Government Scholarships for Indonesian Students in Saudi Arabia
By Muntasir • Published Jul 13, 2025 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Scholarships & Funding, Study in Southeast Asia
Saudi Arabia's government funds full scholarships, tuition, flight, housing, health insurance and a stipend, for Indonesian students at religious universities such as Umm Al-Qura, King Saud and the Islamic University of Madinah. Most placements go through a Kemenag or embassy recommendation, not a direct open application.
🎓 Main fields are Tafsir, Fiqh, Hadith, Arabic language and literature, and Islamic education.
📩 A recommendation from Kemenag or the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh comes before the university reviews your application.
🏠 Housing is dormitory-based and usually included.
💵 Bring savings for textbooks, phone and internet, and costs before your stipend and housing placement start.
Full scholarships built around Islamic studies
Saudi Arabia's government funds full scholarships for foreign Muslim students at its major religious universities, covering tuition, a return flight, dormitory housing, health insurance and a monthly living stipend. Indonesian students make up a large share of the foreign student body at these universities, mostly in Islamic studies fields such as Tafsir, Fiqh, Hadith, Arabic language and literature, and Islamic education.
Where Indonesian students study
🎓 Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, offers undergraduate and postgraduate placements to Indonesian applicants, including through channels coordinated with Indonesia's Education and Culture Attaché office in Riyadh, per Atdikbud Riyadh .
🎓 King Saud University, Riyadh, a general research university that also accepts Indonesian scholarship students outside purely religious fields.
🎓 Islamic University of Madinah, focused on Islamic studies for international students, historically one of the largest recipients of Indonesian applicants.
🎓 Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, another major destination for Indonesian students in Sharia and Arabic studies.
How the recommendation and application process works
Saudi university scholarships for Indonesian applicants typically require a recommendation letter from an Indonesian government body before the university considers the application, rather than a direct open application like you would submit to a Western university. This recommendation has historically come through your local Kementerian Agama (Kemenag) office or, for placements coordinated through the embassy channel, through the Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh.
Each university sets its own quota, subject list, and age or academic requirements for a given intake, and these change year to year. Confirm current details directly with the Atdikbud Riyadh office or the university's own international admissions page rather than relying on an older cycle's requirements.
Applying directly to a university's own portal
Some Saudi universities also run their own online scholarship application portal for international students, open alongside the recommendation-based channel described above. A Kemenag or embassy recommendation still strengthens your file even where a direct portal exists, since it confirms your standing with the Indonesian government to the receiving university. Check each university's international admissions page for whether it runs a portal alongside the recommendation route for your intake year.
What the scholarship covers
| Benefit | Typical coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Fully covered |
| Flight | Round-trip ticket, usually once per program cycle |
| Housing | Dormitory on or near campus |
| Health insurance | Included |
| Monthly stipend | Living allowance paid by the university |
Exact stipend amounts differ by university and are set in Saudi riyals, adjusted periodically. Confirm the current figure with the specific university's scholarship office once you have an offer, since a fixed number published here would go stale within a year.
Life on a Saudi scholarship
Most Saudi universities separate male and female students by campus or by class, and dress and conduct codes apply throughout your stay, reflecting the country's broader social norms. Student visas do not generally permit part-time work, so budget around the stipend and any family support rather than planning to work through your studies. Check your Arabic language readiness too, since instruction runs in Arabic and most universities offer a preparatory language year for students who need it before starting degree coursework.
How long a degree takes
Bachelor's programs at these universities generally run 4 years, longer where you need the preparatory language year first. Postgraduate programs follow standard master's and doctoral timelines, adjusted for any language preparation you need before coursework starts. Factor a language year into your planning if your Arabic reading and speaking are still basic, since it adds a year before your degree program itself begins.
Budgeting beyond the scholarship
A full scholarship covers your core costs, but bring savings for items it typically does not include, such as textbooks, phone and internet, personal travel within Saudi Arabia, and the first weeks before your stipend and housing placement clear through university administration. Ask returning students or your university's international student office what the actual gap looks like in practice, since a full scholarship covers different things at different universities.
Staying in touch with home
The Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh and its education section register Indonesian students on Saudi scholarships and act as your point of contact for passport renewals, document legalization and other consular matters during your studies. Register with the embassy soon after you arrive, and keep your contact details updated with both the embassy and your university's international office throughout your program. That registration also matters if you need help with an exit or re-entry visa for a trip home during a long break in your degree, since your university and the embassy both play a role in that paperwork. Plan any home visit around your academic calendar and confirm re-entry requirements with your university well ahead of your travel dates.