Assistant Cultural Attaché for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the US Embassy in Washington Abdul Ramhan bin Muhammad Al-Subayyil said the seventh year of the King Abdullah Scholarship Project for Studies Abroad, which commenced a few days ago, enrolled 6,300 new students to join US universities.

Six years ago, when the project started in 2005, there were only 2,500 students subscribed and the present figures reveal how much they have increased in the US alone, he added. Director of Cultural and Social Affairs at the mission Moudi Al-Khalaf said in a statement earlier that the number of Saudi women students in the US was not that significant compared to other countries where Saudi students are studying.

She added that 21 percent of all students on the project in 30 countries are women.

“A vigorous women’s education program has resulted in the number of girl students reaching 49 percent of the entire student force in the Kingdom,” she said, adding that women are also actively participating in business activities as well as occupying key government positions.

Al-Subayyil said a major challenge that a Saudi student faced in the US was mastering the English language. "The attaché’s office always urged Saudi students to strive to acquire the language skills from the start. They should practice the language apart from attending the language institute regularly. They will have to read newspapers and other publications extensively, listen to the radio and television in addition to practice the spoken language." These are tips to students so that they learn the language easily and join a university without delay, he added.