Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia for international students 2026/27: Sharia, Quran, Hadith, Arabic — every program and scholarship
99 Islamic-sciences and Arabic programs on Study in Saudi · 82 tuition-free · 6 on a full scholarship · 13 institutions · bachelor's, master's, PhD and Arabic institutes
الشريعة والدراسات الإسلامية في السعودية
Sharia in Makkah or Madinah is why most of our applicants look at Saudi Arabia in the first place. We exported every program of the 2026/27 intake from the official Study in Saudi portal and picked out everything in Islamic sciences and Arabic that is open to internationals: 99 programs at 13 institutions. The headline: this is the most scholarship-friendly field on the portal — 82 of 99 programs are tuition-free, 6 of them with the full package. But three conditions rarely get mentioned: everything is taught in Arabic, most of the list is master's and PhD level, and the Islamic University of Madinah's bachelor's degrees are not on the portal at all. Below — every university, every field, the exact scholarship package, and who fits what.
The essentials: Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia for international students
- 82 of 99 programs are tuition-free. 6 on a full scholarship (housing, stipend, flights, medical care): Princess Nourah University, Jouf and Northern Border. The other 76 are "partial": tuition is free, while stipend, flights and housing depend on the university and level.
- Four major centres: Umm al-Qura in Makkah (25 programs), the Islamic University of Madinah (22), Imam University in Riyadh (15), Qassim in Buraydah (13). Together they account for 75 of 99 programs.
- Bachelor's — only 31 programs, 24 of them free. Most of the list is master's (22) and PhD (31). If you only hold a school certificate, your real choice is the bachelor's table below.
- The Islamic University of Madinah lists only master's and PhD programs on the portal, men only. Its bachelor's degrees (Sharia, Quran, Hadith, Da'wah, the Arabic institute) are admitted through the university's own portal; its remote bachelor's in Sharia is covered in a separate article.
- Everything is in Arabic. 93 of 99 programs are taught in Arabic; 4 University of Jeddah programs run in Arabic and English, and the only fully English-medium Sharia degree is a paid bachelor's at a private college in Madinah. No language yet — an Arabic institute first: 7 free programs for non-native speakers.
- No tests. The portal requires neither SAT nor IELTS; the only threshold is a 95%+ average for Princess Nourah bachelor's programs.
- 53 free programs are open to women, 75 to men. The only all-women institution is Princess Nourah University, on a full scholarship.
Universities: who opened what, and with which package
All 13 institutions of the intake with Islamic and Arabic programs for internationals. "Full" — tuition, housing, monthly stipend, flights and medical care; "partial" — tuition-free, with the rest as stated on the portal. Links go to the university profiles in our catalog.
| University | Programs | Scholarship / price | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umm al-Qura UniversityMecca Al Mukarama | 25bachelor's 8 · master's 8 · PhD 9 | Partial master's, PhD: tuition only bachelor's: stipend, flights, medical 1 program: stipend, medical * housing often provided in practice | men and women · none |
| Islamic University of MadinahAlmadinat Almunawara | 22higher diploma 2 · master's 11 · PhD 9 | Partial: stipend, flights | men · none |
| Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic UniversityRiyadh | 15diploma 1 · bachelor's 3 · PhD 11 | Partial: stipend, flights | men and women · none |
| Qassim UniversityBuraida | 13bachelor's 8 · master's 3 · PhD 2 | Partial bachelor's, master's, PhD: housing, stipend, flights 4 programs: stipend, flights | men and women · none |
| Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityRiyadh | 3diploma 1 · bachelor's 2 | Full: housing, stipend, flights, medical | women · none; avg ≥ 95% |
| Jouf UniversitySkaka | 1bachelor's 1 | Full: housing, stipend, flights, medical | men · none |
| Northern Border UniversityArar | 2bachelor's 2 | Full: housing, stipend, flights, medical | all · none |
| King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah | 1diploma 1 | Partial: stipend, flights, medical * housing often provided in practice | all · none |
| University of JeddahJeddah | 6associate diploma 2 · bachelor's 4 | 13,225 SAR – 26,105 SAR / yr | men and women · none |
| Private College of Law and Islamic SciencesAlmadinat Almunawara | 3bachelor's 3 | 28,848 SAR – 48,858 SAR / yr | all · none |
| Mustaqbal UniversityBuraida | 5preparatory 5 | 25,200 SAR / yr | all · none |
| Masader Alelm Higher Institute for TrainingBuraida | 2diploma 2 | 25,000 SAR – 35,000 SAR / yr | all · none |
| Effat UniversityJeddah | 1associate diploma 1 | 137,436 SAR / yr | all · none |
Umm al-Qura (Makkah) (25 programs)
The widest choice: 8 bachelor's programs — Sharia, aqidah, Quran and Sunnah, qira'at, da'wah, Arabic linguistics, rhetoric, teacher training for Arabic as a second language — plus 17 master's and PhDs. Bachelor's comes with a stipend, flights and medical care; "Quran and Sunnah" has no flights. Master's and PhD are a tuition waiver only. Housing is not in the portal package, but in practice Umm al-Qura has often provided accommodation to admitted internationals — we have seen many such cases. No tests, men and women.
