Ministry of Education · Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program
Excellence Track
A track of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program that sends students to leading institutions worldwide, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. It covers new and varied fields that support a thriving economy and the Kingdom's growing sectors, such as tourism and hospitality management, business administration, economics and human resources, as well as fields that raise quality of life, such as sports management and environmental sciences.
Countries
The scholarship countries and universities approved for this track. All study destinations
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United States
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United Kingdom
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Australia
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China
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Canada
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Netherlands
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Switzerland
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Denmark
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Germany
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France
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Hong Kong SAR China
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South Korea
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Belgium
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Italy
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Japan
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Sweden
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Singapore
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Austria
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Macau SAR China
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Norway
Track details
The degrees, fields and application method approved for this track.
Applications
ClosedOpens 10 January 2027 until 14 May 2027
Meanwhile, you can get your university admission and apply when it opens.
- Degrees
- Bachelor's degree، Master's degree، Doctorate
- How applying works
- You get a university admission first, then apply for the scholarship.
- Fields
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- Anthropology
- Business Administration
- Criminal Justice
- Digital Marketing
- Economics
- Environmental Sciences
- Fisheries
- Forests and Pastures
- Game Design
- Geography
- History
- Hospitality Management
- Human Resources
- Juris Doctor
- Marine Science
- Media and Communication
- National Security
- Philosophy
- Political Science and International Relations
- Public Policy & Administration
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Sports and Sports Management
- Tourism and Hotel Management
- Academic years
- 2026-2027
Scholarship conditions for this track
The scholarship and admission conditions approved for this track.
Checked 28 October 2026
Scholarship conditions
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1Recognition of a qualification earned abroad
If you graduated from an institution outside Saudi Arabia, your previous qualification must be officially recognised (equivalency).
Official text
معادلة المؤهل السابق إذا كان المتقدم متخرجاً من مؤسسة تعليمية خارج المملكة.
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 6
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2Complete and correct documents
Your documents must be complete and correct when you register; anyone whose entered details do not match their official documents is excluded.
Official text
أن تكون وثائق المتقدم مكتملة وصحيحة أثناء التسجيل وسوف يتم استبعاد من تثبت عدم مطابقة معلوماته المسجلة في الموقع للوثائق الرسمية.
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 7
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3The ministry's scholarship rules apply
Applications follow the Ministry of Education's rules for study abroad.
Official text
يخضع الطلب لأحكام وضوابط الابتعاث للخارج المعمول بها في الوزارة.
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 8
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4Documents to apply
A valid passport; your registered national address; your previous qualification (with its equivalency if earned abroad); the official unconditional admission letter stating the field, start date and university; your academic record, enrolment letter and student visa if you have already started; and, with companions, their family record and passports.
Official text
صورة جواز سفر للمتقدم ساري المفعول. العنوان الوطني المسجل. صورة شهادة المؤهل السابق، و شهادة المعادلة، إذا كانت من خارج المملكة. خطاب القبول الرسمي غير المشروط موضح فيه التخصص بشكل واضح، وتاريخ بدء الدراسة، واسم الجامعة. صورة من السجل الأكاديمي، وخطاب التسجيل الرسمي من الجامعة والتأشيرة الدراسية في حالة البدء في الدراسة. عند وجود مرافقين ، صور وثائق المرافقين (سجل الأسرة و جواز السفر) كلها سارية المفعول
متطلبات التقديم والوثائق المطلوبة
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5Saudi nationality
The applicant must be a Saudi national.
Official text
أن يكون المتقدم سعودي الجنسية.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 1
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6Good conduct
The applicant must be of good conduct.
Official text
أن يكون المتقدم حسن السيرة والسلوك.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 2
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7Full-time study, living in the country
You must study full time and live in the country of study.
Official text
أن تكون الدراسة بالانتظام الكلي والإقامة في بلد الابتعاث.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 7
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8Passing selection and anti-crowding rules
You must pass the Ministry of Education's selection and anti-crowding policies and criteria.
