University of Manitoba - Graduate Studies -

King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP)


King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud created the King Abdullah Scholarship Program in 2005 as a way to establish sustainable human resources in the Kingdom. Since its inception, scholarship students from Saudi Arabia have been sent around the world to study degree programs in diverse areas of specializations.


Fellowship Details

Who is eligible: King Abdullah Scholarship Program students are only eligible to receive funding if they are enrolled in Canadian Institutions of Higher Learning and programs that have been pre-approved by the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry, whom the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau represents in Canada, does not approve King Abdullah Scholarship Program students to enroll in certificate or diploma programs, although exceptions can be made on a case by case basis. Therefore, after an Officer has assessed the student’s language abilities and academic background, they will recommend Ministry-approved schools/programs to students that align with the individual’s study interests and career goals.

Duration: Up to two years for master’s students and four years for PhD students. (In exceptional cases, the scholarship program can be extended.)

About the funder: : King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud created the King Abdullah Scholarship Program in 2005 as a way to establish sustainable human resources in the Kingdom. Since its inception, scholarship students from Saudi Arabia have been sent around the world to study degree programs in diverse areas of specializations.

The King Abdullah Scholarship Program includes:

  • Coverage of tuition for academic programs
  • A monthly stipend to cover living expenses
  • Health insurance for students and their dependents
  • Coverage of fees for language training* and other preparations.
  • Bench Fees ($5,000/Masters and $10,000/PhD) to graduate supervisors to help cover the costs of consumable materials used for research.

The scholarship program covers up to two years for Master’s and four years for Ph.D. In exceptional cases, the scholarship program can be extended.

 *As most scholarship students are studying in countries that do not have Arabic as an official language, the scholarship also supports students to become completely fluent in the language of the host country. In Canada, most scholarship students choose to become fluent in English while a small number choose to study in French.

For more details:
Saudi Ministry of Higher Education Website or
Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada ~ Admissions Reference Guide 2014 or
Admissions Liaison Officers provide advice to students regarding the application process (via email, telephone or in person) at the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Ottawa.