Islamic University of Madinah (22 programs)
22 programs on the portal, all for men and all post-bachelor's: two one-year higher diplomas (language skills; da'wah and Islamic culture), 11 three-year master's (fiqh, aqidah, hadith, Islamic economics, judicial studies, linguistics, literature, the Arabic institute) and 9 PhDs of 4.5 years. Package: stipend and flights. Bachelor's admission runs separately through the university's own portal.
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (Riyadh) (15 programs)
Three classic bachelor's programs — Sharia, usul al-din, Arabic language — and a two-year Arabic diploma for non-native speakers as the entry point for those without the language; all with a stipend and flights, men and women. Plus 11 PhDs: fiqh, usul al-fiqh, comparative fiqh, Sunnah, da'wah, hisbah, Islamic culture, Arabic grammar, literature and rhetoric.
Qassim University (Buraydah) (13 programs)
Sharia, law (within the Sharia college), Islamic studies and Arabic — as separate programs for men and for women; men get housing, women do not. Master's and PhD: aqidah and contemporary doctrines, law, usul al-fiqh — with housing for everyone.
Full scholarship: Princess Nourah, Jouf, Northern Border (6 programs)
These are the only programs in the field with the full package — housing, stipend, flights, medical care. Princess Nourah University (Riyadh, women only): Arabic and Islamic studies — bachelor's with a 95%+ average, and a two-year Arabic diploma with no threshold. Jouf (Sakaka): Sharia for men. Northern Border (Arar): Islamic studies and Arabic for non-native speakers, open to all, no tests.
Fields: Sharia, fiqh, Quran, Hadith, aqidah, da'wah, Arabic
The same 99 programs grouped by field, so you can see where a specific specialty lives — qira'at, for instance, exist only in Makkah, Jeddah and Buraydah, while Islamic economics only in Madinah.
| Field | Programs | Levels | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) | 6free 6 | master's 2 · PhD 4 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Imam University, Qassim |
| Qira'at (Quranic readings) | 6free 3 | associate diploma 1 · preparatory 1 · bachelor's 2 · master's 1 · PhD 1 | Umm al-Qura, University of Jeddah, Mustaqbal |
| Quran and tafsir | 5free 4 | bachelor's 2 · master's 1 · PhD 2 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, University of Jeddah |
| Hadith and Sunnah | 7free 6 | preparatory 1 · master's 2 · PhD 4 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Imam University, Mustaqbal |
| Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) | 5free 5 | master's 2 · PhD 3 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Imam University |
| Aqidah, sects and religions | 9free 9 | bachelor's 1 · master's 5 · PhD 3 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Qassim |
| Da'wah and Islamic culture | 8free 8 | higher diploma 1 · bachelor's 1 · master's 2 · PhD 4 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Imam University |
| Judicial studies and hisbah | 2free 2 | master's 1 · PhD 1 | IU Madinah, Imam University |
| Islamic economics | 1free 1 | master's 1 | IU Madinah |
| Law (Sharia college) | 4free 3 | bachelor's 3 · master's 1 | Qassim, Private College (Madinah) |
| Islamic studies (general) | 9free 7 | preparatory 1 · bachelor's 6 · PhD 2 | IU Madinah, Imam University, Qassim, Princess Nourah, Northern Border, University of Jeddah, Mustaqbal |
| Sharia | 8free 5 | preparatory 1 · bachelor's 7 | Umm al-Qura, Imam University, Qassim, Jouf, Private College (Madinah), Mustaqbal |
| Arabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) | 12free 7 | diploma 5 · associate diploma 2 · higher diploma 1 · preparatory 1 · bachelor's 2 · master's 1 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Imam University, Princess Nourah, Northern Border, KAU (Jeddah), University of Jeddah, Mustaqbal, Masader Alelm, Effat |
| Arabic language and literature | 17free 16 | bachelor's 7 · master's 3 · PhD 7 | Umm al-Qura, IU Madinah, Imam University, Qassim, Princess Nourah, University of Jeddah |
Bachelor's on a scholarship: every free program (24)
The main list for those holding a school certificate — by university. Each block's header shows the scholarship package, who is admitted and tests; a program is tagged only where it differs. Under each name — field and duration.
