Saudi Arabia

International Scholarship Scheme Extended to 2020

Originally slated to last just five years, form 2005 to 2010, the King Abdullah Scholarship Program, it was announced earlier this year, will run at least until 2020, extending it well beyond 2012 – the date the program had last been extended to.

The Saudi government invests a hefty 9 billion SAR (over US$2.5 billion) in the program each year, and this has so far provided full funding for 125,000 students – for both undergraduate and graduate programs abroad. At present, the undergraduate fields of study are limited to medicine, medical science and health sciences; however, more options exist for graduate studies.

The Ministry of Higher Education website details which countries currently qualify to receive students.

– ICEF Monitor
February 27, 2012

United Arab Emirates

International Universities Building Purpose-Built Campuses

Building on the successes that campuses have enjoyed in enrolling students in Dubai, a number have upped their investment in the region by constructing purpose-built campuses in Dubai International Academic City. These include the Indian schools, BITS Pilani and Manipal, and Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University. And now, India’s Amity University is looking at the possibility of joining them with a proposed campus to be completed by 2015, according to the Khaleej Times.

Dubai is a part of Amtiy’s growing network of international campuses, with additional plans reportedly being looked at to open campuses in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina and other countries in central Asia. The campus in Dubai opened last year with more than 100 students in the first batch.

– Khaleej Times
April 19, 2012