The Saudi foreign scholarship to the European universities is an exceptional opportunity that thousands of Saudi students and employees look forward to every year, but success in obtaining it does not come by chance; rather, it requires a precise understanding of the eligibility conditions, the application mechanisms, and the available options at the accredited European universities.
At Future Way, we accompany hundreds of students wishing for the scholarship annually, and we monitor the changes in the program’s requirements and the updates of the accredited university lists. Therefore, we have gathered in this comprehensive guide everything you need to know about the Saudi foreign scholarship to the European universities for 2026, from the conditions and specializations to the monthly allowance and the application steps step by step.
Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus) – إيطاليا
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for the Foreign Scholarship
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for the Foreign Scholarship is among the largest government scholarship programs in the world. It was launched in 2005 within the framework of the Kingdom’s vision for developing the Saudi human cadres, and it has contributed to date to sending hundreds of thousands of students to the finest global universities.
The program is supervised by the King Abdullah Scholarship Center affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Education, and its application extends to include studying in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
In recent years, the European universities have become a destination of rising importance within the program, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and France, where they are distinguished by a high academic quality and more competitive study costs compared with the Anglo-Saxon destinations.
The admission conditions in the foreign scholarship 2026
The Saudi Ministry of Education stipulates a set of basic requirements for eligibility for the scholarship, which can be summarized as follows:
The general conditions:
- That the applicant be of Saudi nationality.
- That the age of the postgraduate applicant not exceed 40 years for the master’s and 35 years for the doctorate in most cases (with exceptions for some sending bodies).
- Obtaining a prior admission from one of the accredited universities in the Ministry of Education’s list.
- Proof of proficiency in English or the language of study with a recognized certificate (IELTS or TOEFL or their equivalent for other languages).
- That the applicant not have obtained a previous scholarship from the state.
The academic conditions:
- Obtaining the bachelor’s degree with a grade of no less than very good (GPA 3.0 out of 4 in most cases) to join the master’s programs.
- The availability of the intended field of scholarship within the priority specializations determined by the Ministry.
- Passing the General Aptitude or Standardized test if the sending body requires it.
A note from the Future Way team: the detailed conditions vary according to the sending body (the Ministry of Education directly, or another government body such as Aramco or the Ministry of Health), so we always advise reviewing the regulations of each body before starting the application.
The specializations required for the scholarship 2026
The Saudi government gives priority to the specializations linked to the goals of Vision 2030, and the following specializations top the list:
| Field | The priority specializations |
| Engineering and technology | Renewable energy engineering, artificial intelligence, chemical engineering, data engineering |
| Medicine and health | Human medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, specialized nursing |
| Science and research | Applied physics, chemistry, molecular biology |
| Economics and management | Business administration, international economics, finance |
| Education and teaching | Curricula and teaching methods, educational psychology |
It is worth noting that the humanities specializations enjoy narrower opportunities in the direct government scholarship, although some specialized government bodies provide scholarships in certain fields such as law and the social sciences.
The accredited European universities for the Saudi scholarship
The Saudi Ministry of Education accredits the foreign universities based on their classification in the accredited international references, such as the QS ranking, the Shanghai ranking, and the Times Higher Education ranking (among the world’s best 500 universities).
The accredited universities of Germany for the scholarship
Germany represents an excellent destination for the Saudi scholarship recipient, and it comprises the most prominent of the following institutions:
- Technical University of Munich (TU Munich): among the best technical universities in Europe (engineering and applied sciences).
- Heidelberg University: the most venerable university in Germany (medicine, natural sciences, humanities).
- LMU Munich: strong in medicine, law, and the natural sciences.
- Free University of Berlin and Humboldt University: distinguished in the social sciences and humanities.
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): a reference in engineering and computer science.
An additional advantage: most of the master’s and doctorate programs at the German public universities are free or with token fees for international students.
The accredited universities of Britain for the scholarship
The most prominent accredited British universities include:
- University of Oxford and University of Cambridge: at the forefront of the global rankings.
- Imperial College London: a global reference in engineering, medicine, and business sciences.
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE): the most prominent in economics and the social sciences.
- University of Manchester and University of Edinburgh: excellent choices combining quality and a diversity of specializations.
The universities of France and the Netherlands for the Saudi scholarship
In France:
- École Polytechnique and Sorbonne University: at the forefront of science and engineering.
- Sciences Po Paris: the optimal choice in political science and international relations.
- Paris-Saclay University: a rising power in science, technology, and mathematics.
In the Netherlands:
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft): among the best engineering universities in Europe.
- University of Amsterdam and Leiden University: distinguished in the natural sciences, humanities, and psychology.
- Wageningen University (WUR): the first in the world in agricultural and environmental sciences.
The Netherlands’ great advantage: most of its postgraduate programs are taught in English.
The advantages of the Saudi foreign scholarship
The program is distinguished by a comprehensive financial package that covers nearly all the needs of the scholarship recipient and their family.
The monthly allowance for the scholarship recipient in Europe
The monthly allowances for the scholarship recipients in Europe range between $1,800 and 2,500 per month depending on the country (the high-cost countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom enjoy higher allowances). Additional rewards are disbursed for distinguished academic achievement, and upon marriage or having children during the scholarship period.