- Aqidah 'Islamic Creed'Aqidah, sects and religions · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Arabic Linguistics, and Arabic Morphology and SyntaxArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Islamic Call' and Islamic CultureDa'wah and Islamic culture · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Preparing teachers of Arabic as a second languagemenArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Quranic RecitationsQira'at (Quranic readings) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Rhetoric and CriticismArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Shari'a 'Islamic LawSharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- The Quran and SunnahPartial: stipend, medicalQuran and tafsir · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Arabic LanguageArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Fundamentals of ReligionIslamic studies (general) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- ShariaSharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Languages and Humanities – Arabic Language and Literature – BuraydahArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Languages and Humanities – Arabic Language and Literature – BuraydahPartial: housing, stipend, flightsmenArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Sharia – Islamic Studies – BuraydahIslamic studies (general) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Sharia – Islamic Studies – BuraydahPartial: housing, stipend, flightsmenIslamic studies (general) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Sharia – Law – BuraydahPartial: housing, stipend, flightsmenLaw (Sharia college) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Sharia – Law – BuraydahLaw (Sharia college) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Sharia – Sharia – BuraydahPartial: housing, stipend, flightsmenSharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Sharia – Sharia – BuraydahSharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Arabic LanguageArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Islamic StudiesIslamic studies (general) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- ShariaSharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Arabic for Non-Native SpeakersArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Islamic StudiesIslamic studies (general) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
Arabic institutes and diplomas: the entry point without Arabic (12)
Without academic-level Arabic, applying straight to Sharia is pointless — but there is a legitimate route in: Arabic programs for non-native speakers. 7 are free, and graduates usually move on to a bachelor's at the same university. Note the bachelor's in Arabic for non-native speakers at Northern Border University — a full scholarship with housing and no tests.
| University | Program | Level | Scholarship / price | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umm al-Qura UniversityMecca Al Mukarama | Preparing teachers of Arabic as a second language | Bachelor4 yrs | Partial: stipend, flights, medical | men |
| Islamic University of MadinahAlmadinat Almunawara | المهارات اللغوية | Higher Diploma1 yr | Partial: stipend, flights | men |
| Islamic University of MadinahAlmadinat Almunawara | معهد تعليم اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بها | Master3 yrs | Partial: stipend, flights | men |
| Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic UniversityRiyadh | Department of Arabic Language Teaching | Diploma2 yrs | Partial: stipend, flights | all |
| Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityRiyadh | Arabic Language Diploma | Diploma2 yrs | Full: housing, stipend, flights, medical | women |
| Northern Border UniversityArar | Arabic for Non-Native Speakers | Bachelor4 yrs | Full: housing, stipend, flights, medical | all |
| King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah | Arabic Language for Non Native Speakers | Diploma2 yrs | Partial: stipend, flights, medical | all |
| University of JeddahJeddah | Associate Diploma of Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Language | Associate Diploma1 yr | 13,225 SAR / yr | all |
| Mustaqbal UniversityBuraida | Qualifying Program in Arabic Language | Preparatory / qualifying1 yr | 25,200 SAR / yr | all |
| Masader Alelm Higher Institute for TrainingBuraida | Arabic as a Second Language | Diploma1 yr | 25,000 SAR / yr | all |
| Masader Alelm Higher Institute for TrainingBuraida | Arabic as a Second Language (including accommodation and transportation) | Diploma1 yr | 35,000 SAR / yr | all |
| Effat UniversityJeddah | Arabic as a Foreign Language | Associate Diploma1 yr · English | 137,436 SAR / yr | all |
The Islamic University of Madinah's Arabic institute appears on the portal only as a master's program; admission to the institute itself runs through the university's portal — how it works in 2026 is described in our news piece on the institute's remote year.