Official text
اجتياز سياسات ومعايير المفاضلة ومنع التكدس بوزارة التعليم.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 8
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9Not currently on a scholarship
Someone on a current, continuing scholarship is not sent again, but may still apply.
Official text
لا يجوز ابتعاث من هو على رأس بعثة حالياً وبعثته مستمرة ولكن يسمح له بالتقديم.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 9
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10Meeting the general conditions
An application is accepted only if the applicant meets every general scholarship condition listed here.
Official text
استيفاء الشروط العامة للابتعاث.
سياسات التقديم والابتعاث، البند 1
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11Meeting the track's own conditions
You must also meet the conditions of the track you apply to.
Official text
استيفاء الشروط الخاصة على حسب المسار.
سياسات التقديم والابتعاث، البند 2
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12If you will take a preparatory year (undergraduate)
From the 2025-2026 academic year: a high-school overall average of at least 90%, and a language test (IELTS) score of at least 5.5 or equivalent.
Official text
لدراسة السنة التحضيرية، للمتقدمين لدراسة المرحلة الجامعية: أ) ألا يقل المعدل التراكمي العام في الثانوية العامة عن 90%. ب) ألا تقل درجة اختبار اللغة (ILETS) عن 5.5 أو ما يعادلها.
شروط إضافية من العام الأكاديمي 2025-2026، البند 1
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13If you will study in China
Undergraduate: aged 30 or under, a high-school average of 85% or more and IELTS 4.5 or more. Master's: a bachelor's average of at least 2.75/4, 3.75/5 or 80/100, and IELTS 4.5 or more.
Official text
للمتقدمين للدراسة في دولة الصين: المرحلة الجامعية: أ) ألا يتجاوز عمر المتقدم عن 30 عاماً. ب) ألا يقل المعدل التراكمي العام في الثانوية العامة عن 85%. ج) ألا تقل درجة اختبار اللغة (ايلتس) عن 4.5. درجة الماجستير: أ) ألا يقل معدل المتقدم لدرجة الماجستير في البكالوريوس عن (2.75 من 4) أو (3.75 من 5) أو (80 من 100). ب) ألا تقل درجة اختبار اللغة (ايلتس) عن 4.5.
شروط إضافية من العام الأكاديمي 2025-2026، البند 2
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14If you will study in Germany
You need level A2 in a German language proficiency test.
Official text
للمتقدمين للدراسة في دولة ألمانيا: الحصول على (A2) في اختبار الكفاءة اللغوية للغة الألمانية.
شروط إضافية من العام الأكاديمي 2025-2026، البند 3
Admission conditions
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1A direct, unconditional offer in a listed field and institution
You need a direct, unconditional offer in one of the track's fields, from one of the institutions listed for that field, for a bachelor's, master's or doctorate.
Official text
الحصول على قبول مباشر غير مشروط في إحدى التخصصات، والمؤسسات التعليمية المحددة؛ وذلك للحصول على درجات (البكالوريوس أو الماجستير أو الدكتوراه)
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 3
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2Not an executive program
The program you are admitted to must not be an executive program.
Official text
مع مراعاة أن يكون البرنامج المقبول فيه ليس تنفيذياً
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 3
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3No offers from professional-studies or continuing-education colleges
An offer for a program run by a college of professional studies or of continuing education is not accepted, nor for similar programs run by the university's main college.
Official text
وألاّ يكون القبول من برنامج يقدم من الكليات المهنية college of professional studies أو كليات التعليم المستمر college of continuing education، ويسري ذلك على البرامج المشابهة المقدمة من الكلية الأساسية في المؤسسة التعليمية.
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 3
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4Study in the university's home country
You must study in the country of the institution's main campus, not at a branch abroad.
Official text
أن تكون الدراسة في دولة المركز الرئيسي للمؤسسة التعليمية.
الشروط العامة لمسار التميز للابتعاث، البند 4
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5Admission from a listed institution
You need an offer from one of the institutions listed for the track, under its own conditions.
Official text
أن يكون لدى المتقدم قبول من إحدى المؤسسات التعليمية المحددة وفق الشروط الخاصة بكل مسار.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 3
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6A listed field of study
The field you will study must be among those listed for the track in the application year.
