King Saud University PhD

(289 Reviews)
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About King Saud University PhD

King Saud University (KSU) is a highly renowned university that offers PhD programs in a wide range of disciplines. It is a public university that is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It offers PhD programs in Humanities, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Sciences, Business, and Islamic Studies, and several other academic disciplines. The duration of the PhD program at King Saud University ranges from 3 to 6 years, with a commitment to full-time research. Students enrolled in this program get opportunities to conduct independent research. 

The KSU PhD program is highly research-focused. This program aims to develop experts and scholars in the respective fields. The curriculum KSU PhD program includes coursework, advanced research, and dissertation work. It also has core and elective subjects, research methodology, seminars, and a final thesis. KSU provides KSU provides modern research facilities and experienced faculty to help students produce high-quality research. Students also get opportunities to collaborate with other international universities to enhance their research. King Saud University also offers a wide range of scholarships and fellowships for Saudi nationals as well as international students. 

Being a highly popular university for reseach and education, the admission process is quite difficult due to high competition. The admission process involves an entrance exam and an interview, which is highly difficult. Moreover, pursuing a PhD at King Saud University requires full commitment. If you are someone who is looking for a doctoral degree from a reputed international university with flexibility and an easy admission process, an Online DBA Doctorate can be the best alternative. It is a highly industry-oriented online doctorate program, offered by some of the most prominent foreign universities. It is globally recognzed and offered in complete online mode. You can become eligible for the “Dr.” title by completing it in just 3 years. 

Course Benefits

  • King Saud University is a prestigious educational institution, offering a PhD program.
  • KSU offers a PhD program in Humanities, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Sciences, Business, and Islamic Studies, and several other academic disciplines.
  • KSU PhD program stretches for 3 to 6 years with a full-time reseach commitment.
  • KSU places a strong emphasis on original research by providing modern research facilities.
  • Students are encouraged to equip themselves with critical thinking, academic writing, and independent research.
  • KSU offers opportunities for international collaboration to enhance the research quality.
  • KSU offers a wide range of scholarships and fully funded PhD programs to Saudi nationals as well as international students.
  • Admission process is highly challenging due to strong competition and the requirement for an entrance test and language proficiency qualification.
  • An online DBA Doctorate can be the best alternative for the King Saud PhD program.
  • It is an industry-oriented online doctorate provided by the top foreign universities with a 100% online learning mode.
  • It is highly flexible and accessible for someone who cannot commit to full-time research.
  • It can be completed within 3 years with eligibility for the “Dr.” title.

King Saud University Approved By

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Who Can Apply?

To apply for a PhD program at King Saud University, candidates need to meet some eligibility criteria. Here are the criteria for securing admission to this program:

  • Master's degree in the particular field with very good grades from an accredited Higher Education Institution. 
  • Passed the TOEFL online test (IBT) with a score of at least 45. 
  •  Qualification in the written test conducted by the particular department of King Saud University. 
  • Qualification in Personal Interview (If qualified in Written Test). 

Course Fee Details

CourseFull FeesDuration
PhD10,50,0003 Years

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King Saud University EMI Details

To achieve the universal accessibility of quality higher education, King Saud University will ensure its financial support possibilities are diversified and all available opportunities will be considered within the broader framework of scholarship. The university provides a set of different payment schedules so that students can pay their tuition costs throughout their student life. Scholarships based on merit and financial help based on need are presented to the deserving candidates, including special schemes to assist high-achieving pupils of the disadvantaged communities.

KSU collaborates with national and international financial institutions to offer financing of education to domestic and international students. It is also a university that provides research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and work-study programs, with which students can finance their studies and get good professional practice. All these extensive financial aids are the assurance that any gifted student with different backgrounds will have the opportunity to fulfil his or her academic goals at the King Saud University.

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King Saud University PhD Admission Process

King Saud University's admissions process aims at choosing applicants who are able to show their ability with proper educational skills, leadership qualities, and the values of the university. The admission process is as follows:

Step 1: Visit the official website and look at the eligibility criteria of the program you want to pursue.

Step 2: Fill out the online application via the admission portal of the university and submit all personal, academic and supporting documents.

Step 3: Provide test results, transcripts, recommendation letters, and any other requirements listed in the program.

Step 4: The application will be finalized and sent to the admissions committee, where the result will be communicated after some time.

Step 5: After the acceptance, complete the enrollment process, including fee payment and receive access to student services and the university's learning management system.


According to the latest UGC guidelines, all candidates must create their ABC ID and DEB ID to get admission.Click here to Know more!

What is Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) Notification by UGC?Must Watch!

Now, Get admission twice a year, in July/August and January/February. Latest Notice by UGC, Click here to know.

UGC updated the list of approved Online programs for the academic batch of 2024-25, Click here to get the list!

Equivalance of degree obtained through ODL and Online mode with degree obtained through conventional mode Click here to know!

A degree obtained through ODL mode is equivalent to a traditional degree, Click here to know!

UGC declares a 100% Fee Refund policy for students within a specified period by universities. Click here to read the full notice.

UGC issues a public notice regarding misleading abbreviations in the names of Universities & Colleges. Read the UGC Letter.

King Saud University PhD Syllabus / Curriculum

The curriculum structure of the PhD program at King Saud University is highly research-focused. It provides opportunities to conduct high-quality research.  It includes coursework, advanced research, and dissertation work. It can take 3 to 6 years to complete this program. The curriculum has a flexible learning schedule that demands full commitment. However, the curriculum of the Online DBA is highly flexible with 100% Online mode of learning. Here is the curriculum structure of King Saud University's PhD program in Computer Science for a detailed overview-  

First Level

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

CSC 610

Advanced Algorithms and Complexity

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC ...

Elective course (1) from List A

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC ...

Elective course (2) from List A

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

Total: 9 Study Units

Second Level

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

CSC ...

Elective course (3) from List A

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC ...

Elective course (4) from List B

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC ...

Elective course (5) from List B

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

Total: 9 Study Units

Third Level

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

CSC ...

Elective course (6) from List B

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC ...

Elective course (7) from List B

3 (3+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC 696

Independent Research Study (1)

2 (2+0)

Lecture

Included

Total: 8 Study Units

Fourth Level

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

CSC 697

Independent Research Study (2)

2 (2+0)

Lecture

Included

CSC 696

CSC 670

Computer Science Seminar

1 (1+0)

Lecture

Pass/Fail

Total: 3 Study Units

Fifth Level

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

COM 700

Comprehensive Exam

0

Exam

Pass/Fail

18 Study Units

Total: 0 Study Units

Sixth Level

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

CSC 699

Thesis Proposal Preparation

Supervision

Pass/Fail

18 Study Units, COM 700

Seventh Level & Beyond

Course Code

Name

Units

Activity

Assessment

Pre-requisite

CSC 700

Thesis

12

Supervision

Pass/Fail

CSC 699

Note- The above curriculum structure is for a PhD in Computer Science. It may not be the same for other subjects. 

King Saud University PhD Examination Pattern

King Saud University has incorporated an elaborate assessment model that integrates the continuous evaluation and summative assessment techniques in order to achieve an effective means of measuring student learning outcomes. Continuous assessment is aimed at measuring the performance of the student persistently in the form of assignments, projects, presentations, laboratory works, and class activities, giving immediate feedback on improvement. The assessment framework is reviewed and improved regularly to ensure academic rigour and alignment with international best practices and industry-changing needs in the defined framework.

Job Roles after PhD

The PhD program at King Saud University equips students with in-depth knowledge and expertise. Post completion of this program at King Saud University, graduates can pursue highly rewarding careers globally. Here are some of the top career job opportunities with average salaries:

Job Profile

Average Annual Salary (INR)

PhD Student / Research Scholar

₹2.4 L

Research Associate / Fellow

₹22 L

Lecturer / Teaching Assistant

₹32 L

Assistant Professor

₹51 L

Associate Professor

₹51 L

Full Professor

₹55 L

Data Scientist

₹18 L

AI/ML Engineer

₹22 L

Cybersecurity Specialist

₹16 L

Big Data Engineer

₹20 L

Cloud Solutions Architect

₹28 L

R&D Scientist / Engineer

₹25 L

Postdoctoral Researcher

₹30 L

Frequently Asked Questions?

Yes, King Saud University offers PhD programs in Humanities, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Sciences, Business, and Islamic Studies, and several other academic disciplines.

Yes, King Saud University offers a fully-funded PhD program for both national and international students. 

The PhD program at King Saud University spans 3 to 6 years, depending on the academic field.

No, King Saud University does not offer a PhD in Online mode. However, if you are looking to pursue your doctoral degree online, you can consider the Online DBA Doctorate, which is offered 100% online.

The fixed learning schedule of the PhD program at King Saud University is offered with a fixed learning schedule. This requires a full-time commitment, which cannot be ensured along with your current job. However, you can continue your current job while pursuing an equally valid Online DBA Doctorate. 

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King Saud University Reviews

Student Reviews

3.8 out of 5

(289)
5 star
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4 star
40%
3 star
40%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don't use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer chose this University on College Vidya. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.


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A

Ayansh Singh

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Reviewed in India on August 1, 2025

The opportunities to conduct research at KSU are world-class, and the laboratories at the university are state-of-the-art and cooperation with international systems is provided. Having acquired the status of a doctoral student, I have had an opportunity to work on excellent research in terms of novelty and quality, as well as be under high-quality academic guidance and career growth assistance.

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Mulayam Thakur

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Reviewed in India on August 1, 2025

My experience with the career service at King Saud University was even better than I expected. Six months after graduation, I already had several job offers from top companies not only in Saudi Arabia but also globally. The industry relationships and alumni network of the university played a major role in making my career change successful.

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Komal Sahani

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Reviewed in India on August 1, 2025

I personally got attracted to a curriculum that incorporates these key ideas in all fields and makes certain that the graduates of the school are in a position to play a positive role in the transformation of Saudi Arabia and the resolution of current problematic global situations.

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Pooja Patel

Verified

Reviewed in India on August 1, 2025

King Saud University offers a multicultural environment unlike any other, as students are not only from the Middle East but all around the world. I got a chance to learn and enjoy cultural variety adds flavour to the discussion in the classroom and gives a global outlook that supplements the overall course, especially in the business and international studies courses.

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Ayansh Singh

Verified

Reviewed in India on August 1, 2025

King Saud University has eased my mind with ample research facilities as a graduate student in engineering and the superb learning styles of faculty mentorship. The networking of the university with industry giants such as Aramco has enabled me to secure valuable internship experiences offered by these organizations straight away into my career and practical abilities.

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Summary

King Saud University

3.8

Student Reviews

3.8 out of 5

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