City guide
Riyadh: studying in Saudi Arabia
Verified information about Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and the universities located there.
Verified facts about Riyadh
- Hosts King Saud University, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, Alfaisal University and Prince Sultan University.
- King Khalid International Airport was struck by a missile on 10 October 2026 per UK FCDO; FCDO advises staying away from the airport.
Universities in Riyadh
King Saud University (KSU)
Riyadh · Public
External-scholarship international students: full scholarship (tuition covered). Study in Saudi lists indicative tuition values for international entries, e.g. Accounting 34,245 (Full Scholarship), Chemical Engineering 53,130 (Full Scholarship); Paid Study entries e.g. Biomedical Engineering 77,280 per year, Clinical Laboratory Sciences 76,360 per year. Currency not printed on the portal.
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (IMSIU)
Riyadh · Public
External (international) applicants: partial scholarships in Arabic-language programs (e.g. Arabic Language, Fundamentals of Religion) with tuition amount not listed. Resident self-funded bachelor listings range from about 30,050 (Arabic Language, Journalism) to 35,250 per year (currency not stated); English-taught examples: Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry 35,250; Information Technology 34,750.
Alfaisal University
Riyadh · Private
Undergraduate 94,000 SAR per year for all degrees (47,000 per semester for 12+ credit hours; 3,917 per credit hour below that); preparatory program 60,000 per year; master 200,000 for the full program; PhD 400,000 total; summer 3,133 per credit hour excluding 15% VAT. Application fee 600 SAR. International students must take at least 12 credit hours per semester. Study in Saudi lists 108,100 per year for bachelor programs (94,000 x 1.15 = 108,100 arithmetically; the portal does not state VAT).
Prince Sultan University (PSU)
Riyadh · Private
Study in Saudi: 96,000 per year for all 12 listed bachelor programs (5 years including a preparatory year; currency not printed). Search summary of psu.edu.sa (search-snippet): from 2025 SAR 3,000 per credit hour (2022-2024 cohorts SAR 2,200), minimum per semester equals 12 credit hours; 15% VAT on non-Saudi tuition; application fee SAR 500 (575 with VAT).
Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University
Riyadh · Public
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
Riyadh · Public
Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University
Riyadh · Public
Saudi Electronic University
Riyadh · Public
Arab Open University
Riyadh · Private
Al Yamamah University
Riyadh · Private
Dar Al Uloom University
Riyadh · Private
Al Maarefa University
Riyadh · Private
Arab East College
Riyadh · Private
Inaya Medical Colleges
Riyadh · Private
Al Ghad International College for Applied Medical Science
Riyadh · Private
Cost information for Saudi Arabia
The information below is not specific to Riyadh; it applies to Saudi Arabia as a whole.
- Monthly living cost (country-level)
- No national student living-cost figure found on official pages. KAUST reports that surveyed students spend about USD 1,320 per month on average (survey date not stated; campus-specific, with housing and health insurance covered by the fellowship). Alfaisal requires proof of SAR 150,000 in funds for first-year tuition (not a living-cost estimate).Source
- Accommodation (country-level)
- Scholarship students at KSU, KFUPM, KAUST and KAU receive housing as part of benefits (not in all cases for married students). Self-funded students: Alfaisal housing information not published on pages read; contact OISE. Rental market information was not assessed.Source
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Information on this page is compiled from official sources and was verified on the date shown. Fees, dates and visa rules change often; check official sources before applying. Empty fields have not been verified yet; ask our advisor for the current information.