Umm Al-Qura University
جامعة أم القرى
Saudi Arabia's oldest higher-education college, grown into a large Arabic-medium university in Makkah.
- Tuition
- SAR 15,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1949
- QS World Ranking
- 741-750
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About UQU
Umm Al-Qura University grew out of the College of Sharia that King Abdulaziz founded in Makkah in 1369 AH (1949), which the university describes as the first higher-education institution in the Kingdom. After a period as a Makkah branch of King Abdulaziz University, it became Umm Al-Qura University by royal decree in 1401 AH (1981). The Ministry of Education's Study in Saudi platform describes it as one of the largest Saudi universities, with more than 57,000 students and over 26 colleges.
Its historic strengths are Sharia, Islamic studies, Arabic language and education, and it has since added medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, engineering and architecture, computing, business and design. Colleges are grouped into medical, science and engineering, Sharia and administration, and humanities and education clusters, with branch colleges in Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Lith, Al-Jamoum and Adham. The main campus is at Al-Abidiyah in south-east Makkah, facing Mount Arafat, with further sites in Al-Aziziyah.
For international students, almost every bachelor's programme open to them on Study in Saudi is taught in Arabic, so the university suits students who already read and write Arabic well, especially those drawn to Sharia, Quranic studies and Arabic linguistics. Because the university is in Makkah, which Australian government travel advice says only Muslims are allowed to enter, it is realistically an option only for Muslim applicants.
The honor of knowledge and the honor of the place
University motto
Why students choose UQU
It traces its roots to the Kingdom's first higher-education college, the College of Sharia in Makkah, founded in 1949.
International applicants can apply through Study in Saudi for bachelor's places in more than 40 subjects, from Sharia and Quranic Recitations to Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Data Science.
International scholarship places listed on the platform include a tuition waiver, a monthly stipend, medical insurance and an annual travel ticket.
Its alumni include several imams of Makkah's Masjid al-Haram, reflecting its standing in Sharia and Quranic studies.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (academic year 1449 AH)
Selectivity
UQU does not publish an acceptance rate. International applicants compete for a limited number of scholarship places that each programme offers on Study in Saudi; the university reviews applications first, then the Ministry of Education completes final admission.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate (international applicants) | High school diploma uploaded to Study in Saudi, with an equivalency of the certificate issued by the Saudi embassy or cultural attache; attested documents as the university requires |
|---|---|
| Saudi General Secondary Certificate | Applied through the national Unified Admission Portal (uap.sa) |
Deadlines
Neither UQU nor Study in Saudi published fixed 2027-28 application dates on the pages checked in September 2026. Programmes open for application appear on the Study in Saudi platform, so check it regularly.
How to apply
International applicants living outside Saudi Arabia apply on the Ministry of Education's Study in Saudi platform (studyinsaudi.sa), which UQU's Deanship of Admission and Registration links as the route for external scholarships for non-residents: create a profile, choose a UQU programme, and upload the secondary certificate and required documents. UQU reviews the application, then UQU and the Ministry complete final admission. Non-Saudi residents of the Kingdom can apply on the same platform for paid places; Saudi students apply through the Unified Admission Portal.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised secondary school certificate, with an equivalency issued by the Saudi embassy or cultural attache for international scholarship applicants.
- Enough Arabic to study in it: the bachelor's programmes listed for international students on Study in Saudi are taught in Arabic.
- Complete, consistent documents: Study in Saudi does not let applicants change passport details, gender or nationality once an application is submitted.
- For Saudi applicants, a place won through the national Unified Admission Portal, which UQU links from its admission page.
Tips for applying to UQU
- 1 Get your high school certificate's equivalency from the Saudi embassy or cultural attache early; it is a listed condition for UQU's international scholarship places.
- 2 Build and prove your Arabic before applying: the platform records your Arabic level on the CEFR scale and promotes the online Hamza test.
- 3 Choose carefully: you cannot hold two scholarships for the same degree level, and application details other than contact information cannot be edited after submission.
- 4 Plan your own housing: UQU's scholarship listings state that university housing is not currently available and the arrival ticket is not reimbursed.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in SAR
International applicants from outside Saudi Arabia apply for scholarship places through Study in Saudi. For UQU bachelor's programmes these are listed as partial scholarships that include a tuition waiver, a monthly stipend, medical insurance and one annual travel ticket, but no accommodation; the arrival ticket is not reimbursed.
- Tuition waiver, monthly stipend, medical insurance, annual ticket; no housing
- International scholarship places (bachelor's)
- More than 40
- Bachelor's programmes open to international scholarship applicants on Study in Saudi
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Shari'a (Islamic Law)
Taught in the college that started the university in 1949 and is open to international scholarship applicants.
