# Study in the UK from Saudi Arabia — visa, costs, scholarships and timeline

> From Saudi Arabia: secure a UK offer, then apply for a Student visa with a CAS, financial evidence and approved English.

Saudi Arabia is a major source of UK-bound international students, boosted in part by Saudi government scholarship programmes. The route is: secure a university offer, receive a CAS, apply for the UK Student visa with financial evidence and an approved English qualification. Budget from around £30,000 a year for tuition plus living costs. Always confirm current visa rules on GOV.UK.

## Quick facts
- **Application routes:** UCAS (undergraduate) or direct (postgraduate)
- **Visa:** UK Student visa (Student Route)
- **Typical total cost:** ≈ £30,000+ / year (tuition + living)
- **Post-study:** Graduate Route (subject to eligibility)

## Key takeaways
- Saudi Arabia sends a large number of students to UK universities, partly supported by government scholarship schemes.
- The Student visa requires a CAS, financial evidence for the required period and approved English.
- Budget from roughly £30,000 a year for tuition plus living costs — higher in London.
- The Graduate Route offers eligible graduates the right to remain in the UK to work after their course.

## The route from Saudi Arabia
From Saudi Arabia you apply through UCAS for most undergraduate courses or directly to universities for postgraduate study. After your offer is confirmed and conditions are satisfied, your university issues a CAS. You then complete the online Student visa application with your CAS reference, valid passport, financial evidence and an approved English-language qualification. Saudi-government scholarship holders should check with their sponsoring body for any additional requirements or documentation. Study UK Now provides full end-to-end support — from selecting the right university and course through to assembling a strong visa file.

## Costs, scholarships and timeline
Plan for tuition plus living costs from roughly £30,000 a year. Saudi-government scholarship programmes such as the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme have historically funded many Saudi students in the UK; check the current status directly with the relevant Saudi authority, as programmes and terms change. University scholarships and merit awards are also available and worth applying for alongside your admissions application. Study UK Now helps you map every deadline — scholarship, university and visa — into one clear timeline.

## Frequently asked questions
### How much bank balance is needed for a UK student visa from Saudi Arabia?
You must show enough funds to cover your outstanding first-year tuition plus a set monthly living-cost allowance for a set number of months (with a higher figure for London). Government-sponsored students may satisfy this requirement through an official sponsorship letter — confirm exactly what is accepted with UKVI and check the current financial thresholds on GOV.UK before preparing your application.

### Do Saudi students on a government scholarship need extra documents for the UK student visa?
Government-sponsored students typically need to provide a formal sponsorship letter from their sponsoring authority in addition to the standard Student visa documents. The exact requirements depend on the sponsoring body and current UKVI guidance; always confirm what is needed on GOV.UK and with your sponsor before applying.

## Sources
- [GOV.UK — Student visa](https://www.gov.uk/student-visa) — GOV.UK
- [GOV.UK — Graduate visa](https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa) — GOV.UK

Canonical: https://studyuknow.com/countries/saudi-arabia
Verified: 2026-05-20