The KAUST Global Fellowship Program (KGFP) attracts and supports outstanding emerging research leaders from around the world, empowering them to build a path towards a fully independent career. Hosted by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) — ranked #1 in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings — this three-year, fully funded postdoctoral fellowship gives early-career scientists the freedom, funding, and facilities to lead their own original research on the shores of the Red Sea.
For the 2027 call, fellows will receive a $75,000 annual stipend, a $20,000–$40,000 yearly research budget, free on-campus accommodation, full medical insurance, and comprehensive family support — making it one of the most generously funded postdoctoral programmes globally.
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SCHOLARSHIP LIST INLINE
About this opportunity
Founded in 2009, KAUST is officially recognised as the most acclaimed postgraduate research university in the Middle East. The Global Fellowship Program identifies exceptional early-career scientists with the independence, ambition, and ideas to address the world's most pressing global challenges.
Key features of the programme:
3-year fixed-term contract — Evaluation at the end of Year 2
Fellow-led research — You design and lead your own original project from day one
$75,000 annual stipend — Competitive professional income
$20,000–$40,000 annual research budget — Discipline-dependent, for equipment, consumables, conference travel, and collaboration visits
World-class facilities — Full access to KAUST Core Labs and cutting-edge equipment
Top-tier mentorship — A KAUST host PI mentors and supports your independent research
All nationalities welcome — No nationality restrictions; female applicants actively encouraged
Financial Benefits
Successful Global Fellows receive:
Annual stipend: $75,000
Annual research budget: $20,000–$40,000 (discipline-dependent)
Free on-campus accommodation — Family housing available
Full medical insurance — For fellows and eligible dependants
Schooling support — For up to 3 children aged 4 and older
Daycare subsidy — For younger children
Relocation allowance — For visa and shipping costs
Annual travel assistance — For fellows and eligible dependants
Career development — Mentoring, leadership, and teaching programmes, including the Harvard HE Teaching Certificate
Core Labs access — Multidisciplinary laboratories staffed with experts, with free training on all equipment
International community — Researchers from over 110 nationalities
Note: The fellowship is designed for full-time research. Remote or hybrid arrangements are not available.
What's covered
- Tuition fees
- Living allowance
- Flight/travel costs
Documents Required
Stage 1 — Concept Note (all required):
Most recent CV — Maximum 4 pages, including full publication list
Concept Note — Using the provided template (available when applications open)
Up to two selective publications — Attachments of your best first-author work
Two reference letters — Submitted directly by referees through the online system
Host PI identification — Name up to three potential KAUST faculty members in the application form
Stage 2 — Full Proposal (by invitation only):
Full research proposal using the provided template
Additional supporting documents as requested
Tip: Download the Application Pack, templates, and guidelines from the How to Apply page when the call opens.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
PhD date: Must have been awarded a PhD within four calendar years — for Call 2027, the PhD must have been awarded January 2023 or later
PhD completion: Must expect to complete your PhD before the start of the fellowship if not yet awarded
Publications: Up to two first-author (or joint-first-author) papers in a peer-reviewed journal
References: Two referees able to speak to your potential for independent research
Host PI: Must identify at least one (up to three) potential KAUST faculty members whose research aligns with your proposed work
Residency: Must be ready and willing to relocate to KAUST in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia for the full three-year duration
Nationality: Open to all nationalities; no restrictions
Gender balance: Female applicants are actively encouraged
How to Apply
The KAUST Global Fellowship uses a two-stage application process:
Stage 1 — Concept Note
Step 1: Visit kgfp.kaust.edu.sa and review the fellowship details, research priorities, and faculty profiles.
Step 2: Identify up to three potential KAUST host PIs whose research aligns with your proposed project.
Step 3: Register on the online application platform (PlutoEdu) — both you and your referees must create accounts.
Step 4: Prepare your materials: 4-page CV, Concept Note (using the template), and two representative publications.
Step 5: Request two reference letters from referees who can speak to your potential for independent research.
Step 6: Submit your complete application via the online portal between 1 September and 1 October 2026.
Stage 2 — Full Proposal (by invitation only)
Step 7: KAUST faculty review eligible applications and indicate hosting interest (October–November 2026).
Step 8: If you receive Host PI support, you will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Step 9: Submit your full proposal between 15 November 2026 and 15 January 2027.
Step 10: Internal and external review, followed by a final interview and selection by the Vice President for Research.
Step 11: If selected, expect to start between July and December 2027 (or as soon as visa and onboarding formalities are complete).
Important: Applications must be drafted in English using the provided templates. All required documents must be submitted by the cut-off dates to be eligible for review.