King Khaled University (KKU) has offered 200 scholarships to Syrian students for the coming academic year, an official from the university said here.

This year about 3,000 Syrian students would be accepted for places at universities across the country under the education program approved by Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari, said Saad bin Mohammed Dajam, KKU's dean of admission.

Dajam said KKU would start accepting students for its courses who have come here on visit visas, from Ramadan 12 to 18.

He said Syrians would have to meet certain criteria before they are accepted at KKU, similar to those requirements for Saudi students seeking places at higher education institutions.

Those applying for bachelor's degrees must have high school diplomas, or equivalent. Those wanting to enroll for master's and doctoral degrees should have the appropriate undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

Those students coming from education institutions in Syria must have studied at least one semester there, recognized by the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education.

Students for undergraduate degrees and Arabic teacher training must be between the ages of 17 and 25. Students studying for master's degrees must not be older than 30, and for doctorates not older than 35.

Students should not have been expelled from any Saudi educational institution. Certificates and academic records must be authenticated by their academic institution, the Syrian Foreign Ministry and the Saudi Cultural Mission in Syria.

The benefits for students studying here include health care for them and their families and subsidized meals.