20/09/2026
๐ A FACT ABOUT SAUDI SCHOLARSHIPS THAT APPLICANTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND ๐ธ๐ฆ๐
I know some people may not be happy with this point, but we need to be realistic and honest about it.
Saudi universities offer different types of scholarships. Some are fully funded, some are partially funded, and others have different levels of financial coverage.
For example, there are universities such as Qassim University and Umm Al-Qura University where certain scholarship arrangements may not provide university accommodation. This means that, even though the student receives scholarship benefits and a monthly stipend, the student may still have to arrange and pay for accommodation independently.
And this is where applicants need to think carefully.
For example, if a student's monthly allowance is 800 Saudi Riyals, and accommodation costs around 500 Riyals per month, that leaves only 300 Riyals.
From that remaining 300 Riyals, the student may still need to cover:
๐ Food
๐ Transportation
๐ฑ Communication and other basic needs
๐งด Personal expenses
๐ Academic necessities
๐ฐ Emergency expenses
And accommodation at around 500 Riyals may not necessarily mean that the student is living close to the university. In places like Makkah, accommodation closer to major university areas can be considerably more expensive. Therefore, a student may have to live farther away and spend additional money on transportation.
So when someone says:
ยซ"Just apply. If you can afford the accommodation, you can manage."ยป
We should ask ourselves: Can the average scholarship student realistically sustain all these expenses every month?
A scholarship is supposed to make education more accessible, but applicants should also consider their complete cost of living, not just the fact that they have received a scholarship.
There is also another important point.
Many students apply for scholarships because they hope that, after completing their studies, they will return home with not only a degree but also some savings or financial preparation to help them begin the next stage of their lives.
If almost the entire monthly allowance is consumed by rent, food, and transportation, there may be little or nothing left to save.
This is why I always encourage applicants to look beyond the word "scholarship."
Before accepting or recommending a scholarship, check:
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Does it include accommodation?
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How much is the monthly stipend?
โ
What is the actual cost of accommodation?
โ
How far is the accommodation from the university?
โ
What will transportation cost?
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How much will food and basic necessities cost?
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Are there other university or living expenses?
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Will the student realistically be able to sustain themselves without additional financial support?
A scholarship can be genuine and valuable while still being financially difficult for a particular student.
So my point is not that partial scholarships are bad or that nobody should apply for them.
My point is simply this:
Applicants should understand exactly what the scholarship covers and whether they can realistically afford everything that it does not cover.
Especially for students coming from families with limited financial resources, this calculation is extremely important.
Don't apply simply because you see the word "SCHOLARSHIP."
Understand the terms, benefits, limitations, and actual cost of living before making your decision.
May Allah grant every sincere student an opportunity that is genuinely beneficial, sustainable, and within their means. ๐คฒ๐ธ๐ฆ๐
