Saudis studying abroad to get $2,000 bonus

Self-sponsored students to be integrated in state programmes

Every Saudi studying abroad will get a $2,000 (Dh7,340) bonus, under an order by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.

The decision applies to all Saudi students studying in accredited universities all over the world and follows a proposal presented to the king by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.

King Salman also approved another proposal by Crown Prince Mohammad to bring self-sponsored students under the King Salman scholarship programme provided they meet the criteria, the official news agency added.

Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in scholarship programmes, mainly in the US, sending students for degrees and training for advanced positions in the kingdom.

According to official figures, 114,000 Saudi students are enrolled in academic programmes in 22 countries and more than 74,000 relatives and family members have accompanied them.

More than 58,000 Saudi students are studying in various universities in the United States, 14,000 in the United Kingdom, 743 in France, 477 in China, 195 in Turkey and 100 in Belgium.

Out of 58,726 students in the United States, 43,188 are males and 15,538 females and they are accompanied by 33,856 family members.

Out of these 35,736 are studying for a bachelor’s degree, 7,122 for a master’s degree and 4,392 for a PhD.

Only 8,272 Saudi students studying in US are self-sponsored whereas the others are being sponsored by the state that pays for all their education and living expenses.

Most students are studying engineering and information technology (22,240) followed by management and finance (15,181) and human and social studies (8,528), medicine and medical sciences (7,685) and biology (2,154).

114,000

Saudi students are enrolled in 22 countries

58,726

Saudi students are studying in the United States