The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB) administers scholarships for students in Canada in accordance with the policies and procedures implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Education (MOE). Please note that the following regulations apply only to non-medical scholarship students, including KSP recipients and students sponsored by other agencies. For more information about medical students, please contact the Postgraduate Medical Program Department (contact details can be found under the 'Contact' tab).
Upon arrival in Canada, students should contact the SACB and open a scholarship file.
Students must sign a Consent to Release Confidential Information (third-party release) form, which authorizes the SACB to exchange information pertaining to them with the academic institution in which the student is seeking admission or is currently enrolled. The Consent Form, issued by the SACB Legal Department, declares that the student gives unconditional and irrevocable consent and direction to educational and medical agencies/associations, in which they are a member, to release information which the academic institution may possess or acquire in relation to the student, including all academic and other records, to the SACB.
The Consent Form aligns with Canada’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is widely accepted by universities and colleges across Canada.
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Students should pursue their degree in the specialization for which they were awarded the scholarship.
Academic Advisors are assigned to students when they open a file at SACB. The Academic Advisor will assist that student throughout the duration of his or her program and is responsible for ensuring that the student is fulfilling his or her commitment by studying the appropriate courses and credit hours according to the degree and specialization of the scholarship awarded. Additionally, the Academic Advisor, in collaboration with the Finance Department at the SACB will make sure that all financial procedures needed for tuition and student’s monthly allowance payments according to scholarship regulations are met.
Students should pursue their studies in an academic institution that has been pre-approved by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education.
English as a Second Language (ESL) students are funded for up to 12 months. Bachelor students are funded for four years. Master students are funded for two years. Doctor of Philosophy students are funded for three years.
SACB Academic Advisors must receive transcripts from students on a regular basis to track progress and academic advancement. Each student is responsible for providing his\her Academic Advisor with an academic report no later than three weeks after the end of each semester.
Students who are not proficient in English and who choose not to take a standardized test should pursue English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction at a private or public school that has been pre-approved by the SACB. The ESL unit, operating within the Department of Academic Relations and Admissions, maintains this list and updates it regularly.
Students should reach the level of English required for entry to a degree program within 12 months; the period for which students are funded by SACB. Students pursuing ESL should write the ILETS exam every 6 months.
Students are welcome to contact the SACB's Department of Academic Relations and Admissions for assistance with the selection of an appropriate degree program and advice on the application process.
Students should submit acceptance letters from Canadian post-secondary institutions that clearly state the conditions of acceptance (if any), duration of the program, and major/specialization to the appropriate Academic Advisor at SACB.
Students should fill out a Study plan form and load it through the work flow portal after it is authenticated and signed by a university supervisor. Graduate students must send the degree plan form during the first semester and the undergraduate students must send it during the first academic year.
Students should register for full-time studies in an academic program. If part-time studies are required, students must obtain approval from an Academic Advisor in the form of an official letter of authorization.
Students must receive permission from their scholarship sponsoring agency if they wish to make any changes to the program of study (i.e. major/courses). Accordingly, students should not withdraw from courses without the prior approval from an Academic Advisor.
After preapproval of the SACB, Undergraduate students may be permitted to pursue four courses (12 credit hours) of online courses, graduate students may be permitted to pursue two courses (6 credit hours). The SACB may grant permission to students to take online courses if the student demonstrates proof (letter from the institution) that an online course is a pre-requisite or is necessary to fulfill graduation requirements. The student is responsible for contacting his/her Academic Advisor to check his\her eligibility and seek approval before registering in any online course.
Students should maintain uninterrupted studies at their designated educational institution. The SACB discourages students from transferring unless it is necessary. If a student must transfer, approval should be obtained from The SACB first. The transfer should not result in an extension of the scholarship-funding period.
Students should apply for the transfer request through the portal and the following documents should accompany the request:
Degree programs should be completed in the period assigned to the student. Students unable to complete a degree program in this time should submit an application for extension to an Academic Advisor. The following documents should accompany the request:
Requests for extensions should be submitted as early as possible.
