Islamic University of Madinah: Scholarship Application for ASEAN Students

What the Islamic University of Madinah scholarship covers

Islamic University of Madinah is a Saudi government university in Madinah dedicated to Islamic law, Quranic studies, Arabic language and related fields, established in 1961 specifically to educate Muslim students from outside Saudi Arabia alongside Saudi nationals. Its scholarship program is one of the largest fully funded routes for international Muslim students anywhere, and unlike general Saudi public university scholarships, it exists mainly to serve non-Saudi applicants.

Under Saudi Arabia's public university scholarship framework, external scholarship recipients receive healthcare coverage, housing provisions, annual return flight tickets and a financial reward on arrival, according to the Saudi Ministry of Education . Islamic University of Madinah scholarships follow this same structure, alongside a monthly stipend for living costs.

Who can apply

Saudi Arabia's public university scholarship rules set the baseline age range at 17 to 25 for bachelor's and Arabic track applicants, up to 30 for master's applicants and up to 35 for doctoral applicants, according to the Ministry of Education. You need a passport valid well beyond your intended travel date, a clean medical examination and security clearance, and you must not already hold another Kingdom government scholarship.

Islamic University of Madinah's scholarship track is open to Muslim applicants of any nationality who hold a secondary school certificate, or equivalent, issued outside Saudi Arabia for undergraduate applications. The main undergraduate campus in Madinah has historically enrolled male students, so female ASEAN applicants interested in Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia should check current program availability directly with the university before applying.

The Arabic preparatory track

Many ASEAN applicants, especially from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Thailand, do not enter with strong Arabic. Islamic University of Madinah runs a dedicated Arabic language institute that places incoming students who need it into a preparatory year before they start their chosen degree program. You take a placement assessment after acceptance, and the institute decides whether you go directly into your degree or spend a year building Arabic proficiency first.

Step by step application process

1. Confirm you meet the age, education level and Muslim eligibility requirements for your target degree level

2. Register on the university's international admission portal at iu.edu.sa and select the international applicant track

3. Upload your secondary school certificate or prior degree, transcripts, passport copy and passport photos, translated into Arabic or English if issued in another language

4. Submit any recommendation or character reference documents the portal requests

5. Wait for the university's initial review, then complete an Arabic placement assessment if your program requires it

6. Once accepted, your file moves to the Saudi Cultural Mission or embassy in your country for visa processing

7. Complete your medical examination and security clearance before travel

8. Book your flight once your entry visa and university confirmation letter are issued

Deadlines change every cycle, so verify before you plan

Islamic University of Madinah and the wider Study in Saudi Arabia system open and close application windows on different dates each year, and bachelor's, master's and doctoral tracks close separately. Check iu.edu.sa and the Study in Saudi Arabia portal directly for the current academic year's exact dates rather than relying on a third party scholarship listing site, since several of those carry outdated deadlines.

Keeping your scholarship once you arrive

A Saudi government scholarship is not a one-time award. You keep it by maintaining the required academic standing each semester and following university conduct rules, including attendance requirements. Dropping below the minimum GPA or failing a semester can put your funding at risk, so treat the scholarship as a renewable commitment rather than a fixed grant you receive once and forget.

Islamic University of Madinah also expects scholarship holders to complete their degree within the standard program length for their track. If the Arabic preparatory year adds time before your degree studies start, factor that into how long you expect to stay in Madinah overall.

Life in Madinah as a new international student

Madinah is a smaller, quieter city than Riyadh or Jeddah, built around the Prophet's Mosque and largely oriented toward religious life and study. University housing puts you close to campus and within walking or short transport distance of the mosque. Halal food is the default everywhere, so the adjustment ASEAN students often face in other destinations, finding halal options and prayer space, does not apply here.

Most classes run in Arabic, which is why the preparatory institute exists. Expect an adjustment period even after you clear the placement assessment, since academic Arabic used in lectures differs from conversational Arabic you may have picked up elsewhere.

Common mistakes ASEAN applicants make

• Applying through a paid agent who charges a fee, when the scholarship application itself is free

• Missing the separate bachelor's versus postgraduate deadline because they assumed one date applies to all levels

• Not preparing certified translations of school certificates in advance, which delays the file review

• Assuming weak Arabic disqualifies them, when the Arabic preparatory track exists for exactly this situation