How to Study in Kuwait for International Students (4 Steps)

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As one of the richest countries in the world in terms of economic, industrial, and financial fields, Kuwait has reached its peak and is now globally known as a powerful country where people from different countries go to look for good-paying jobs. Also, aside from employment and economic investments, the country consistently invests and allocates a considerable part of its budget to education because its government believes that educated citizens will be assets to the country.

This is also why international students want to apply to universities in Kuwait. There is a level of certainty that the education offered in the country is among the best that they could find anywhere in the world. Besides, degrees received in Kuwait could become advantageous if they also want to look for a permanent job in Kuwait.

What are the Most Popular Subjects to Study in Kuwait?

Kuwait is a business and technology-oriented country, as it promotes business-related subjects like management, marketing, and Finance banking. Over the years, Kuwait has heavily invested in its educational institutions’ infrastructure and has spared no cost in developing the quality of its education system. It is now an attractive destination to many international students who want to pursue a degree in business and finance and wish to gain new perspectives on how business is done in different parts of the world. If you are interested in studying business in Kuwait, you can check our list of the 3 Best Business Schools in Kuwait.

1. Know the Cost of Studying in Kuwait

The cost of studying in Kuwait for international students is very expensive compared to countries in other Asian countries. Even some of their programs are much expensive than programs offered in the United States of America. On average, the tuition fees in most universities in Kuwait costs around 6500 USD up to 7500 USD annually, excluding other university fees like miscellaneous fees and laboratory fees. This is considered very expensive when some countries’ average tuition fees were less than 2000 USD. So, you will need to be mindful of your expenses when you decided on pursuing your studies in Kuwait.

Moreover, you will also need to prepare for your daily expenses and accommodation fees alongside your utility bills. On monthly dues, your accommodation and utility fees costs around 800 USD, and your living expenses would usually cost around 1000 USD up to 1500 USD depending on your spending habit and lifestyle.

2. General Application Requirements for Studying in Kuwait for International Students

General English Requirements (Undergraduate)

Knowing how to speak and write in the English language is very important especially if you plan on pursuing or getting your degree in Kuwait. The reason for this is because the main language spoke and written by the majority of people in Kuwait is Arabic and most of them know how to speak English so it is a necessary skill to survive. Also, all universities have score requirements for international students on IELTS and TOEFL so they need to learn the English language to be able to study in Kuwait as an international student.

According to the requirements of the American University of Kuwait, the needed score for IELTS and TOEFL IBT to be admitted in any of their programs is 6.0 and 60, respectively. This is lower compared to other universities because students who are enrolling in this international school usually have English as their second language.

Another example university in the country having English requirements is the Australian College of Kuwait. This university needed an average score of 5.5 in the IELTS and a minimum TOEFL IBT score of 71 to accept any aspiring international student. As the requirements for the American University of Kuwait, the required score for this university is lower because international students are expected to enroll.

Other universities in Kuwait have a requirement of an overall band score of 5.5 up to 6.0 in IELTS and a total average IBT score of 70-73 in TOEFL.

For undergraduates, there are no other additional language requirements to learn if you are an international student because most of the courses and programs offered in undergraduate universities are all taught in the English language.

General English Requirements (Graduate)

The general English requirements of international graduate students in Kuwait is almost as near as the requirements needed in undergraduate programs. Graduate students who got their bachelor’s or any undergraduate degrees from a different country need to take the IELTS and TOEFL to get an admission certificate. The required score for both language tests is 5.5 for IELTS and anything above 75 for the TOEFL IBT score.

As undergraduate students, there are no language requirements needed for graduate students. All graduate programs are taught in the English language.

Application Requirements (Undergraduate)

These are the usual requirements needed to study in Kuwait as an international student:

  • High School Diploma
  • Proof of Language Proficiency in English (IELTS or TOEFL)
  • Assessment of qualifications
  • Proof of your nationality like a birth certificate or passport
  • University application or registration form
  • Application fee (General cost: 160 USD)
  • Copy of Grades
  • Student Visa or Residence Permit

Application Requirements (Graduate)

On the other hand, here are the requirements for applying graduate students:

  • Proof of previous degrees (bachelor or any equivalent degree)
  • Proof of Language Proficiency in English (IELTS or TOEFL)
  • Assessment of qualifications
  • Application or registration form
  • Application fee (General cost: 160 USD)
  • Passport or any proof of your identity and nationality
  • Student Visa or Residence Permit

See Also: Top 10 Universities in Kuwait for International Students

3. Application Procedure for Universities in Kuwait

To study in Kuwait as an international student, you will need to apply to the universities. The application procedures differ for prospective undergraduate students compared to prospective graduate students. Before any of that, the first thing you need to do before applying to a university is finding a university that is aligned with your interests, skills, and passion. There are many reasons to consider if you want to find a good university and the best reason is if it would be suitable for you. Details about the application of the universities can also be found on their official websites.

For example, according to the university’s website of the Gulf University for Science and Technology, admission to their university is competitive. Applicants will go through a series of application processes and interviews before getting into the university. The students will have to meet the requirements that can be found on their admissions page. Only after then could they be scheduled for the interviews. Based on their page, deadlines for admissions are one month before the start of their semestral classes, August and January.

The procedures for the graduate students are similar to the undergraduates’ students except for the requirements, so carefully take note of the needed documents before submitting them.

Check out: Best Medical Schools in Kuwait 

4. Student visa application process

Visas are very necessary to be able to enter legally in a country for whatever reason you might be going. To study in Kuwait as an international student, you will need a student visa. Student visas are very easy to obtain especially if you have all the proper documents and requirements needed. The most important document to have is the certification or proof that you will be admitted or invited to the university you will be attending. After verifying this, the other needed documents that will prove your authenticity and legality will easily be processed. Proof of language proficiency, proof of nationality or passport, and other supporting files like a birth certificate or a police clearance.

Studying abroad will be very challenging, especially if this would be your first time being away from your comfort zone. You will face many new bumps on the road and you might fall several times but always remember your reason why you are studying in Kuwait in the first place – to be successful.

In conclusion, international students who wish to pursue higher education in Kuwait should first make sure that their finances are sufficient to cover their tuition and living expenses. Students should also fulfill all the general application and visa requirements and make sure that everything is in order before embarking upon the journey of studying in Kuwait. If you are set on studying in Kuwait, it would be a good idea to check the 6 Cheapest Universities in Kuwait for International Students

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page.