Master's and PhD: 22 + 31 programs, 53 free
The largest part of the list — for those who already hold a bachelor's in Sharia or Arabic. Packages differ a lot: the Islamic University of Madinah and Imam University give a stipend and flights, Qassim gives housing, and Umm al-Qura is, per the portal, a tuition waiver only (although in practice the university often does provide housing in Makkah). Expand a university to see its programs.
Umm al-Qura University — Mecca Al Mukarama: 17 programs · free
- Master · 8
- Arabic LinguisticsArabic language and literature · 2 yrs
- CreedAqidah, sects and religions · 2 yrs
- Da'Wa And Islamic CultureDa'wah and Islamic culture · 2 yrs
- Fundamentals Of JurisprudenceUsul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) · 2 yrs
- Hadith And Its SciencesHadith and Sunnah · 2 yrs
- Interpretation And Quran SciencesQuran and tafsir · 2 yrs
- JurisprudenceFiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) · 2 yrs
- ReadingsQira'at (Quranic readings) · 2 yrs
- PhD · 9
- Arabic LinguisticsArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
- CreedAqidah, sects and religions · 3 yrs
- Da'Wa And Islamic CultureDa'wah and Islamic culture · 3 yrs
- Fundamentals Of JurisprudenceUsul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
- Hadith And Its SciencesHadith and Sunnah · 3 yrs
- Interpretation And Quran SciencesQuran and tafsir · 3 yrs
- JurisprudenceFiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
- Literature, Criticism And RhetoricArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
- ReadingsQira'at (Quranic readings) · 3 yrs
Islamic University of Madinah — Almadinat Almunawara: 20 programs · free
- Master · 11
- الأدب والبلاغةArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
- الأديان والمذاهب الفكريةAqidah, sects and religions · 3 yrs
- الاقتصاد الاسلاميIslamic economics · 3 yrs
- الثقافة الإسلاميةDa'wah and Islamic culture · 3 yrs
- الدراسات القضائيةJudicial studies and hisbah · 3 yrs
- العقيدةAqidah, sects and religions · 3 yrs
- الفرق والمقالاتAqidah, sects and religions · 3 yrs
- الفقهFiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
- اللغوياتArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
- علوم الحديثHadith and Sunnah · 3 yrs
- معهد تعليم اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بهاArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · 3 yrs
- PhD · 9
- أصول التربية الإسلاميةIslamic studies (general) · 4.5 yrs
- أصول الفقهUsul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) · 4.5 yrs
- الأدب والبلاغةArabic language and literature · 4.5 yrs
- التفسير وعلوم القرآنQuran and tafsir · 4.5 yrs
- الدعوة والثقافة الإسلاميةDa'wah and Islamic culture · 4.5 yrs
- الفرق والمقالاتAqidah, sects and religions · 4.5 yrs
- اللغوياتArabic language and literature · 4.5 yrs
- علوم الحديثHadith and Sunnah · 4.5 yrs
- فقه السنة ومصادرهاHadith and Sunnah · 4.5 yrs
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University — Riyadh: 11 programs · free
- PhD · 11
- أصول الفقهUsul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
- الأدب والنقدArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
- البلاغة والنقدArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
- الثقافة الإسلاميةDa'wah and Islamic culture · 3 yrs
- الحسبة والرقابةJudicial studies and hisbah · 3 yrs
- الدراسات الإسلامية المعاصرةIslamic studies (general) · 3 yrs
- الدعوةDa'wah and Islamic culture · 3 yrs
- السنة وعلومهاHadith and Sunnah · 3 yrs
- الفقهFiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
- الفقه المقارنmenFiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
- النحو والصرف وفقه اللغةArabic language and literature · 3 yrs
Qassim University — Buraida: 5 programs · free
- Master · 3
- Sharia - Creed and Contemporary DoctrinesAqidah, sects and religions · 2 yrs
- Sharia - LawLaw (Sharia college) · 2 yrs
- Sharia - Principles of Islamic JurisprudenceUsul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) · 2 yrs
- PhD · 2
- Sharia - Creed and Contemporary DoctrinesAqidah, sects and religions · 3 yrs
- Sharia - Principles of Islamic JurisprudenceUsul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) · 3 yrs
Paid programs (17)
For completeness — everything the portal offers in Islamic sciences and Arabic for a fee: from 13,225 SAR to 137,436 SAR a year. With 82 free programs, paying makes sense in two cases: you need English-medium instruction (Private College of Law and Islamic Sciences, Madinah) or specifically Jeddah (University of Jeddah). Mustaqbal University programs are labelled "partial scholarship" on the portal — that is a discount, not a scholarship in the usual sense.
