Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University began in 1950 as an Islamic seminary founded by Saudi Arabia's first Grand Mufti and became a full university in 1974, now serving more than 60,000 students across 14 colleges in Riyadh. Its academic scope spans Islamic Sharia and Arabic language studies alongside Medicine, Engineering, and Computer and Information Sciences, reflecting a dual identity as both a leading center for Islamic scholarship and a comprehensive university. The university is tuition-free and funds many international students through government scholarships that include monthly stipends and furnished housing. It ranks in the QS World University Rankings 791-800 band and maintains overseas academic institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti.
IMSIU traces its origin to 1950, when Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia's first Grand Mufti, established it as an Islamic seminary; it became the College of Sharia in 1953 before taking its current university name and structure in 1974 through mergers with other Riyadh colleges. Its alumni include Saud Al-Shuraim, one of the imams of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, reflecting the university's continuing role in training religious leadership for Saudi Arabia's central Islamic institutions. At the same time, IMSIU is not solely a seminary: it runs full colleges of Medicine, Engineering, and Computer and Information Sciences alongside its College of Sharia and College of Fundamentals of Religion, making it a comprehensive university built around a historically religious core. Its Prince Sultan Library for Science and Knowledge, established in 1952, participates in the World Digital Library partnership, extending the university's reach into global digital scholarship rather than only regional religious instruction.
Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.
Detailed fee information for this university is being updated. Check the official website for current tuition and cost figures.
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Islamic Sharia Law | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Arabic Language | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Medicine | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Computer and Information Sciences | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Engineering | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |