JEDDAH, 1 October 2005 — As many as 25,000 Saudi students soon may be studying abroad, as the Council of Ministers has approved a massive scholarship program. Responding to invitations from foreign leaders as well as domestic desires for better ties within the global village, Saudi graduate and undergraduate students are being invited to apply for the program, meant to build bridges of understanding between Saudi Arabia and other nations.
A variety of factors, including grade point average (GPA) and length of time elapsing since the last degree was earned, are among the determinants. Different fields of study have different requirements. After approval and acceptance at a foreign college or university, financial backing is secured.
Rana Fatani, who was recently accepted, said the process was easy.
“It’s very simple,” Fatani said. “You get the acceptance or rejection immediately after your information is submitted.”
One aspect that isn’t so simple is finding out the amount of the award or housing information in advance. Fatani said such information should be made available to students after an acceptance letter is received from a foreign school.
Some students whose applications were rejected said they wished more information regarding the reasons for the rejection were given, noting that it might give them a chance to meet the stringent requirements in the future.
“The number of majors covered by the scholarship is too small,” said student Talal Haji, “and the amount of money given by the government is much too little.”
However, the move marks a significant step forward toward the wishes of King Abdullah and US President George W. Bush to improve the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Abdullah traveled to the States earlier this year as crown prince to meet with Bush, and both parties agreed to overcome some of the current obstacles for Saudis studying abroad. For more information on the program, visit the Ministry of Higher Education website at www.mohe.gov.sa.