Health insurance and housing
- Health insurance: comprehensive insurance for the scholarship recipient and the members of their family residing with them (the wife and minor children).
- Housing allowances: a monthly housing allowance according to the country and the family size, or university accommodation.
- Book allowances: an annual amount to cover the scientific sources and academic supplies.
The annual travel tickets
The program includes annual air travel tickets to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the scholarship recipient and their accompanying family during the summer holiday or official vacations.
The steps for applying for the foreign scholarship step by step
Success in the scholarship begins with early planning and an organized application.
First: obtaining the European university admission
- Choose the university and specialization: make sure it is accredited and within the priorities.
- Prepare an integrated academic file: the CV, the motivation letter, two recommendations, and the bachelor’s certificate.
- Submit the language certificate: (IELTS 6.5, TestDAF, or DELF B2).
- Apply via the university’s portal: or the unified portals such as Uni-Assist.
- Wait for the official admission letter: (conditional or unconditional admission).
Second: registering on the Safeer platform
The Safeer platform is the only official portal for managing the scholarship file:
- Create an account with your national ID.
- Enter the university admission data.
- Upload the required documents.
- Send the application and wait for the preliminary approval.
Third: submitting the required documents
| Document | Details |
| The university admission letter | From an accredited university, stating the specialization, the study duration, and the fees |
| The national ID | Valid |
| The bachelor’s certificate with the transcript | Attested by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| The language certificate | IELTS or its equivalent, recently issued (within two years) |
| The academic CV | In Arabic and English |
| The family documents | The marriage document and the children’s birth certificates (for accompanying members) |
| A no-prior-scholarship certificate | Extracted from the Ministry |
The highest-ranked European universities for the Saudi scholarship recipient
Oxford and Cambridge: the summit of academic excellence
The two universities occupy the first and second positions in the global rankings. The real challenge is the academic admission (the acceptance rates are less than 10-15%).
- The advantages: an invaluable alumni networking, a pioneering research environment, and the value of a certificate that opens exceptional professional doors. The Future Way team advises preparing for the application a full year in advance.
ETH Zurich and TU Munich: the two pioneers of the applied sciences
- ETH Zurich (Switzerland): the strongest in continental Europe in engineering, physics, and computer science.
- TU Munich (Germany): it tops the engineering rankings in Europe, and it is distinguished by its close relationships with major companies (BMW, Siemens, MAN) to open horizons of training and research.
Future Way’s tips for success in admission and the scholarship
Improving the academic CV for the scholarship
- Start with education, not work (the academic path is the focus).
- Include research, conferences, and publications, even at the bachelor’s level.
- Highlight the technical projects related to the specialization.
- Do not go longer than two pages and avoid language errors completely.
The distinguished motivation letter: the strongest admission tool
- Open with a striking and innovative idea.
- Link your academic story to the targeted program specifically to prove your knowledge of it.
- Be specific in your professional goals (how, when, and where you will serve your country).
- Mention the faculty members you would like to work with (for the doctorate).
- Do not repeat the CV information; the letter interprets and deepens.
Frequently asked questions about the foreign scholarship to the European universities
1. What are the conditions of the foreign scholarship to the European universities?
The most prominent conditions: Saudi nationality, a university admission from an accredited European university, a bachelor’s grade of no less than very good, a recognized language proficiency certificate, and that the applicant not have benefited from a previous government scholarship. The detailed conditions vary according to the sending body.
2. How much is the scholarship recipient’s salary in Europe?
The monthly allowances vary according to the scholarship country, but they generally range between $1,800 and 2,500 per month for the unmarried scholarship recipient, with additions for the wife and children. This is in addition to the housing allowance, the travel tickets, and health insurance.
3. What are the accredited European universities for the Saudi scholarship?
The accredited list includes the most prominent European universities present in the accredited international rankings (QS, Shanghai, and Times), among them Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College in Britain, ETH Zurich in Switzerland, TU Munich and Heidelberg in Germany, Delft University in the Netherlands, and the major French universities.
4. How do I obtain a European university admission for the scholarship?
You start by determining the suitable university and specialization, then preparing an integrated academic file comprising the CV, the motivation letter, the language certificate, and the academic recommendations, and you apply via the university’s portal directly or via the unified admission platforms. The Future Way team can accompany you in all these stages.
5. Does the scholarship include family members?
Yes, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program usually includes the wife and minor children, with additional allowances for each accompanying member, travel tickets for the family members, and health insurance covering them all. However, the accompanying members do not have the right to study at the original scholarship recipient’s expense in most cases.
Conclusion
Start your journey with Future Way
The Saudi foreign scholarship to the European universities is not an unattainable dream; rather, it is a clearly defined path for those who deal with it with seriousness and early planning. The first step is always the university admission, and it is the stage at which many lose their opportunity before it begins.
At Future Way, we provide specialized consultations in:
- Choosing the most suitable European university for your specialization and goals.
- Preparing the university admission file according to professional standards.
- Reviewing the motivation letter and the academic CV.
- Following up the scholarship procedures and the Safeer platform.
Contact our team today via futurewaytr.com and start your first step toward the European university you deserve.
