires admission, a passport valid for at least six months and proof of funding or a scholarship.
Nearest airport: King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
Notable alumni
- AA Amal al-MoallimiSaudi ambassador and the second Saudi woman to hold an ambassadorship; bachelor's in English language
- MA Mody Al-KhalafFormer Saudi cultural attaché in Washington and Shura Council member; PhD in applied linguistics (2007)
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study at Princess Nourah University for free?
Yes. Women living outside Saudi Arabia can apply for the government's external scholarship through the Study in Saudi platform. It covers tuition, housing, healthcare, a monthly stipend and annual return flights.
Is PNU only for women?
Yes. PNU is a public university for female students and describes itself as the largest women's university in the world.
What grades do I need for PNU?
Study in Saudi lists a minimum school average of 98% for English-taught science, computing and business programmes, with SAT 1330 or ACT 29, and 95% for humanities and language programmes.
When is the PNU application deadline for international students?
PNU's international calendar runs from 1 November to 31 January, with results on 15 March and classes from 1 September. For 2027 entry, apply between 1 November 2026 and 31 January 2027.
Do I need Arabic to study at PNU?
Only for Arabic-taught programmes: applicants from non-Arab countries need B2 on the Hamza Academic Test. English-taught programmes list IELTS 5, and students who need Arabic can take the two-year Arabic Language Diploma.
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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