Higher education in Saudi Arabia is the educational stage that follows the three years of secondary education. Higher education institutions are either governmental institutions or private institutions, and are mainly universities, colleges, and academies. There are three higher educational levels in Saudi Arabia: bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctorate. Governmental universities in Saudi Arabia offer a free bachelor's degree education for Saudis and a monthly payment for each student during their studying period.[1]
A bachelor's degree in Saudi Arabia takes four years in humanities and social science majors; in medicine, pharmacology, engineering and applied sciences majors, it takes between five and six years of study. King Saud University was established in 1957;[2] the establishment of this university marked the beginning of the contemporary higher education in Saudi Arabia. King Saud University is the first established university in Arab States of the Persian Gulf.[3]
According to the governmental records, the number of Saudi students who registered for higher education in 2006 was 636,000 (268,000 were males, and 340,657 were females). 528,146 of them applied for a bachelor's degree, 9,768 applied for a master's degree, and 2,410 applied for a doctorate. In addition, 93,968 students applied for an intermediate diploma, and 1,953 students applied for a higher diploma.[4]
- ^ "Education in KSA". Archived from the original on 2019-10-22.
- ^ admin (2008-05-14). "Regional consultation on Curriculum Adaptation in the Gulf Region". International Bureau of Education. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Bashshur, Munir (2004). Higher Education in the Arab States. Saudi Arabia: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States.
- ^ "The Saudi Arabian Economy: Policies, Achievements and Challenges" (PDF).