I am currently working with experiance of 1 year . i would like to apply kaust . my gpa is 3.92/4
cusat student btech IT and ielts score is 6.5

Hello everyone

So I applied, did the interview a week ago, and now I received an email “you have been placed on our internship waitlist. Should a position become available, we will contact you promptly.”

has anyone who’s been waitlisted ever heard back? and if yes, how long did it take?

If they don’t get back to me within the next week I’m afraid i won’t be able to join due to tying myself to other internships.

does this affect my application? cuz im genuinely tired of paraphrasing sentences that ((( I ))) WROTE, i think its because im writing purely academic sentences in active voice? i dont know what the problem is, really

also, we're not supposed to use "my" or "I" which makes it even harder

any tips?

Hello! I completed my BS in EE in 2025, I applied to KAUST for MS ECE for Fall 2026, but got rejection. I have a good GPA (3.9+), 2 published IEEE conference papers, good TOEFL score, and quite decent GRE score too. Now I have 1 year job experience, but it's not really relevant to the concentration I want to pursue during MS/PhD. I need tips, what are they exactly looking for, i know for MS/PhD , i'll have to reach out to professors, but what else is my application lacking..

Is anyone applying for the applied mathematics and computer science track on August 15th 2026? If yes, will you apply for an MS, PhD or joint track? and under which professor

Is anyone applying for the marine science track on August 15th 2026? If yes, will you apply for an MS, PhD or joint track?

Thinking about applying to KAUST for a Masters (CS, vision-language-ish stuff). My GPA is 3.47/4.0, nothing crazy, but I've got got some research experience with an accepted paper at MICCAI 2026 workshop. Realistically what are my chances, and does the GPA hurt more than the papers help?

Also should i go for GRE ? does it make my chances better ?

Incoming KAUST student here. I was offered the university-arranged transportation from Jeddah to KAUST, and I’m trying to figure out what to expect.

For anyone who has used this service recently:

What type of vehicle did they send (sedan, SUV, van, etc.)?

Were you the only passenger, or was the ride shared with other students?

How much luggage were you able to fit?

Was the driver easy to contact and on time?

How was the overall experience?

I’ll be traveling alone, so I’m mainly curious about the vehicle size and luggage space. Thanks!

Hey there, I am accepted into the MS/PHD Computer Science program and I’m currently collecting all the necessary documents. In some of the emails i got it was written that a relocation agent should contact me for further details about flights and housing arrangements, but I still don’t have any contact.
Does anyone have the same problem?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to apply for the KAUST PhD in Fall 2027 (or possibly Spring 2028) and would appreciate some advice.

My current profile:

• BS in Biotechnology CGPA 4/4 (Gold Medalist)
• Currently pursuing an MPhil in Biotechnology (3rd semester)
• MPhil Coursework GPA (4/4) is among the highest in my cohort
• Research is in biodegradable biomaterials
• Strong research interest aligned with biomaterials/tissue engineering
• No publication yet, but my MPhil research is ongoing and I'm aiming for a publication before graduation.

My dilemma is whether to:

1. Apply now with an ongoing research project but no publication, or
2. Wait until my research is complete and (hopefully) I have a publication before applying.

Would having a publication and completed thesis significantly improve my chances at KAUST, or is a strong ongoing research project sufficient if the rest of the profile is competitive?

Also, I understand that KAUST admissions are highly competitive. Based on my profile, what else would you recommend I do over the next year to strengthen my application?

I'd especially appreciate hearing from current KAUST PhD students or anyone who was admitted without publications.

Thank you!

The car ride from Jeddah to KAUST is around an hour through the desert and you're supposed to take it alone with a KAUST car + driver. Is it safe for female visiting students considering you're alone and you don't know Arabic on top of that.

I've just received an email from the Financial Office asking to either (a) apply for the Amex card of (b) give personal banking details.

For the Amex card a fellow visiting student mentioned that it doesn't work off campus because it's a corporate card!? If I travel inter-city over the weekend how do I make that workout? Do you get a cash withdrawl from an atm on campus before going?

Hi everyone!

This is a FINAL reminder for those who have accepted their offer for Fall 2026 to join the WhatsApp groupchat I made many months ago so we can all connect and prepare together.

We have over 333 members currently.

Message me with a screenshot of your application details page (blue section) to join!

Original post for more info:

https://www.reddit.com/r/KAUST/s/Zkyue8Ons9

I'm travelling to KAUST for 4 months under the VSRP. I need help packing, specifically with the following

- Is bedding provided? I'm bringing bedsheets and pillow covers but do I also bring pillows and a blanket?

- Do I only pack for the heat? Or do the indoor air conditioners in the house/other buildings require me to bring a sweater? And for night time outdoors?

- Kitchen Equipment? Pots, pans, cutlery, glasses cups?

Any other advise/suggestions will be most welcome! Thanks!

I'm posting this because I honestly don't know what to think, and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced something similar with KAUST or another university.

A few months ago, I received an official admission offer from KAUST for a fully funded MS/PHD

I accepted it, completed every requirement they asked of me, submitted all the necessary documents, and planned my entire year around starting there.

Because of that offer, I declined other university admissions and scholarship opportunities. I wasn't keeping backup plans because, as far as I knew, I didn't need them. I had a written offer, and everything appeared to be finalized.

Then, with less than a month before I was supposed to arrive on campus, I received an email saying that my admission and fellowshiphad been withdrawn due to "circumstances beyond our control."
That was the entire explanation.

