Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Jul 04, 2025

MoE seeking public opinion on opening Saudi branches of foreign universities

MoE seeking public opinion on opening Saudi branches of foreign universities

The Ministry of Education is seeking the views and opinions of the public with regard to the regulations to establish branches of premier foreign universities in Saudi Arabia, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learnt.
The move is aimed at further developing the Kingdom’s university education system and scientific research, as well as diversifying the options for university education, while preserving the national identity of Saudi students.

The ministry seeks to provide educational programs that meet the requirements of development and community service, within the framework of university education policies and strategies. There are 24 articles in the regulations that govern the opening of foreign university branches in the Kingdom.

The most important among these articles is the formation of a permanent committee to carry out studies on the requests for the establishment of branches of foreign universities. According to the article, the establishment of a foreign university branch shall be with the approval of the Cabinet. This will be based on the recommendation of the Saudi University Affairs Council with a condition that the foreign university is one of the academically distinguished universities in accordance with the criteria determined by the council.

The regulations specified the methodology to submit a request to establish a branch of the university and its legal representative to the ministry together with information about the foreign university. The relevant information about the university such as its name; headquarters; date of its founding; the specializations it offers; its aspects of excellence; and its other branches shall be furnished.

The information shall also include details of the study that prove the feasibility of the branch’s establishment; the statute of the university branch; a statement about its faculties, departments or institutes; research units, and scientific specializations; and the proposed date of commencing study.

There should be an undertaking to ensure the quality of all study programs offered at the university branch as applied by the foreign university in its home country.

The university should also present a pledge to submit a certificate from an accredited engineering body in the Kingdom stating that the installations and facilities of the university branch shall be in compliance with the standards and requirements approved in the Kingdom for similar facilities. The university branch should also fully adhere to the purpose for which it was established as well as to the regulations that are in force in the Kingdom.

The chairman of the University Affairs Council may add any other requirements or make exceptions to the requirements contained in this article. The bylaws of the university branch must include the name of the branch and its headquarters; the legal entity representing the branch; the councils that will manage the branch and the methodology of their formation, and the organizational structure. It shall also include the internal rules regulating academic and administrative affairs, the academic system, and financial resources.

The university’s request should also include information such as the beginning and end of the fiscal year; the internal financial control mechanism; the rules to be followed when the branch is voluntarily dissolved; the procedures for liquidation, and the entity to which its funds go. The foreign university or its legal representative shall complete the legal procedures for establishing the legal entity of the branch inside the Kingdom after the approval of the Council of Ministers for its establishment.

The Ministry of Education shall issue the license to the university branch after ensuring that the necessary requirements are met in accordance with the provisions of the bylaw and its executive rules. The ministry will be supervising the university branch, and it has the authority to recommend approval of a request to amend the statute and submit it to the council. The ministry can recommend the approval of the establishment, abolition or merging of faculties and submit them to the council. It has to approve the appointment and change of the top officials of the university branch. The ministry shall also approve the addition of academic programs for licensing, and the establishment of scientific events.

The first official of the university branch shall be responsible to the chairman of the University Affairs Council.

The Ministry has determined the medium of instruction in the university branch, and that is the first language approved in the foreign university, unless the recommendation to approve the establishment of the university branch includes provision of education in another language.

The academic certificates granted by the university branch to its graduates must be issued and authenticated by the foreign university in the name of its branch. All employees of the university branch shall be subjected to the Labor Law regulations in the Kingdom, and the university branch shall provide the necessary financial guarantees in accordance with what is decided by the executive rules of the regulations.​

The regulations stipulated that the university branch should have an annual budget, and the branch should have regular financial registries, in accordance with the accounting standards approved in the Kingdom. The annual financial statements of the university branch shall be audited by an external auditor licensed to operate in the Kingdom.

The University Affairs Council, by a decision, determines the fee (financial compensation) for issuing, renewing and amending the license for the university branch, as well as for adding academic programs and other services provided to it. The council determines the executive rules of the university regulation and the necessary procedures and controls in this regard.

The university branch shall obtain institutional accreditation from the Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission, and works to achieve program accreditation from the commission or from one of the bodies approved by the commission. It is not permissible for a university branch to suspend its activity or to amend its statutes except after the approval of the council. When the activity of a university branch falters, the council has the right to take all the necessary decisions and measures to ensure the students’ completion of courses.

The regulations also specify violations of their provisions and penalties for the violations. The procedures for considering them will be in accordance with what is decided by the University Affairs Council. According to the regulations, the courts in the Kingdom are the competent judicial authorities to settle any disputes in which the university branch or one of its employees is a party.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
×