Saudi Arabia is a business hub in the Middle East, and a perfect spot for entrepreneurial minds to start up a tech company. With how influential computer science is in our everyday lives, there is no better time than today to join in the huddle of programmers and software developers.
Computer science exists in all corners of the world, albeit in different cultural contexts. Saudi Arabia provides the perfect cultural experience on top of its global education.
Indulge in scrumptious shawarma and an endless view of date trees while earning your degree! We gathered together the universities with the best computer science programs in Saudi Arabia. Read on to know which university for computer science works for you!
Top Universities Offering Computer Science in Saudi Arabia
1. King Abdulaziz University – Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
King Abdulaziz University (KAU) takes first place on the list. Saudi Arabia’s acclaimed top institution for tertiary education, the public university boasts a strong global perspective and impact on publication citations. Its location in the urban district of Jeddah makes it a strategic choice to study computer science.
The Department of Computer Science, under the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, regulates the university’s computer science course offerings. It is also home to revolutionary laboratories and facilities, catering to the students’ specialist course assignments and research. The department dedicates itself to the expansion of different areas such as intelligent systems, network computing, and software engineering.
King Abdulaziz University is indeed an excellent institution for computer science in Saudi Arabia that offers an undergraduate computer science program accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Master’s and doctoral degree programs hone the students’ higher computing and research skills.
2. King Saud University – College of Computer and Information Sciences
While it comes in second on the list, King Saud University is nowhere less prestigious. King Saud University (KSU) is the first university established in Saudi Arabia, and at present offers free higher education to local and international students. It offers several academic disciplines, among which is computer science.
The Department of Computer Science of King Saud University delivers an outstanding computer science program in Saudi Arabia along with its graduate and undergraduate course offerings for computer science. It aims to mold students into smart and efficient wielders of technology, with creativity to boost society’s well-being.
The department aims to produce employable and globally competent programming professionals and software developers. Thus, it promotes advancing to graduate studies and entering versatile job positions upon employment. King Saud University offers accredited computer science programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
3. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals – Information and Computer Science Department
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) boasts the strongest academic performance in engineering, science, management, and business for all of Saudi Arabia. The multitude of research centers and their significant research impact is a testament to the university’s dedication to innovation. All engineering programs are internationally accredited, including computer science.
The Information and Computer Science Department takes the lead in molding competent and versatile computer science graduates. Motivated to become a regional leader in computer science, the department employs a balance between generalist knowledge and specialist skills.
Computer science is offered in undergraduate and graduate programs, and students have the option to specialize in core subjects like machine learning, cybersecurity, and blockchain. Graduate programs are also offered in two concentrations to enable students to freely explore the fields of either software engineering or information security.
4. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology – Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division
Next on the list, we have the first co-ed university established in Saudi Arabia. The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is one of the best universities for computer science in Saudi Arabia that exclusively caters to graduate studies and research programs. The university, while relatively young, is quick to build its reputation through acclaimed publications and citation records. The university has won numerous research competitions in computer science.
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology offers a graduate computer science program open to local and international students. It aims to foster the students’ analytical and creative thinking skills to become world-class researchers and entrepreneurs, ready to take on the tech industry.
The computer science course curriculum eventually narrows down to six specializations: artificial intelligence, computer systems, high-performance computing, theoretical computer science, visual computing, and computational biosciences.
5. Umm Al-Qura University – Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
Situated in the holiest city of Mecca, Umm Al-Qura University provides higher education for a wide range of esteemed and internationally accredited degree programs. The university also seeks to be one of the country’s most global computer science programs.
The Department of Computer Science in the university delivers a unique and world-class program for computer science in Saudi Arabia and centers itself on training and education when it comes to programming. Its diverse lineup of faculty lends to the students’ global competency in software engineering, databases, and artificial intelligence.
Undergraduate and graduate computer science students foster their creative thinking in pursuing computations to solve real-world problems efficiently. Umm, Al-Qura University also encourages multidisciplinary approaches in the student’s use of their computing skills; after all, computer science is among the most adaptable fields and domains of skills.
6. Effat University – College of Engineering
Concluding our list for today is Effat University. Effat University is a private tertiary education institution and an excellent computer science school in Saudi Arabia for women in Jeddah. Relatively new to the academe, the university has cultivated strong partnerships with educational institutes from across the globe. Not to mention, Effat University boasts an accredited program, which is computer science.
Effat University empowers women in STEM with its renowned curricula and accreditations. The university offers an undergraduate degree in computer science wherein students begin their computing journey through mastery of the foundations of programming and information management.
Effat’s computer science program offers students the option to specialize in either artificial intelligence or cybersecurity. Meanwhile, students with no significant interest in the two can simply proceed with their senior-year studies without taking concentration courses.
We hope that this article on the Best Universities for Computer Science in Saudi Arabia was helpful. If you’re looking to study Computer Science or other programs abroad, feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students.
