The short answer
KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) publishes its English rules on its entry requirements page. For IELTS the line reads: 7 overall, with at least 6.5 in all individual sections. That means a strong overall band does not rescue one weak section: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking each need to reach 6.5.
We read KAUST's page on 1 November 2026. University pages change, so open it again before you apply. This page gives no test fees or test dates; the test provider's page does.
| Question | What KAUST's page says |
|---|---|
| IELTS score | 7 overall, at least 6.5 in each individual section |
| IELTS Online | Accepted |
| Validity | Two years from the test date |
| One Skill Retake | Not accepted |
| Official results | Only official results; tests run by an institution for its own admissions are not acceptable |
What KAUST does not accept
The page has a list of things it does not accept as proof of English, and it separately says that only official results count. If your plan involves any of them, change it early.
- IELTS One Skill Retake results. If you hoped to lift one weak section by retaking only that skill, KAUST says it will not use that result. Our page on One Skill Retake in Saudi Arabia explains the product itself.
- Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificates. A letter saying your earlier degree was taught in English is not a test score.
- TOEFL MyBest scores, the combined best-of-several-tests scores. The KAUST page does not describe combining IELTS sittings either, so as our own caution, do not assume you can combine sections from different sittings; ask KAUST.
- Duolingo English Test, except for Visiting Student applicants.
Separately, the page says only official results will be accepted, and that tests administered by an educational institution for admission to that particular institution are not acceptable.
Validity: plan around the test date
KAUST says scores are valid for two years from the test date. We read that as the day you sat the test, not the day the result arrived, but confirm this with KAUST. If you are applying near the end of that window, ask yourself whether the result will still be inside it when KAUST asks for it, and check with KAUST rather than guessing.
You may apply without a score, but the page says that if you are admitted you must provide results that meet the minimum before enrolment. KAUST encourages applicants to include valid scores with the application.
When no English score is needed
The page says an English score is not required if you earned a degree through in-person study at an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. It states that this applies only to degrees physically completed in those countries; distance learning, satellite campuses, joint programmes and branch institutions elsewhere do not qualify. A degree taken at KAUST's own campus in Thuwal also removes the requirement.
We cannot tell you whether your own degree qualifies. Ask KAUST with your transcript in hand.
The lower route for Saudi nationals and PhD students
The page describes one conditional route. Saudi nationals and PhD students with IELTS 6.5 overall and at least 6 in each section may still be admitted on the condition that they take the Academic English Language Communication Course (AELC) in their first semester. It is a conditional admission, not a lower standard for everyone.
Other tests and where to book IELTS
KAUST's page also lists other accepted tests with their own minimums, so IELTS is not the only route. If you choose IELTS, you book with the test provider, not with us. Start from how to book IELTS in Saudi Arabia and the list of cities. For a comparison of several Saudi universities see IELTS scores at Saudi universities.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
A 6.5 floor in every section changes how you prepare: the weakest skill sets your risk. Mike teaches one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English. He marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors, runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format with feedback in the moment, and leaves written progress notes in your account. We do not register you for the test, set its fees or speak for KAUST, and no result is promised. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian first agrees to a short consent letter before the booking is made. You can book a lesson here; the booking page shows the price in your own currency before you pay, and a paid 30-minute trial is available once per student on the first booking. Rescheduling is at no charge up to 12 hours before the slot. See about Mike.