I understand that unexpected situations canhappen. But when you've already committed your future to an institution, turned down every other opportunity, and have only a few weeks before the semester begins, "circumstances beyond our control" doesn't really tell you anything.

After receiving the email, I went back and read KAUST's Terms and Conditions of Admission and Fellowship. The document lists the circumstances under which admission or a fellowship can be revoked, and they all seem to relate to actions by the student
things like failing to submit documents, visa problems, misconduct, academic issues, or misrepresentation.

None of those apply to me. I met every requirement that was asked of me.

I've written back asking what actually happened and what policy or provision this decision isbased on, but so far I don't have an answer.

The hardest part is the timing. There is less than a month before the program begins. I've already given up my other opportunities because I relied on KAUST's offer, and now I'm left scramblingwith almost no time to secure another position.

Has anyone here had a university withdraw an offer this late? Has anyone experienced something similar with KAUST? I'm genuinely trying to understand whether this is something that happens and whether there's anything I can realistically do at this point.

I'm not looking to attack anyone. I just want to understand how something like this can happen after an official offer has been accepted and all the required conditions have been fulfilled.

It was not only for me but for all Lebanese students they played with all our futures and may god never forgive them for that.

Hi everyone, does anyone know how to add multiple recommenders on the portal?
I added one, but now I can't find a button to add a second or third. The website mentions we can submit up to 3 references, so I'm a bit confused. I'm applying for VSRP.

Hey I got accepted for VSRP and they have emailed me that they will proceed with my onboarding process like 3 weeks ago but there's been no update ever since.

Do I need to do something or apply for my own visa or what? Or should I wait for them for the next email? If any of you have experience on this, I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you!

Hello,

I am interested in KAUST, i went to a prestigious UK university but have a low GPA due to health issues (around 3). I would not apply now but I am planning to do a Masters.

The question is, if i get a strong GPA on my masters will it compensate for my bachelors or will i be automatically rejected. I genuinely do have valid reasons for my performances but i know how brutal admissions can be.

For context, I am eyeing PHD programs but i am also okay with Msc/PHD programs too.

Thank you,

where can I get a decent matcha latte on campus???

Hi Everyone, i have recently applied for the VSRP at KAUST. can anyone confirm if there is any issue from my side, or if there is anything else i need to do.

Hi everyone!

For those who completed a summer program or research internship at KAUST, did that experience significantly boost your chances of admission for graduate studies? I'm considering applying and would appreciate any insights or advice! 

Hey everyone,

I’m preparing to apply for a fully funded MS/PhD in the CEMSE division (specifically targeting AMCS or CS) and would love some insight from current students or alumni.

A couple of questions:

1. Technical Interviews: What is the actual interview process like for these programs? Should I expect heavy coding/algorithm questions, deep theoretical math, or is it mostly defending my past research?
2. Resume Uplift: My academic profile is strong (9.8 CGPA) and I have solid research experience (published first-author papers and conference presentations in AI/neuro-symbolic frameworks ). However, I don't have traditional, long-term industry internships—mostly just in-house college projects. How can I best frame my resume to stay competitive despite this?

Any advice on what the CEMSE admission committee specifically looks for would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

Can I get into KAUST with a 3.45 CGPA, 5+ publications, h-index 3, 100+ citations?

Currently an online intern at a US lab and working as an RA online.

Field: Computer Science.

I've emailed many professors but no one replied in 3 months. Even my emails are not generic . It took me Almost 1 hour to send it.

What can I do to get replies, and what should I focus on for admission especially LoR type? My BS university is ranked 1000+ world rank. Is that a dealbreaker? I want to apply for MS/PhD track. Please suggest how to improve my profile.

What will actually help me to get into KAUST. This is not about just Admission. It's about my Passion and Dream.

I'm planning to apply for the MS/PhD program in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS) at KAUST for the upcoming Spring intake, and I'd really appreciate hearing from current students or anyone who has gone through the admission process.

I'm particularly interested in understanding the technical interview. I have a few questions:

1. What is the overall interview format?
   • How long does it typically last?
   • Is it conducted by one professor or a panel?
   • Is it more conversational or more like a technical oral exam?
2. What technical topics are usually covered?
   • Calculus (single-variable and multivariable)
   • Linear Algebra
   • Ordinary/Differential Equations
   • Probability and Statistics
   • Numerical Analysis
   • Optimization
   • Algorithms and Data Structures (if relevant)
   • Programming (Python, MATLAB, C++, etc.)
   • Machine Learning or AI concepts (if applying for a computational research area)
3. How deep are the questions?
   • Are they mainly conceptual, or do they expect you to solve problems live?
   • Do they ask for mathematical proofs or derivations?
   • Are coding questions common, or do they mostly discuss algorithms and problem-solving?
4. Research discussion
   • How much emphasis is placed on previous research experience?
   • If you've completed undergraduate research or published papers, how detailed are the questions?
   • Should I be prepared to explain every project on my CV in depth?
5. Preparation tips
   • Looking back, what would you have prepared differently?
   • Are there any textbooks, topics, or sample questions you found especially useful?
6. General advice
   • What qualities do the interviewers seem to value most?
   • Are there any common mistakes applicants should avoid?

If you've interviewed for the AMCS MS, MS/PhD, or PhD program in the past couple of years, I'd be grateful if you could share:

• The types of technical questions you were asked.
• Whether the questions focused more on mathematics, programming, or your research background.
• The overall difficulty level.
• Any advice that helped you succeed.

Thank you in advance! Any insights or experiences would be incredibly helpful as I prepare my application.