Prince Sultan University
جامعة الأمير سلطان
Saudi Arabia's first private university, a non-profit in Riyadh teaching mostly in English with ABET and AACSB accreditation.
- Student–faculty
- 15.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- SAR 82,800
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1998
- QS World Ranking
- #488
- 2027 edition
About PSU
Prince Sultan University began as Prince Sultan College in 1998, founded by the Riyadh Philanthropic Society for Science and licensed as a private, non-profit institution; it took its first students the following year and became a university in 2003. It describes itself as the first private university in Saudi Arabia and was the first private university to receive full institutional accreditation from the national accreditation body, NCAAA.
PSU has about 7,000 undergraduates, a Preparatory Year of around 1,000 students and a small graduate school, on a 166-acre campus in Riyadh. Its colleges cover Business Administration, Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Architecture and Design, Law, and Sciences and Humanities, and a new College of Medicine, developed with input from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, began admitting students for 2026-27. Most teaching is in English, and several programmes hold US or European accreditation: ABET for computing and engineering, AACSB for business and accounting, HCERES for law and translation, and AABI for aviation management.
All high school graduates start in a one-year Preparatory Year Program before moving into their major. PSU admits Saudi and GCC nationals and legal residents of Saudi Arabia, so it suits students already living in the Kingdom or the Gulf who want an English-medium, internationally accredited degree in Riyadh.
Excellence in higher education
University motto
Why students choose PSU
PSU is joint 488th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 351-400 in THE's 2026 world rankings.
Computer Science and Information Systems are ABET-accredited (CAC), Software, Civil and Environmental and Electrical Engineering are ABET-accredited (EAC), and the College of Business Administration holds AACSB business and accounting accreditation.
PSU's scholarship programme offers up to 100% tuition plus a 1,500-riyal monthly stipend for top applicants, and 25% to 50% awards by major.
The university reports that 100% of students complete an internship or co-op programme.
Admissions
2026-27 second semester (applications open 15 October 2026); fall 2027 entry follows
Selectivity
PSU does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission depends on seat availability and shortlisting; applicants not selected are not notified. Undergraduate admission is open only to Saudi and GCC nationals and legal residents of Saudi Arabia.
Typical entry requirements
| Saudi high school certificate (any track) | Required; PSU does not require a specific high school track for any programme. All freshmen enter the Preparatory Year Program first |
|---|---|
| High school certificate from outside Saudi Arabia | Must be formally equalised by the Saudi Ministry of Education; attestation by a Saudi embassy or cultural mission alone is not enough |
| English language | IELTS 4 Minimum for the Preparatory Year: IELTS Academic 4.0, TOEFL iBT 2 on the new 1-6 scale (25 on the old 0-120 scale for tests before 21 January 2026), PTE Academic 22, Duolingo 60, or EPT/STEP 50; an English-medium international school diploma also qualifies. Below this, students take a one-semester Intensive English Program. Higher scores can waive Preparatory Year English courses. |
Deadlines
- Scholarship application, 2026-27 (past) Non-binding Passed23 July 2026, 2:00 PM
Results were announced 27 July 2026; applicants needed a PSU student ID first.
- Second semester 2026-27 admission Non-bindingOpens 15 October 2026; closes when seats are filled
Admission for the first semester of 2026-27 is closed.
PSU admits until seats are filled rather than to a fixed deadline. Fall 2027 dates have not been published; the scholarship dates shown are from the 2026-27 cycle and have passed.
How to apply
Apply through PSU's Edugate admission portal (or the National Unified Admission Portal, but not both), choosing up to four majors and uploading your ID or Muqeem card, high school diploma, Ministry of Education equivalency (for foreign diplomas), English test evidence and any Qudrat or SAT scores. Pay the SAR 500 application fee (SAR 575 with VAT for non-Saudis). Acceptance is final only after you upload your certificate, pay tuition and register for courses.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised high school certificate (equalised by the Saudi Ministry of Education if earned abroad).
- Minimum English proficiency for the Preparatory Year, or placement in the Intensive English Program.
- Qudrat or SAT scores, used for shortlisting when seats are limited.
- For Medicine and scholarships, a high weighted score from high school GPA, the General Aptitude Test and the Achievement Test.
Tips for applying to PSU
- 1 Check eligibility first: undergraduate applicants must be Saudi or GCC nationals or legal residents of Saudi Arabia.
