Top Ranked & Fully Funded MS/PhD - KAUST

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by AsianStew, Sep 22, 2021.

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  1. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    Interested in travels? If I was still in my mid 20's, this would have been the perfect program choice... a MS/PhD combo all paid for!

    Since it's not for me, someone should take advantage of this.
    Note: They seem to only offer Science and Technology programs only.

    I really liked their intro video and information on their webpage: https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/we-fund-your-future.html

    If you want more details on the country, here's the wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

    And yes, the program admissions are very selective. Make sure to have all your details up to date, there are requirements.
     
    AsianStew, Sep 22, 2021
    #1
    SteveFoerster likes this.
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Apparently, a lot of qualified people who aren't lucky enough to get full time faculty positions in the West have taken well paying positions at universities in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states. Fortune favors the flexible, I suppose?
     
    SteveFoerster, Sep 22, 2021
    #2
  3. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Fully funded in person PhD programs in science and tech are not exactly unheard of.
     
    Stanislav, Sep 22, 2021
    #3
    sanantone likes this.
  4. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    The introduction video seems to be unreal. First of all, isn't that women require to cover their hair? Most of the women in the video are not.

     
    TEKMAN, Sep 22, 2021
    #4
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    My understanding is that there are a few zones like this in Saudi Arabia for foreigners where things are slightly less restrictive in that regard. Although you'll notice they are all still dressed extremely modestly.
     
    SteveFoerster, Sep 22, 2021
    #5
  6. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    When I was in my mid-twenties, this is exactly what I did: found a program like this. In Florida. Slightly more appealing than the KSA, wouldn't you agree?
     
    Stanislav, Sep 22, 2021
    #6
  7. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    There are funded PhD programs in the U.S. and many countries around the world. Is there something about this program that makes it unique? I got paid to teach and be a research assistant in my PhD program here in the U.S., and I have far more rights here than I would in Saudi Arabia.
     
    sanantone, Sep 22, 2021
    #7
  8. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    When I was younger I considered trying to do graduate education in Saudi Arabia or another Middle Eastern country because I want to learn Arabic but I decided that it made me uncomfortable to feel like I'm supporting (or being supported by) the regime. I think when I'm older maybe I can spend 6 months or a year and do an intensive Arabic course in Jordan or another "friendly" ME country.

    Unrelated: I'm not sure how accurate the portrayal of Saudi Arabia is, but I really enjoyed the 2007 movie The Kingdom.
     
    Dustin, Sep 22, 2021
    #8
  9. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    I once applied for an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice position at King Fahd Security College. The University of New Haven does the recruitment. I got to the first interview round, and the interviewer said I'd be recommended for the second round. However, I never heard back. Maybe it was a good thing. My motivation was purely based on the great pay. I wanted to save a lot of money and come back to the U.S. after maybe five years. Despite the perception many may have of the Kingdom, much has changed and continue to change with the new crown prince, though he's no saint.
     
    chrisjm18, Sep 24, 2021
    #9
  10. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    I thought about applying to teach in the Gulf after getting my Canadian passport. Motivation was money, as well as the chance to get back to academia. My uncle taught math in Quatar (Sultan Quabooz University). From what I saw online, KSA did not appeal to me much, although it tends to have the best pay.
     
    Stanislav, Sep 24, 2021
    #10

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