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EduAtlasHubΒ·University Brochure
Est. 1950
Public

Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¦ Saudi Arabia ◯ Riyadh ⬡ Asia
Last updated: September 15, 2026
Official Site → Apply Now
QS World 2026
#791-800
Global Ranking
Acceptance
Not Available
Students
60000
Tuition/yr
Not Available
Employed
Not Available
Faculty Ratio
Not Available
Quick Summary

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.

01
Institutional Profile
Who they are

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.

Founded1950
TypePublic
Total Students60000
Intl StudentsNot Available
Faculty RatioNot Available
CampusUrban
Campus SizeNot Available
Affiliated HospitalsNot Available
AccreditationSaudi Ministry of Education / National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation
02
Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#791-800
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
Not Available
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
Not Available
Academic Ranking
03
Academics & Research
What you can study
Undergraduate and graduate programs across 14 colleges spanning religious studies (College of Sharia, College of Fundamentals of Religion), STEM fields (Engineering, Medicine, Computer and Information Sciences, Sciences), and humanities/social sciences (Arabic Language, Media and Communication, Languages and Translation, Social Sciences, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Education), plus 70 affiliated scientific institutes inside Saudi Arabia and additional institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti.
Programs
Not Available
PhD Programs
Not Available
Online Programs
Not Available
Research Centers
Not Available
Research Output
Saudi Ministry of Education / National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation
Accreditation
04
Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance RateNot Available
IELTSNot Available
TOEFLNot Available
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates

Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.

Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
IMSIU is a tuition-free public university, and most international students attend through government scholarship programs rather than self-funded enrollment, so applicants should apply specifically through the university's international scholarship channel rather than a standard fee-paying admissions track. Scholarship terms differ by field: science and health-major recipients receive a monthly stipend of 990 SAR while humanities students receive 840 SAR, alongside a 75 percent discount on foreign textbooks and furnished housing, so applicants should understand these benefits vary by college. Because IMSIU maintains separate main campuses for male and female students in Riyadh, applicants should confirm which campus serves their intended college and gender-specific arrangements. Given the university's dual identity as both a major Islamic studies institution and a comprehensive university with Medicine, Engineering, and Computer and Information Sciences colleges, applicants should clearly identify whether they are pursuing a religious-studies track or one of its broader STEM/humanities programs, since application procedures and language requirements differ between them.

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05
Cost Ledger
Amounts in Saudi Riyal

Detailed fee information for this university is being updated. Check the official website for current tuition and cost figures.

Scholarships AvailableInternational scholarships providing a monthly stipend (990 SAR for science and health majors, 840 SAR for humanities majors), a 75 percent discount on foreign books, furnished housing, medical care, and return transportation.
Financial AidYes, primarily through government-funded international scholarships rather than university-administered need-based aid, since tuition itself is free.
Work-StudyNot Available
Calculate My Cost →
06
Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Undergraduate and graduate programs across 14 colleges spanning religious studies (College of Sharia, College of Fundamentals of Religion), STEM fields (Engineering, Medicine, Computer and Information Sciences, Sciences), and humanities/social sciences (Arabic Language, Media and Communication, Languages and Translation, Social Sciences, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Education), plus 70 affiliated scientific institutes inside Saudi Arabia and additional institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti. programs total
ProgramLevelDuration
Islamic Sharia LawBACHELOR3-4 YRS
Arabic LanguageMASTER1-2 YRS
MedicinePHD3-5 YRS
Computer and Information SciencesMBA12-24 MO
EngineeringBACHELOR3-4 YRS
View All Programs →
07
Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
Not Available
Average Salary After Graduation
Not Available
Employment Rate
Notable Alumni
Saleh Al-Fawzan (religious scholar and member of the Council of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia), Saud Al-Shuraim (Imam of the Grand Mosque of Mecca), Sumaya Alnasser (television personality)
08
Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, the university provides fully furnished residence facilities for eligible international scholarship students.
Sports Facilities
Not Available
Student Clubs
Not Available
Library Resources
Prince Sultan Library for Science and Knowledge, founded in 1952, is the university's main library and participates in the World Digital Library partnership.
Exchange Programs
Not Available
Summer Programs
Not Available
✦
What sets it apart
IMSIU maintains overseas academic institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti in addition to its 70 scientific institutes inside Saudi Arabia, giving it an international teaching footprint unusual for a Saudi public university and tied specifically to its role in Islamic education abroad. It operates entirely tuition-free, funding international students instead through monthly stipends that differ by field of study (990 SAR for science and health majors versus 840 SAR for humanities students), a scholarship structure distinct from universities that charge fees and offer discretionary aid. The university runs separate main campuses for male and female students within Riyadh, an administrative structure reflecting Saudi higher-education norms. Its 14-college structure places Medicine, Engineering, and Computer and Information Sciences alongside the College of Sharia and College of Fundamentals of Religion under one administration, making it simultaneously one of the kingdom's central religious-training institutions and a general research university.
09
Funding
Scholarships matched to Saudi Arabia

Below is a curated index of international funding opportunities and external scholarship programs that eligible students may apply for when attending this institution.

KAUST Fellowship Fully Funded $20,000 to $30,000 USD annually (depending on degree level and progress) Deadline: Varies by cycle (Typically early December, January, and March) → King Abdulaziz University Scholarship for International Students Fully Funded 900 SAR to 1,900 SAR monthly stipend depending on level Deadline: Varies by cycle; Postgraduate applications are often accepted year-round, while Undergraduate windows open once per year. → King Saud University Scholarship for International Students Fully Funded 840 SAR to 1,000 SAR monthly stipend plus additional allowances Deadline: Varies by year (Typically between January and March for the Fall intake) → Umm Al-Qura University Scholarship for Non-Saudis Fully Funded Monthly allowance of 840 SAR for undergraduate and 900 SAR for postgraduate students, plus initial preparation and graduation allowances. Deadline: Varies (Usually between July and September via the Study in Saudi portal) → World Food Programme (WFP) Internship Programme Stipend up to US$1,000 per month, varying by duty station → UNDP Internship Programme Varies by duty station (calculated based on UN cost-of-living rates) Deadline: Rolling (Varies by specific internship posting) → View all Saudi Arabia scholarships →
10
Questions
Answered
What is the acceptance rate?+
Not available. Check the official website.
What English score do I need?+
IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 typically.
How much does it cost per year?+
Estimated total cost is not available per year including tuition and living.
Are scholarships available?+
International scholarships providing a monthly stipend (990 SAR for science and health majors, 840 SAR for humanities majors), a 75 percent discount on foreign books, furnished housing, medical care, and return transportation.
What is the application deadline?+
Not available. Check the official website.
Can I work while studying?+
International students can typically work part-time (20 hrs/week) during term.
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