COMPLETING THE ONLINE APPLICATION

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Read all instructions carefully before completing the application

If you have any questions or problems, please contact the KAUST advising staff at
admissions@kaust.edu.sa

STEP 1: Record user ID and password in a safe place

Your email address is your user ID. When you create an account for the on-line
application, you must identify a password. Keep this information in a safe place. You can
log in and out of the application as frequently as you like; however, you must have your
User ID and password to do so. While you cannot change your User ID, you can change
your password, if necessary, by clicking on “Update My Account” at the top of the Home
page of the application.

STEP 2: Complete the application

You do not need to complete this application during one session. You can re-enter your
application as many times as you like before submitting it. But remember: once you
submit your application, you can make NO MORE changes to it.
All forms in this application are to be completed in English. Items must be answered
completely and carefully.

Some helpful “tips”:

• Avoid using all capital letters when answering items, it is better to use upper and lower
case, e.g., Ron Smith.
• In the text boxes, you must limit your responses to the space provided.
Information that exceeds the space provided will not display or print.
• You can review each page of the application in its PDF format by clicking on the
Preview button on the upper right-hand corner.
• Preview your application to be sure that all of your text will be viewable to the selection
panel members.
• Closing out of the PDF view will bring you back to your application.
• The Application Inspector button on the Home page will check your application for
completeness and prompt you to enter any missing information on required questions.
If specific instructions for completing a question or item are provided in the application
itself, please read them carefully. In addition, please review the following important
information.
University Transcripts: You must send your transcripts electronically by scanning
official copies of your university transcripts and then attaching them to this online
application. Include a description of the grading scale used; this is sometimes
located on the back of transcripts. You must also send an official transcript from
your university to the KAUST admissions office:

KAUST Admissions
EECS Department
1301 Beal Avenue, Rm 3213
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122
U.S.A.

Transcripts must list the subjects you studied and the grades you received during each
year of your university enrollment. You may also include a letter of class rank if
available. Scanned transcripts should be in a MS Word, PDF, TIFF, or JPG format and
should be two megabytes or smaller. PDF file sizes can be reduced in Adobe Acrobat
by selecting Advanced >> PDF Optimizer, and editing the pixels per square cm/inch.
Once you have uploaded your document, please click the preview button in the
upper right-hand corner to verify that your attachment can be easily read.

Required Tests: All official test results must be mailed to the Ann Arbor address
for verification and in order for your application to be considered complete.

Tests of English Language Proficiency: KAUST will conduct all courses and activities
in English only. Successful applicants must have strong English language ability to take
advanced coursework.

Applicants must submit a valid Internet-Based TOEFL (IBT) or IELTS score. KAUST
requires a minimum score of 79 TOEFL Internet-Based test, or 6.0 IELTS. A TOEFL or
IELTS score is not required if the applicant is a native speaker of English or attended a
university in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. We
will consider test scores from any year.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): This exam is jointly managed
by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council, and IDP: IELTS
Australia. For further information, go to www.ielts.org/.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): This exam is administered by the

Educational Testing Service. For further information, go to www.toefl.org/.
Copies of your TOEFL or IELTS scorecard can be attached to your online application.
Students who are offered the award must submit original copies before becoming
grantees.

GRE You must scan a copy of your GRE score report into the application and have an
official test result mailed to the admissions office in Ann Arbor.
Letters of Reference/Recommendation: You must have 3-6 letters of reference
submitted on your behalf. Letters of reference are extremely important. They should be
written by professors or advisors under whom you have pursued research or taken
courses in your major field of study. Letters of reference should not be written by
persons related to you either by blood or marriage or by personal friends. The letters
should be written in English if possible. If they are not, a professional English translation
must be provided.

Your recommenders must complete the forms online and submit electronically. You must
click on the Recommendation button on the Home page of this application to register
your recommenders. By doing this, they will receive an email with instructions regarding
letter submission.
Note: Any letters received by mail only will be discarded and not considered.

Statement of Purpose: The information you provide in your statement of purpose is an

essential part of your application. Leave a 1.5 inch (4cm) margin at the top of every page
if you upload the essay from an off-line document to allow space for the header that will
appear on the print version of your application. Review your essay by clicking on the
Preview button.

NOTE: You have two ways in which you can create your essay.
• You can compose your essay on-line. Please note, there is a 40-minute "time
out" function. In other words, you will need to either complete your essay in 40
minutes or periodically save your essay. You will not be able to customize the
formatting of your essay.
• You can upload text from another document. This is the only option where you
will be able to have special formatting, e.g. bold, underline, headers, double-
spacing. While you cannot edit an uploaded document on-line, you can delete
your upload, make your corrections in your document off-line, and upload again.

Please click the PREVIEW button on the essay page to review your essay. You must
use the "Back" browser button to return to your essay. Closing out of this view will exit
you from your application.

STEP 3: Application inspector

Before you can electronically submit your application, it will automatically be reviewed for
completeness. If there is missing data, you will be prompted to add specific items.

STEP 4: Review and print your application

Review a PDF version of your application and print a copy for your records.

STEP 5: Submit your application

After completing this application and thoroughly reviewing it, submit it electronically to
the KAUST Application Office.
Note carefully, after submitting your application electronically, you will be able to access
it in a printable PDF format. However, you will not be able to make changes to your
application.
Materials to be mailed include:
1) Official GRE scores
2) Official English language exam scores -- TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable)
3) Official transcript(s)

The mailing address is:

KAUST Admissions
EECS Department
1301 Beal Avenue, Rm 3213
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122
U.S.A.

If you have any questions during the on-line application process, please email KAUST
application advisors at: admissions@kaust.edu.sa