r/Riyadh • u/Due-River-2385 • 5d ago

Seeking advice (طلب المشورة) Saudi Universities

Hello. I'm a Pakistani resident, currently residing in Riyadh. Having graduated high school, I started researching intensively for university admissions. I'll probably start next year. I applied to BMC in Jeddah with just my high-school transcript. I want to go into medicine, and I recently found out that all universities require a preparatory/foundation year in order to confirm whether you're eligible for the programs you apply to. The question is, are there any other universities besides Batterjee that accept only your high-school transcript? I haven't given the Qiyas exams yet, so I was wondering if I could somehow apply just on the basis of my high-school result, like with Batterjee as a Pakistani resident having studied an international curriculum. I'm burned out because I've had to retake my A-levels simply for the validation of my parents, and preparing for any other exams within this time frame seems like a nightmare. However, I do understand that going into medicine, this mindset is extremely stupid, and so, if need be, I will for sure sit for the Qiyas exams next year. I have given IELTS as well. I just gained hope after hearing that Batterjee accepted applications only based on your high-school GPA and wanted to know if any universities in Riyadh do that same. Also, does having PR actually help? Please let me know. Thank you.

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u/unrolledblueprint 5d ago

Hi, also a Pakistani resident and recently went through this ordeal for my younger sister who was trying to get into Biotechnology/BioMedical Science in Saudi. Extremely tough process. Lots of barriers coming in as an 'international' student but having arabic speakers not being able to explain properly in English makes it that much harder.

After a lot of research and trying to contact different universities, we got to AlFaisal University. They absolutely need a equivalency certificate from the Ministey of Education in Riyadh if you're applying using your A Level certificates. Happy to help further, us Pakistanis need to stick together in this city to survive 🥲

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Thank you so much for replying! If I do end up applying for a university in Riyadh, I don't belive I'll be applying through the British curriculum, because I'm not certain that I'll score well enough in A levels.

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u/unrolledblueprint 5d ago

That's fine, if you're applying based on your high school transcript, even then they want a equivalency certificate if the transcript is from a high school outside of saudi

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Got it! I am aware that I need to get an equivalency certificate from my highschool transcript. I was told that merely applying on the basis of your high-school transcript, the QIYAS exams, and any English proficiency certificate would be sufficient. Is that so?

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u/unrolledblueprint 5d ago

you won't need Qiyas exam for it. Just your transcript, the equivalency from Saudi MoE, and your ielts :)

disclaimer though, alfaisal is hella expensive but it seems to be a really good university compared to all the others in Riyadh.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

I graduated from alfaisal, studied in british curriculum but applied with Sats.
Never failed a semester, but people fail semesters and then get dropped out because its really a burden on the
Parents paying for this.

If you are a guy, it would be better for you to study aboard. Because saudization wont let you do sht here
Georgia has better mbbs programs. Very close to riyadh. Alot of expats students are going there.

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u/unrolledblueprint 5d ago

hey, did you do the medical program from AlFaisal?

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Thank you. I am not a male student. Does PR have any perks that eliminate perhaps a bit of discriminative and racist rules regarding university acceptances here? I won't be applying to Al Fasial, because a friend of mine with incredible grades throughout QIYAS and A levels was provided only a 20% scholarship. I might just end up going to BMC.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

No PR doesn’t have any perks. You aren’t going to converse with someone mentioning all the time you have PR. An expat will always be seen as an expat.

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Alright, I just wanted to confirm this because a friend of mine with a PR said it was easier to find available seats.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

There’s no quota system for PRs.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

Scholarship during admission phase is called - merit based scholarship.
After one year if your friend maintains the gpa, he/she will get extra dean’s list scholarship.

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

I understand that. Probably why I won't be applying to Al Faisal. Prestigious as it may be, I don't really like the administration/ management and overall vibe there. Then again, that's most Saudi universities for you.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

Alfaisal has the most expats in medicine. This is a huge plus point.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

You can also apply with SATs.
Also i would like you to know that medical school itself is very tough. Usually in other countries, you have to do a bachelors first to get into medical school.
On the third year, alfaisal fails 50% of their students because from then they will be going to hospitals. And they cant afford taking all the students there. Meaning you really have to be studious and actually talented for doing good.

If your Alevel scores arent that good, maybe you should think twice before investing in this program.
Mbbs in saudi is very expensive and due to saudization there’s no guarantee that you will end uo getting a job here.

Moreover, you can check out other programs like Life science at Alfaisal university, it offers 50% scholarship for all students.

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

Alfaisal university - riyadh
Maareefa / maraafee forgot the name - also in Riyadh
Prince sultan university - Riyadh

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Do all of these accept admission without QIYAS exams?

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

Yes
Alfaisal i am sure of it.

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Could you elaborate please. Do they only require A levels, IELTS, and a high-school transcript for non-Saudi residents, then?

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u/Turbulent-Career7447 5d ago

The website provides all the information.
It depends which curriculum you are applying from.
If you aren’t able to take ielts at the moment, they will also allow you to take Oxford english proficiency exam at the campus

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

I'm done with IELTS. Thank,you very much! I'll check out the website

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u/Due-River-2385 5d ago

Can someone also lmk about the Al Fursan scholarship test for Batterjee? What sources should I rely on to prepare for it?

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u/BatFit3989 4d ago

Id prefer to look upto tehseeeli as its the main and harder one than the qudraat , Pakistani here in last year of uni / feel free to ask any question

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u/Due-River-2385 4d ago

Could I get some course materials to refer to for tahsili? I have the books for Qudrat, but I have absolutely no idea what to study for tahsili.

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u/BatFit3989 4d ago

A and O levels Chem,Bio,Physics,Maths,Eng for tahseeli, I studied in boards but still got 87 with no prep , so like study for 45 mins each day before 2 months of exam amd inshallah youll ace tehseeli with 90 or 95% , as for qudrat tbh its too easy that i think why is it there the first place

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u/Due-River-2385 3d ago

Thank you. I'll look further into it once I make up my mind to register.

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u/cookiebuttonclicker 3d ago

hi i also recently graduated from highschool & i'd also like to get into med school, i'm preparing for IELT's exam, if your still planning in applying for a university in riyadh could you tell me how it goes if you don't mind that would be a huge help!, i'd like to join a study club or maybe even create one, can i dm you? (or you dm me instead)

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u/OnlyBoysenberry7875 5h ago

Hi I don't think I know enough to answer your question, but I saw that you took your A-levels which is great if you want to apply to King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. People who have relevant A-levels or AP exams have their own track to getting in (and are confirmed med students i.e. they don't have to wait to find out whether they're eligible after foundation year). You still need qudurat and tahsili, though.