Official text
أن يكون التخصص المراد دراسته ضمن التخصصات المحددة لسنة التقديم على الابتعاث وفق الشروط الخاصة بكل مسار.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 4
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7The track's study mode
The study mode (for example, on campus) must be the one the track specifies.
Official text
أن يكون نمط الدراسة حسب المحدد في كل مسار.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 5
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8The program meets the track's rules
The program you are admitted to must meet the rules set for the track.
Official text
أن تنطبق على البرنامج المقبول فيه الضوابط المقرة لكل مسار.
الشروط العامة للتقديم والابتعاث، البند 6
Good to know
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1You may submit more than one offer
You may submit more than one offer; one application is chosen by the selection results or the seats available, taking your preference into account where possible.
Official text
يجوز للمتقدم تقديم أكثر من قبول، ويتم اختيار طلب واحد وفق نتائج المفاضلة أو وفق المقاعد المتاحة في المسارات، وفي حال لم يكن هناك مفاضلة يتم اختيار طلب واحد حسب المقاعد المتاحة في المسارات ويتم مراعاة رغبة الطالب في هذه الحالة إن أمكن.
سياسات التقديم والابتعاث، البند 3
These requirements are taken from the official source for guidance; the provider decides. Check its page before applying. Official source
Common questions about Excellence Track
What is the International Universities Scholarship?
It is the part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program for students who already hold admission from an accredited international university: they apply through the Unified Admission Platform (Qabul) to have that admission approved under the program. The platform lists four tracks under it: Research and Development, Emdad, Excellence and Rowad.
How do I see a university's details in the International Universities Scholarship?
On the Unified Admission Platform, open the International Universities Scholarship page and choose "View details" on the university's card to see all its information. You can also look the university up in Mubta to see the tracks and fields the official lists include.
How do I find a university's fields and admission conditions?
Through "View details" on the university's card on the International Universities Scholarship page of the Unified Admission Platform, which shows: • the fields offered and the tracks open in each; • the academic areas; • the degrees (bachelor's, master's, doctorate); • the academic admission conditions, such as the required grade, language tests where needed, and any other requirements.
I already have a bachelor's degree. Can I apply for another bachelor's in the International Universities Scholarship?
Yes, but some approved universities or fields may not allow it; each university's and field's conditions are on its details page on the Unified Admission Platform.
I already have a scholarship decision. Can I apply in the International Universities Scholarship?
Yes, but the approved rules may not allow applying to some universities or fields; check each one's conditions on its details page on the Unified Admission Platform.
How do the International Universities Scholarship tracks differ?
The tracks (Research and Development, Emdad, Excellence and Rowad) differ in how applicants are ranked: each has its own evaluation criteria and ranking method under its own rules, taking into account the number of seats and the level of competition.
What is the difference between the general and additional universities in the Excellence track?
• General universities: cover every field of the track, except the fields that have their own list. • Additional universities: added for a particular field, on top of the general universities. • Fields with their own list only, where the general universities do not apply: business administration, national security, criminal justice, political science and international relations, law (Juris Doctor), digital marketing and game design. In Mubta, each university shows the fields it is approved for in the track.
Is there an age limit in the Excellence track?
No, the track has no age limit for applying or being sponsored.
Must my field continue the field of my previous qualification?
No, the Excellence track does not require your field to continue, or relate to, your previous qualification's field.
Is a minimum grade in my previous qualification required?
No minimum grade is required to apply, but your grade is one of the criteria used to rank applicants.
Can I be sponsored for a degree I already hold?
Yes, if it is to study a different field from the one you studied before. Not already holding that degree or a higher one is, however, one of the ranking criteria.
Can I take a double major or a minor?
Yes, at bachelor's and master's level, at one university or more, as long as it does not extend your studies by more than three semesters or the equivalent.
How are applicants ranked in the Excellence track?
By several criteria, chiefly: • the university's standing in world rankings; • the grade in your previous qualification; • not already holding the same degree or a higher one; • no academic failure in an earlier scholarship.
