Study in Saudi Arabia: 4 ways to know if it’s right for you

Sponsored by Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University    

As the birthplace of Islam and one of the world’s largest oil producers, Saudi Arabia is a unique and interesting study destination for international students.  

Located in the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, Saudi Arabia is home to many top universities, including 31 that feature in the most recent QS Arab Region University Rankings. 

Among these is Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU), a non-profit private university in Al-Jhobar, Saudi Arabia. PMU strives to maintain its position as a world-class university for education, research and service, equipping students with the lifelong learning skills and competencies to become successful and responsible leaders in their communities.   

Considering Saudi Arabia as a study destination? Here are four ways to know if it is the right fit for you. 

Saudi Arabia is continually improving and developing its education, introducing new, top-of-the-range facilities and achieving consistently high standards of teaching. 

Saudi Arabia invests a lot in education, with its wealth mainly coming from the country’s vast fuel reserves. Government expenditure on education in Saudi Arabia is reported at around eight percent of its GDP, significantly higher than the OECD average of approximately five percent.   

PMU has a highly innovative student-led approach to teaching. Each of the university’s programmes have learning outcomes that are in line with the national and international competencies set by the NCAAA, so students can be sure they are getting an internationally recognised education.  

The university has six designated learning outcomes which address the soft skills graduates need to be successful in their careers in Saudi Arabia: 

• Communication: Communicate effectively in both English and Arabic in professional and social situations 
• Technological competence: Use modern technologies to acquire information, communicate, solve problems and produce results 
• Critical thinking: Make informed and responsible decisions and achieve goals 
• Professional competence: Perform professional responsibilities effectively in both local and international contexts 
• Teamwork: Work effectively with others to accomplish tasks and achieve group goals 
• Leadership: Be informed, effective, and responsible leaders in the community and the Kingdom 

PMU uses the latest technology in education to further enhance the learning experience for students and give them access to university resources from their homes, such as the online courseware application Blackboard, video conferencing, smart boards and an e-library.