A total of 9,958 students of both genders have been accepted for the sixth stage of the scholarship program. The students include those who will pursue bachelor, masters and doctorate programs at universities abroad.

Around 1,200 students have been accepted for doctorate degrees, 6,700 for master’s degrees and 1,900 for bachelor’s degrees in different countries across the world that include the US, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

The students were separated into two halls according to gender where they were given directions on how to benefit from the scholarship program and deal with problems they might encounter when abroad. They were also advised not to consult any intermediate offices, which might try fooling them, and instead consult the universities they want to enroll at directly as long as they are approved by the Ministry of Higher Education.

The women’s hall was full of aspiring students hoping to travel abroad as long as they can find legal guardians who are wiling to accompany them. “Practically speaking, what I am planning to do is take my husband with me to Canada just for the first month or so,” said Um Yousuf, 26, who was watching a presentation that was being delivered in the next room and broadcast in the women’s room through a television screen.

Um Yousuf wants to pursue a doctorate program in Canada. “I already have a child and I’m pregnant with another. My husband also needs to job. Regarding me going abroad to study, there are two options: either I quit the program or my husband quits his job. Both options are tough,” she said, adding she’s looking for a middle path.

Another student, who wants to pursue an MA in accounting and who did not want to give her name, said the Ministry of Higher Education needs to readdress the issue of having a male guardian. “Why don’t they allow us to go and stay at a university dormitory? Our male guardians cannot stay with us forever. They need to come back to the Kingdom,” she said.

Some students said their families are sending them with other siblings or are going with them, dropping them off and then visiting every so often. “In reality, we’re not badly affected by this issue,” said a medicine student.

The seminar, which aims to familiarize students with what to expect when abroad, will continue until Thursday and thereafter move to Alkhobar. It has already been held in Riyadh.