How many seats are there per field and university?
Seven seats per field at each university, up to 30 seats per university, and 50 seats per field across all universities.
How many students does the Excellence track accept each year?
A thousand (1,000) seats a year.
When is the scholarship decision issued?
Once you are nominated, the ministry's scholarship e-services open for you, including issuing the scholarship decision. The decision is tied to the study start date it states, and you must start studying in the host country within a month of that date.
Can the scholarship decision be issued before I have a visa?
Yes, but you will need the visa to book your ticket through the system and to enter the host country and start studying.
How do I get the financial guarantee?
The detailed financial guarantee is requested after the scholarship decision is issued, through the ministry's scholarship e-services.
When can I apply for a scholarship abroad?
For the 2026 cycle, the Unified Admission Platform set the application period for scholarships abroad from 10 January 2026 to 14 May 2026. Dates change from cycle to cycle, so confirm them on the platform before applying.
What kinds of scholarship abroad does the program include?
Three main kinds: the International Universities Scholarship, the Waed track and Health Agreements.
How is the International Universities Scholarship different from the Waed track?
The International Universities Scholarship depends on you first getting admission from an accredited international university. Waed is a scholarship that ends in a job: it prepares Saudi talent in specific fields the labour market needs.
What documents do I need to apply for a scholarship abroad?
The main document is the university admission letter. Some approved universities or fields may ask for more, such as language test results or international test results, depending on their requirements.
Can I add Saudi public universities and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation to my choices while applying for a scholarship?
Yes, the Unified Admission Platform lets you add them while you apply for a scholarship. If you are not accepted for the scholarship, or your acceptance is cancelled, you can continue applying to public universities and the Corporation.
How does real-time ranking work for scholarship applications?
During the application and evaluation period, the Unified Admission Platform shows the available opportunities and keeps updating your application's status and ranking until the final results. The system picks the track that suits you best from your qualifications and the admission conditions; if your chosen track has no seat left, your application is moved automatically to another suitable track to improve your chances, taking into account: • how many people are competing; • how many seats are available; • each track's rules and criteria. The ranking method can differ between tracks, and the ranking you see is an estimate until the official results are announced.
Are applications and attachments reviewed after I apply?
Yes, the Unified Admission Platform reviews applications and attachments regularly and tells you if a file does not meet the requirements.
What happens if my details or attachments do not meet the admission conditions?
The application's status changes to "Not accepted" and you are notified; you can see the application's details and the reason.
How many scholarship applications can I submit?
At most three scholarship applications at the same time.
When are the results for scholarships abroad announced?
For the 2026 cycle, the Unified Admission Platform set the final results for 12 to 14 June 2026, with the option to confirm or cancel the acceptance. Dates change from cycle to cycle.
What happens when I confirm my acceptance?
The acceptance becomes final and the application's status changes to "Finally accepted". The confirmation cannot be undone and you cannot apply again, as only one acceptance is allowed.
What happens when I cancel my acceptance?
The final acceptance is cancelled and that same acceptance cannot be restored; you can keep applying for other choices through the Unified Admission Platform.
Can I change my application after sending it?
No, an application cannot be changed once sent, so check your details and attachments carefully before sending.
How do I follow my application after applying?
On the choices list page of the Unified Admission Platform.
Can government or private-sector employees apply for a scholarship?
Yes, if they meet the general scholarship conditions and those of the university and the approved field.
Can I apply for a master's in a different field from my bachelor's?
Yes, but some fields require the master's to continue the bachelor's field, so check the conditions of the university and the approved field.
Can I cancel my acceptance after being accepted?
Yes, applicants can cancel their acceptance, but that same acceptance cannot be restored afterwards.
Who applies for the visa: the ministry or the student?
The student. After final acceptance, a service is available to get a letter addressed to the embassy.
Do I need a visa when filling in the scholarship application?
No, you can choose "No visa required" in the application to complete it.
Mubta is independent of the government platforms: these answers are rephrased from the official FAQ and may change between cycles, so always confirm with the official source before applying. Official source Official source