- 2 Submit Qudrat or SAT scores even though they are optional: they are used for shortlisting and are required for scholarships.
- 3 Apply early and register for courses quickly: admission closes once seats fill, and acceptance is only final after registration.
- 4 A strong IELTS or TOEFL score can waive Preparatory Year English courses; waiver requests are due two weeks before the semester.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
PSU's scholarship programme awards 100% scholarships with a 1,500-riyal monthly stipend (weighted score of 96% for Saudi, 99% for non-Saudi students), 50% scholarships for majors such as engineering, HR, aviation management and medicine, and 25% scholarships for computing, business, architecture and law. Scores combine high school (30%), Achievement Test (30%) and General Aptitude Test (40%), or SAT plus Achievement Test. A 10% sibling discount is also available.
- 100% tuition plus SAR 1,500 monthly stipend (weighted score 96% Saudi / 99% non-Saudi)
- Full scholarship
- 50% or 25% of tuition depending on major
- Partial scholarships
- SAR 500 (SAR 575 with VAT for non-Saudis)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (at least 15 weeks each) plus summer
Computer Science
ABET CAC-accredited through 2032, in the College of Computer and Information Sciences.
Software Engineering
ABET EAC-accredited (2023-2029) and eligible for 25% scholarships.
Aviation Management
Accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (2025-2030) and covered by AACSB business accreditation.
Accounting
Holds both AACSB business and AACSB accounting accreditation.
Law
Accredited by the French agency HCERES (2023-2028) and by NCAAA.
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
New College of Medicine, opened for 2026-27, with programmes developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.
Research
- PSU researchers co-authored a 2025 registered report in Nature Human Behaviour on semantic priming across many languages, the university's first publication in that journal.
- The university runs a Research and Initiatives Center, an Institutional Review Board and research labs such as the Language and Communication Research Lab.
- PSU reports 77 laboratories on its Riyadh campus.
Schools & faculties
- College of Business Administration
- College of Computer and Information Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Architecture and Design
- College of Law
- College of Sciences and Humanities
- College of Medicine
- Preparatory Year Program
PSU reports that 100% of its students complete an internship or co-op programme.
Student life
PSU's Riyadh campus covers 166 acres, with 26 acres of playing fields, over 30 gardens and green spaces and more than 60 publicly sited works of art. Students study on campus (PSU offers no distance programmes), and full-time enrolment is required. Its sports teams are known as the Falcons, and the International Affairs Office runs study abroad, summer trips and international co-op training. Campus life follows Saudi norms, with separate contact channels and services for male and female students.
- 166-acre campus with 26 acres of playing fields and 60+ works of art.
- Study Abroad, Summer Trip and International Cooperative Training programmes through the International Affairs Office.
- 100% of students complete an internship or co-op programme.
- Separate services for male and female students.
Location
PSU's campus is on Rafha Street in Riyadh, the Saudi capital and the country's largest city and centre of government and business. Being in the capital puts students close to the ministries, banks and companies that host internships and co-op placements, which PSU says all of its students complete.
Nearest airport: King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh
Notable alumni
- AA Ahmed AlsuwaiyanGovernor of Saudi Arabia's Digital Government Authority since 2021; MBA from Prince Sultan University (2008)
Frequently asked questions
Can international students apply to Prince Sultan University?
Only if they are GCC nationals or legal residents of Saudi Arabia; the undergraduate admission rules require Saudi or GCC nationality or legal residence, and foreign diplomas must be equalised by the Saudi Ministry of Education.
How much is tuition at Prince Sultan University?
Students enrolled from 2025 pay SAR 3,000 per credit hour, with a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, so at least SAR 72,000 a year. Non-Saudi students pay 15% VAT on top.
Does PSU require the SAT or Qudrat?
They are not mandatory, but PSU strongly recommends submitting them because they are used for shortlisting and are required for scholarships.
What IELTS score do I need for PSU?
The minimum for the Preparatory Year is IELTS 4.0 (or equivalent such as Duolingo 60 or STEP 50). Below that, you start with a semester of Intensive English.
Does PSU offer scholarships?
Yes. Awards range from 25% to 100% of tuition, with a 1,500-riyal monthly stipend for top full-scholarship recipients, based on a weighted score of school grades, Achievement Test and Aptitude Test.
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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