The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that it is offering 265 fully funded scholarships for Filipino students to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at Saudi Arabian universities.

In a press conference held at the Saudi Arabian Embassy on Wednesday, Ambassador Faisal Ebraheem Alghamdi, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of the Philippines, said these scholarships will be available at 25 accredited universities across the Kingdom.

"These opportunities will enable Filipino students to join prestigious Saudi universities, where they will study alongside peers from around the world in academic environments that seamlessly blend tradition and innovation, offering an enriching educational experience unlike any other," Alghamdi told reporters.

The study program, which has been jointly implemented by the two countries for over 30 years, offers a comprehensive support package for scholars.

Alghamdi emphasized that such initiatives, like the scholarship program, are part of a long-standing commitment between the two countries to support each other in the field of education.

"The educational ties between the Kingdom and the Republic of the Philippines are not new; they are the product of years of consistent academic collaboration," he said.

"This ongoing partnership is exemplified by the presence of more than 806 Filipino students currently enrolled in Saudi universities across diverse programs. These students are benefiting from advanced learning opportunities and comprehensive care — a testament to the Kingdom’s unwavering dedication to international students," he added.

Kamal Jameel Alwidyani, responsible for Economics and Cultural Affairs, said students who qualify for the program will receive a range of benefits, including monthly financial stipends, free accommodation, medical insurance, and annual round-trip airfare, among others.

In addition to academic support, scholars will also participate in cultural and community activities aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.

"We invite the students to come to explore this opportunity. Now, Saudi Arabia has been, like, developed for all the fields. We want you to discover this and it's not just a place to live. It's also a place to grow and this is our message for the students," Alwidyani stressed.

Alwidyani said the amount of the monthly stipend for students will vary depending on the undergraduate majors and graduate programs at the universities where the applicants are accepted.

He explained that the processing of scholarship applications will take approximately two to three weeks from the time the required documents are submitted to the Saudi Embassy.

"It takes two to three weeks, maximum, from the acceptance until arriving in the kingdom. This is our target. Before, it was, like, taking three months, two months. But now, the Ministry of Education has done a good job of minimizing the time of acceptance to two to three weeks," he said.

The academic institutions in Saudi Arabia, he noted, offer two types of scholarship application processing for internal (residents) and external (foreign) students.

"For the internal, it's going to be the due date. It's going to be on the 15th of July. For the external, it's going to be on the 14th of June. Like, in two, three weeks, it's going to be. But for master's degree and PhD, it's going to be until the 31st of October in 2025. So this program is going to be every year. Not only this year. Every year we have the same scholarship. And the scholarship we are giving this year is 265," Alwidyani said.

Seize the moment

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador said the scholarship experience "is not limited to academics."

"Students will be engaged in cultural and community activities that foster intercultural dialogue and enhance mutual understanding among people of different nationalities and backgrounds," he added.

Alghamdi encouraged Filipino students to take full advantage of the scholarship and educational opportunities offered by Saudi Arabia.

"To our aspiring students: You are the hope, you are the future, and you are the architects of tomorrow. Seize this opportunity to enhance your scientific and intellectual capacities, and do not hesitate to pursue your academic ambitions with determination and passion," he said.

Alghamdi then assures parents of their children's safety and support while studying in Saudi Arabia.

"To the parents: rest assured that your sons and daughters will find themselves in a safe, nurturing, and encouraging environment, with full support provided by the relevant authorities throughout their academic journey," he said.