KAUST Academy’s Artificial Intelligence Specialization takes Saudi students and recent graduates of Saudi universities from AI fundamentals to advanced topics, with capstone projects.
It runs in four stages, each ending in an assessment: self-paced Coursera prerequisites, a five-day introductory course, a four-day advanced course, and an eight-week summer program at a partner institution in Saudi Arabia or abroad.
Benefits & funding
- No tuition: the program is currently offered on a full scholarship.
- A certificate of completion for each stage completed.
- Summer-stage participants get on-campus accommodation at the partner institution.
- In the last cycle, those not selected after the placement test kept free Coursera access (200+ courses, free certificates) until August 2026.
Eligibility
- Saudi students or recent graduates of Saudi universities, in science or technology fields.
- Currently enrolled at university, or graduated within the past two years.
- Aged 18–30, inclusive.
- Each stage is open only to top performers in the previous stage’s assessment.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Saudi Arabia
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
Age requirement
18–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit the registration form while it is open; last cycle’s form was set to open in October and close a week later.
- 2Accept the Coursera invitation within 3 days (another passage says 5), or the seat passes to the waiting list.
- 3Finish one prerequisite track (Python Basics or Mathematics) to sit the placement test.
- 4Top scorers are invited to each in-person stage in turn.
Program timeline
Last cycle began
Oct 30, 2025
Last cycle’s registration closed
Nov 5, 2025
Placement test
December 2025
Eight-week summer stage began
June 2026
Last cycle ended
Aug 26, 2026