- Associate Diploma in Qur'anic Recitations13,225 SAR / yrQira'at (Quranic readings) · associate diploma · 1 yr
- Associate Diploma of Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Language13,225 SAR / yrArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · associate diploma · 1 yr
- Arabic LanguagewomenArabic language and literature · bachelor's · 4 yrs · Arabic + English
- Quran Interpretation and SciencesQuran and tafsir · bachelor's · 4 yrs · Arabic + English
- Quranic ReadingsQira'at (Quranic readings) · bachelor's · 4 yrs · Arabic + English
- Sharia and Islamic StudiesIslamic studies (general) · bachelor's · 4 yrs · Arabic + English
- Bachelor of Sharia (in Arabic)Sharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Bachelor of Sharia (in English)Sharia · bachelor's · 4 yrs · English
- Bachelor of Laws (in Arabic)48,858 SAR / yrLaw (Sharia college) · bachelor's · 4 yrs
- Qualifying Program in Arabic LanguageArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · preparatory · 1 yr
- Qualifying Program in Islamic StudiesIslamic studies (general) · preparatory · 1 yr
- Qualifying Program in Prophetic SunnahHadith and Sunnah · preparatory · 1 yr
- Qualifying Program in Qiraat (Quranic Readings)Qira'at (Quranic readings) · preparatory · 1 yr
- Qualifying Program in ShariaSharia · preparatory · 1 yr
- Arabic as a Second LanguageArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · diploma · 1 yr
- Arabic as a Second Language (including accommodation and transportation)35,000 SAR / yrArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · diploma · 1 yr
- Arabic as a Foreign LanguageArabic for non-native speakers (institutes and diplomas) · associate diploma · 1 yr · English
Who fits what: four scenarios
- School certificate + Arabic. Target the full-scholarship bachelor's programs: Sharia at Jouf (men), Islamic studies at Northern Border (all), Arabic and Islamic studies at Princess Nourah (women, 95%+ average). Then Umm al-Qura (Sharia, aqidah, Quran and Sunnah, qira'at, da'wah), Imam University (Sharia, usul al-din, Arabic), Qassim. All of them fit in one application.
- School certificate, no Arabic. Start with a non-native Arabic diploma at Imam University or King Abdulaziz University (2 years, with a stipend), the Princess Nourah diploma for women, or go straight for the bachelor's in Arabic for non-native speakers at Northern Border. In parallel, apply to the Islamic University of Madinah's Arabic institute through its own portal.
- Bachelor's in Sharia or Arabic. 53 free master's and PhDs. Men — the Islamic University of Madinah (stipend and flights) and Imam University PhDs; everyone — Qassim (with housing) and Umm al-Qura (no stipend, but it is Makkah).
- One application — 25 programs. Build the package: 2–3 full scholarships, 5–10 partial ones in Makkah, Riyadh and Qassim, 1–2 Arabic programs as a fallback entry. The portal adds programs throughout the window — if new ones appear, we will update this article and post on Telegram.
The full list of scholarship programs in this intake across all fields is in "Saudi Arabia scholarships 2026/27: all free-tuition programs"; documents and filing in the Study in Saudi guide; medicine in a separate breakdown. University profiles are in the university catalog.
Why apply with Yusr
Because we treat every applicant individually. Before filing, we send you the full list of universities and programs we intend to apply to, wait for your approval — and only then submit. No surprises in the application: you see and confirm every one of the 25 programs.
