Funding & benefits
USD 75,000 / annual stipend
Airfare / travel support
Eligible programmes & fields
ScholarshipFrontier is continuing to check the provider’s official programme information. The verified fields above can still be used for an initial subject-fit check; confirm the final eligible degree on the official source before applying.
About the scholarship
Three-year competitive postdoctoral fellowship supporting independent early-career researchers at KAUST with salary/stipend, research funding and comprehensive benefits.
Depending on the award tier or route, verified benefits include USD 75,000 / annual stipend, travel support. The opportunity currently maps to study areas including Research areas aligned with KAUST. Use the programme and eligibility sections below to decide whether the opportunity matches your academic background before opening the official application portal.
Key dates
Eligibility requirements
- Must have been awarded a Ph.D. degree, within four calendar years (i.e., those applying in January 2027, must have received their Ph.D. after January 2023 inclusive);
- Must expect to complete their Ph.D. before the start of their Fellowship;
- Must be ready to move to KAUST to undertake their proposed three-year research project*;
- Must identify in the application up to two KAUST faculty members whose research aligns with the proposed work. (Securing the support of a Host PI from among these faculty members is required at a later stage in order to be invited to submit a full proposal.)
- People of all nationalities are welcome to apply. We encourage female applications to promote a better gender balance in science and engineering.
- *Candidates must satisfy all Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requirements to obtain resident status.
- Focus on one or more of the KAUST research missions: Water, Food, Health, Energy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Red Sea;
- Have an outline for a three-year duration;
- Follow the budget and financial guidelines of the call;
- Use the provided Call 2027 templates for the Letter of Intent and the Full Research Proposal (by invitation only)
- Align with the programs of the KAUST academic divisions: Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE), Physical Science and Engineering (PSE), and Biomedical Sciences Division (BioMed).
- Doctoral degree or equivalent early-career research qualification meeting fellowship eligibility requirements.
- Application and proposal must be in English.
Should you apply?
Likely a good fit if
- You are looking for Postdoctoral funding.
- Your intended study area is related to Research areas aligned with KAUST.
- Your prior academic background meets the stated degree requirement.
- You can satisfy the stated English-language requirement.
- You want a fully funded route rather than tuition-only support.
- You are prepared to study in Saudi Arabia.
Review carefully if
- Applicants who do not hold the required prior degree/background may not be eligible.
- Applicants who cannot meet the stated language requirement should review the official waiver/rule carefully.
This is a factual screening summary based on the verified eligibility information above; the awarding institution makes the final eligibility decision.
Required documents
- Use the provided Call 2027 templates for the Letter of Intent and the Full Research Proposal (by invitation only)
- Most recent CV with list of publications (max 4 pages)
- Two reference letters
Application process
Submit concept note between 1 September and 1 October 2026
Identify up to two relevant KAUST faculty members
If invited and supported by a host PI, submit full proposal between 15 November 2026 and 15 January 2027
Official sources & verification
ScholarshipFrontier checks official scholarship, admissions and programme pages and keeps source evidence separate from the public summary.
Official sources last checked: 17 Aug 2026