What are the general admission requirements to study Islamic studies at universities in Saudi Arabia?

Islamic studies programs in Saudi Arabia are almost entirely taught in Arabic, which changes the requirements list compared to a typical English taught foreign degree. Your qualification level and your Arabic ability both need to be addressed before an application will move forward.

Bachelor's Level Requirements

• Academic record: a recognised Class 10 and Class 12 certificate, attested according to Saudi requirements, usually obtained within the last five years.
• Grades: some programs specify a minimum percentage in your Class 12 marksheet.
• Age: undergraduate scholarship applicants commonly fall in a 17 to 25 year age band.

Master's Level Requirements

For postgraduate study, universities generally ask for a relevant bachelor's degree, such as Islamic Studies, Sharia, Arabic, or Theology, along with a minimum grade threshold and, at some institutions, an entrance exam. Umm Al Qura University's Deanship of Postgraduate Studies publishes course specific criteria that vary by department.

Arabic Language and Age Requirements

Because coursework is delivered in Arabic, non Arabic speaking applicants may need to sit an Arabic proficiency assessment, and strong Qur'anic Arabic reading ability is a real advantage even where it is not formally mandatory. Age limits mostly apply to government funded undergraduate scholarship routes rather than every self funded admission pathway.

Documents and Application Route

Typical documents include a passport copy, passport photographs, Class 10 and 12 certificates for bachelor's applicants or degree transcripts for postgraduate applicants, a good conduct certificate, a medical fitness certificate, and certified Arabic translations where required. Applications generally go through Saudi Arabia's official Study in Saudi portal or directly through a university's own admissions system. Established options include Islamic University of Madinah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, and Umm Al Qura University.

This Information Is Also Available On

Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia publishes national higher education enrollment guidance. Study in Saudi Arabia, the official government international admissions portal, lists program specific entry requirements. Umm Al Qura University's Deanship of Postgraduate Studies publishes its own postgraduate admission rules.

My Advice

Start your Arabic preparation well before you apply, even if a program does not list it as a strict requirement on paper; it makes a real difference to how comfortably you handle coursework once enrolled. If you are applying for a government scholarship route rather than self funded admission, double check the age cutoff early, since it can rule out otherwise strong applicants.