The MIT Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Arabian Women brings Saudi women with a PhD to MIT for one or two years of research with an MIT faculty member. MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department runs it, and KACST sponsors it.
Fellows can join a lab in any research area at MIT and can also use its professional development and teaching programmes. Each cohort starts in September.
Benefits & funding
- One or two funded years of research at MIT with a faculty host. The pages give no stipend amount.
- Access to MIT’s shared research facilities and training in lab techniques.
- MIT courses, professional education and teaching programmes such as the Kaufman Teaching Certification Program.
- The programme matches each fellow with a lab and handles the appointment and visa process.
Eligibility
- Women with Saudi Arabian citizenship.
- A PhD earned within six years of the start date, or one awarded by the start date (for the 2027 cohort: 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2027).
- At least two accepted papers in peer-reviewed journals. First authorship is not required.
- Excellent English and a proven ability to do research.
- If you held a US J1 visa that has expired, you typically cannot get a new J1 until two years after it ended.
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.
“Ph.D. earned within 6 years of program start date or will receive Ph.D. by/before program start date (September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2027)” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Saudi Arabia
Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
Gender requirement
Female
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Application process
- 1Fill in the online form on the IBK site, including a research plan and the names of three MIT faculty in your field.
- 2Two referees send their letters to IBK themselves by the letters deadline.
- 3MIT holds video interviews with the top candidates.
- 4Fellows who are accepted are matched with a faculty host before the visa process starts.
Program timeline
24 November 2025
deadline for the last (2026) cycle
Late November 2026
2027 applications planned to open (deadline TBD)
video interviews (typical)
Late January
decisions
February 2027
fellowship starts
1 September 2027