Upgrades of Scholarships (Does not apply to Ministry of Education undergraduate and graduate students)
Students must obtain an unconditional acceptance into a Master or PhD program to upgrade (graduate certificates or conditional acceptance are not acceptable). Before applying to upgrade, students must have the previous degree certified and receive the equivalence of the degree from the MOE.
Bench fees may be awarded to students in the amount of $5,000 for Master's programs and $10,000 for PhD programs to cover the cost of consumable materials used during research.
Students are permitted to enroll in a co-op program in a Canadian university, provided that:
The SACB provides financial support for each funded Saudi student including tuition fees, living support, international student differential fees, health insurance, ancillary fees, laboratory/bench fees (graduate students only) and any other normally applied fees. The SACB will provide a Sponsorship Authority Certification (also called a Financial Guarantee letter or 'FG') to the university for each student indicating the funded student's name, total annual value of funding, scholarship duration (indicating an expiry date), and contact information for invoicing purposes. Undergraduate students receive four years of funding, while Master’s students receive two years of coverage. PhD students are funded for three years. Extensions may be granted in exceptional cases.
Throughout the validity period of the FG, The SACB agrees to pay, upon receipt of an original invoice issued by the academic institution, that student’s registration and tuition fees, provided that the student remains active at the institution. The scholarship provides the student and his/her family members with a monthly stipend for living, clothing and book expenses as well as annual round-trip air ticket(s) to Saudi Arabia from Canada.
The SACB also pays for tuition and other required fees which are strictly related to the academic courses of study (such as examination, registry and compulsory student fees). Tutoring or private class fees for students enrolled in English or any other programs are not covered. All fees are paid directly to the academic institutions. The FG is valid for the stated courses and time period only. Any change in the assigned course of study or the student’s failure to enroll in consecutive academic terms in courses related to the assigned program of study shall render the document void. Similarly, the FG is not transferable and is exclusively for the named institution and for the named student. The SACB shall not be held liable for studies conducted outside of the outlined dates. Students seeking to extend their studies must obtain the SACB’s prior approval. In rendering the FG document viable, academic institutions must agree to provide SACB with:
The FG is binding from the effective date until the void date. It is important to note that should the expiry date occur prior to the end of the current course of study, the SACB will pay for the entire course duration. The SACB reserves the right to cancel the FG should a student or an institution not adhere to the outlined Terms and Conditions.
Scholarship students receive full health insurance coverage via the SACB for the duration of their studies in Canada and are therefore required to opt out of health coverage offered by the academic institution at which they are enrolled.
Invoices should be sent to the SACB as a hard copy and should be sent per student. Invoices to the SACB must be issued with the institution’s name, as trading names are not accepted. Bank details must be clearly stated including the bank name, account name, account numbers, transit and bank codes. Alternatively, a void cheque can be mailed along with the invoice. Copies of invoices or invoices sent by fax will not be paid – invoices should be originals when claims are filed.
Invoices should clearly state the first, middle, and last name of the student as the SACB sponsors numerous students with overlapping first and last names. Student ID or number should also be clearly stated. The student’s file number (in the SACB) must be clearly stated on the invoice (usually mentioned in the bottom left-hand corner of the financial guarantee). Invoices must also be clearly itemized, as some items are not covered by the scholarship program and will not be paid (i.e. parking, housing, textbooks, overdue charges or fees for sports activities). Each invoice should only be for one student.
The invoice number and the date must be clearly stated. Start and end dates of the invoiced period should be included on all invoices. Dates of the invoiced period should match the dates of the financial guarantee issued for the student, otherwise the invoice would be rejected. All invoices must be originals and mailed via post to the SACB.
The SACB will require the name and contact information for a representative in the university or college's Finance Department (Account Receivables) who will be responsible for confirmation and enquiries. Confirmation of payment receipts must be sent back to the SACB via email. Invoices are to indicate the breakdown of costs; invoices with only one total will not be authorized by the SACB. Statements should not be sent as a means of invoicing. Although it requires an average period of 30 days to process an invoice, the SACB kindly requests a maximum of 60 days for settlement.