FAQ: Islamic universities and Sharia for international students
Can international students study Sharia in Saudi Arabia for free in 2026/27?
Yes — it is the most scholarship-friendly field on the Study in Saudi portal. Of 99 Islamic-sciences and Arabic programs open to internationals, 82 are tuition-free: 6 on a full scholarship (tuition, housing, monthly stipend, flights, medical care) and 76 on a partial one — tuition, stipend and flights, with the exact set varying by university. For comparison, medicine has 10 free programs out of 79, none of them clinical.
Which Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia admit international students through Study in Saudi?
In the 2026/27 intake 13 institutions opened Islamic sciences and Arabic. The main ones are Umm al-Qura in Makkah (25 programs), the Islamic University of Madinah (22), Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh (15) and Qassim University (13). Full scholarships come from Princess Nourah University (women), Jouf University and Northern Border University.
Is the Islamic University of Madinah bachelor's degree on Study in Saudi?
The Islamic University of Madinah lists 22 programs on the portal — all of them higher diplomas, master's and PhDs, men only. Its bachelor's programs (Sharia, Quran, Hadith, Da'wah, the Arabic language institute) are admitted through the university's own admission portal, not Study in Saudi. There is also a remote bachelor's in Sharia, covered in a separate article.
What does a "partial scholarship" mean on Islamic programs?
Tuition is free either way. The difference is the package: Umm al-Qura bachelor's programs come with a stipend, flights and medical care but no housing; Imam University gives a stipend and flights; Qassim provides housing for men but not for women. Umm al-Qura master's and PhD programs are a tuition waiver only — no stipend, no flights. That said, housing at Umm al-Qura and King Abdulaziz University — absent from the portal package — is often provided in practice; we have seen many such cases, though there is no guarantee. The exact package is shown in every block.
What is the language of instruction? Do I need Arabic?
93 of 99 programs are Arabic-only, 4 University of Jeddah programs run in Arabic and English (the only fully English-medium Sharia degree is a paid English-medium Bachelor of Sharia at a private college in Madinah). Without academic-level Arabic, applying for Sharia or Quran is pointless. For those who do not have the language yet there are 12 Arabic-for-non-native-speakers programs, 7 of them free: two-year diplomas at Imam University and King Abdulaziz University (KAU often provides housing in practice), a Princess Nourah diploma for women, and a full-scholarship bachelor's in Arabic for non-native speakers at Northern Border University.
Are SAT, IELTS or other tests required?
No. The portal lists no admission tests for Islamic and Arabic programs. The only numeric requirement is a high-school average of 95%+ for Princess Nourah University bachelor's programs. In practice universities check Arabic (interview or placement test) and look at the school certificate, recommendations and Quran memorisation.
What is open to women?
Of 82 free programs, 53 are open to women. Princess Nourah University is the only all-women institution: Arabic and Islamic studies on a full scholarship with housing. Also Umm al-Qura, Imam University (bachelor's and PhD), Qassim (Sharia, law, Arabic — without housing) and the master's/PhD programs at Umm al-Qura and Qassim. Closed to women: the Islamic University of Madinah and Sharia at Jouf.
What is available with a bachelor's degree — master's and PhD?
This is the largest part of the list: 22 master's and 31 PhD programs, 53 of them free. The Islamic University of Madinah — 20 programs with a stipend and flights (men); Umm al-Qura — 17 programs but tuition waiver only; Imam University — 11 PhDs with a stipend and flights; Qassim — 5 with housing.
How much do the paid Islamic programs cost?
There are 17 paid programs, from 13,225 SAR to 137,436 SAR a year. The University of Jeddah — bachelor's in Sharia, tafsir, qira'at and Arabic at 26,105 SAR a year and one-year associate diplomas at 13,225 SAR; the Private College of Law and Islamic Sciences in Madinah — a Bachelor of Sharia in Arabic or English at 28,848 SAR. With 82 free programs available, paying for Sharia only makes sense for English-medium instruction or a specific city.
How many programs can I pick in one application?
Up to 25 programs in one Study in Saudi application. A sensible Sharia strategy: 2–3 full-scholarship universities (Jouf, Northern Border, Princess Nourah), then partial ones in Makkah, Riyadh and Qassim, and always 1–2 Arabic-for-non-native-speakers programs as a fallback entry.