Quranic Recitations
A bachelor's in the College of Da'wa and Islamic Theology, whose alumni include several imams of the Masjid al-Haram.
Arabic Linguistics, Morphology and Syntax
One of the College of Arabic Language's degrees, alongside Literature and Rhetoric and Criticism, all open to international applicants.
Preparing Teachers of Arabic as a Second Language
A bachelor's listed on Study in Saudi only for international scholarship students (men), aimed at future teachers of Arabic.
Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security
Newer College of Computers degrees listed for both international scholarship and resident paid places (SAR 17,000 per semester).
Architecture
A five-year degree in the College of Engineering and Architecture, open to male international scholarship applicants.
Research
- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research is based at the university's Al-Aziziyah site.
- The university runs an Institute of Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers.
- The Study in Saudi platform lists UQU as accredited by Saudi Arabia's NCAAA, with ABET accreditation for engineering programmes.
Schools & faculties
- College of Shari'ah and Islamic Studies
- College of Da'wa and Islamic Theology
- College of Arabic Language
- College of Judicial Studies and Regulations
- College of Administration and Economy
- College of Education
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Sciences
- College of Engineering and Architecture
- College of Computers
- College of Medicine
- College of Designs and Arts
Student life
UQU is a large university spread over Al-Abidiyah, Al-Aziziyah and branch campuses. Each programme on Study in Saudi is listed as open to men, women or both; some, such as Architecture and Judicial Studies, are listed for men only and others, such as Early Childhood and Fashion and Textile Design, for women only. For international students, life revolves around study in Arabic and Makkah's religious life. Scholarship students should plan private housing, as UQU's listings state that university housing is not currently available.
- Several imams of the Masjid al-Haram, including Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais and Saud Al-Shuraim, earned their doctorates at UQU.
- Programmes are listed on Study in Saudi as open to men, women or both.
- An Institute of Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers serves international students.
- Branch colleges operate in Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Lith, Al-Jamoum and Adham.
Housing. UQU's international scholarship listings state that no university housing is currently available and that rooms, if they become available, are assigned by availability.
Location
Makkah is Islam's holiest city and receives millions of pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah. Government travel advice (Australia's Smartraveller) states that only Muslims are allowed to enter Makkah. UQU's main Al-Abidiyah campus lies in the south-east of Makkah facing Mount Arafat. The city has no airport of its own: international arrivals use King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, about 70 km away, which is linked to Makkah by high-speed rail.
Nearest airport: King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah (JED)
Notable alumni
- AA Abdul-Rahman Al-SudaisImam of the Masjid al-Haram; PhD in Islamic Sharia from UQU (1995)
- SA Saud Al-ShuraimQuran reciter and former imam of the Masjid al-Haram; PhD in Islamic jurisprudence from UQU (1995)
- AA Abdullah Awad Al JuhanyImam of the Masjid al-Haram; PhD from UQU
- BB Bandar BaleelaImam of the Masjid al-Haram and member of the Council of Senior Scholars; bachelor's in Sharia (1996) and master's from UQU
- MA Maher al-Mu'aiqlyImam of the Masjid al-Haram; master's from UQU's College of Sharia
- SJ Sabria JawharSaudi journalist and columnist; master's in Applied Linguistics from UQU
- MT Mahmoud TraoreSaudi novelist and journalist, co-founder of Al-Watan newspaper; bachelor's in Media from UQU (1993)
- MY Mohammad Yusuf SiddiqBangladeshi historian and epigraphist of Islamic Bengal; studied at UQU
Frequently asked questions
How do international students apply to Umm Al-Qura University?
Through the Ministry of Education's Study in Saudi platform (studyinsaudi.sa): choose a UQU programme, upload your secondary certificate and documents, and UQU reviews the application before the Ministry completes admission.
Does Umm Al-Qura University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Bachelor's places for international applicants on Study in Saudi are listed as partial scholarships with a tuition waiver, monthly stipend, medical insurance and an annual ticket, but no housing.
Is Umm Al-Qura University taught in English?
Generally no. The bachelor's programmes listed for international students on Study in Saudi are taught in Arabic, so strong Arabic is needed.
Can non-Muslims study at Umm Al-Qura University?
In practice no: the university is in Makkah, and Australian government travel advice (Smartraveller) states that only Muslims are allowed to enter the city.
How much are UQU's fees for paid places?
Non-Saudi residents of Saudi Arabia on paid bachelor's places pay 12,000, 15,000 or 17,000 Saudi riyals (SAR) per semester depending on the programme, according to Study in Saudi, which shows these fees with the Saudi riyal symbol.
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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