KAUST Academy’s Artificial Intelligence Specialization is a beginner-level program of at least 10 weeks for Saudi university students and recent graduates in science- or technology-related fields. It moves from self-paced online prerequisites to selective, instructor-led in-person training.
Assessments determine progression through four stages, ending with an eight-week summer program for the highest-performing participants. The final stage may take place at a KAUST Academy partner institution in Saudi Arabia or abroad.
Benefits & funding
- KAUST Academy states that the specialization is offered with a full scholarship to talented students at Saudi universities.
- Participants receive a certificate of completion after successfully completing each online or in-person stage.
- In the latest cycle, students who completed the Coursera prerequisites retained free access to more than 200 courses, specializations and guided projects, with free certificates, through August 2026.
- Participants selected for the eight-week summer stage receive on-campus accommodation and institutional privileges at a partner institution.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be Saudi nationals who are currently enrolled at a Saudi university or who graduated from one within the previous two years.
- Applicants must be 18–30 years old, inclusive.
- The eligible academic fields are science and technology-related disciplines; KAUST Academy does not specify a degree level.
- Applicants must complete the assigned Coursera prerequisite track and pass each stage’s assessment to advance.
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 · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
Age requirement
18–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Monitor the official program page; registration is currently described as opening soon, with no exact reopening date published.
- 2Submit the registration form when KAUST Academy reopens applications.
- 3If invited, accept the KAUST Academy/Coursera access promptly and complete either the Python Basics or Mathematics prerequisite track. The official page currently gives conflicting three-day and five-day windows for Coursera enrollment, so applicants should follow the deadline in their invitation email.
- 4Complete the placement test and subsequent assessments; only top-performing participants advance to the in-person stages and summer program.
Program timeline
Latest confirmed cycle began.
Oct 30, 2025
Latest confirmed application deadline.
Nov 5, 2025
Stage 1 prerequisite courses were scheduled for completion.
Early November 2025
Stage 2 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
During university breaks in 2025/2026
Stage 3 Advanced AI Course.
During university breaks in 2026
Eight-week Stage 4 AI Summer Program began.
June 2026
Latest confirmed cycle ends.
Aug 26, 2026
Next cycle
Registration will open soon; KAUST Academy has not published an exact date.