SDG 1: NO POVERTY

1.3.3 Does your university as a body provide support (e.g. food, housing, transportation, legal services) for students from poorest families to enable them to complete university?

Al Maarefa University has multiple mechanisms in place to reduce material barriers to academic continuity: a portfolio of scholarships/grants, installment payment plans (JeelPay), a Student Fund, and psychological and social support units within the Dean's Office [1]. Evidence shows financial aid (scholarships, installment payments), administrative services (transportation certificates, student funds), psychosocial support, and community initiatives (e.g., clothing distribution). These instruments are consistent with measures that enable students from low-income backgrounds to complete their studies [2]. There are formal Memoranda of Understanding (e.g., with Ensan) and collaborations with foundations/entities that provide places/scholarships for vulnerable populations (orphans, etc.), which constitute a direct channel of subsidized or free support [3]. The university does offer operational support and agreements that help students stay in school [4] [5].

University Scholarships and Financial Aid

Al Maarefa University provides scholarships and financial aid programs aimed at easing the financial burden on low-income students. These include need-based grants and merit scholarships that cover tuition fees and other educational expenses, ensuring that financial challenges do not become barriers to access [4].

New students

Comments:

For Saudi high school graduates:

Weighted percentage = 30% of high school GPA + 40% of the achievement test score + 30% of the General Aptitude Test score.

For American curriculum graduates:

Weighted percentage = 70% of the SAT score or equivalent + 30% of high school GPA.

SAT score calculation: (SAT score ÷ 100) × 1600 = Final score

Then calculate the percentage: (70% × Final score) + (30% × High school GPA).

For international high school graduates or those from outside the Kingdom (which do not require the General Aptitude Test and Achievement Test):

• Only the cumulative high school GPA is used as the weighted percentage.
• The English language certificate is valid for two years from its issuance date.

Scholarships for regular students

Scholarships for outstanding students

Outstanding continuing students from the 2022 cohort and earlier (222) are granted a semester scholarship, provided they meet the scholarship requirements, and receive a payment discount as specified for each category, in the event of adherence to payment according to the specified date for semester tuition fees, starting after the first academic year, as follows:

Outstanding continuing students from the 2023 cohort and beyond (231) will be granted a semester scholarship, provided they meet the scholarship requirements, and will receive a payment discount as specified for each category, provided they adhere to the payment schedule for semester tuition fees, starting after the first academic year, as follows:

Additional multi-skills:

Obtain an IELTS score or equivalent (6 for medicine, 4.5 for other majors). Or pass the "Progress Test" as determined by the college board.

The validity period of the English language certificate is two years from its date.

Combining the English language discount with the comprehensive test discount is not permitted.

Excellence Table for Batch 231 and beyond

Scholarships for industrial engineering majors

Excellence scholarships for postgraduate studies for graduates of Almaarefa University

Excellence scholarships for postgraduate studies for graduates of Almaarefa University

Scholarship guidelines:

• The student is required to pay 50% of the basic tuition fees before the start of the semester.
• The student is not allowed to combine any scholarship or discount offered by the university
• The internship program is not included
• Excellence Scholarships for Continuing Students are quarterly regression grants; To determine the student's eligibility for it or not, and it is not an annual grant.

Jeelpay in partnership with Almaarefa University

JeelPay lists Al Maarefa among institutional partners — independent confirmation that the instalment/payment mechanism is available to Al Maarefa students as a subsidised/credit-facilitating channel [6].

Scholarship controls

• The student is required to pay 50% of the basic tuition fees before the start of the semester.
• The student is not allowed to combine any scholarship or discount offered by the university
• The internship program is not included
• Excellence Scholarships for Continuing Students are quarterly regression grants; To determine the student's eligibility for it or not, and it is not an annual grant.

Social Development Bank

Al Maarefa University operates a comprehensive scholarships and financial-aid portfolio (merit awards, discounts, and partner-financed options). Partnerships with Social Development Bank channels and third-party instalment providers are expressly listed to reduce students’ up-front payment burdens and help sustain their studies to completion [4].

Deanship - Student Services (Student Fund, transport certificates, psychological and social assistance)

The Deanship of Admission, Registration & Student Affairs provides operational student services: a “Student Fund” service, provision of transportation certificates, distribution of university uniforms/ID, and explicit “psychological and social assistance” units. These services constitute institutional mechanisms (free or subsidised in nature) that help students overcome non-tuition barriers to study [5]. The Deanship of Admission, Registration, and Student Affairs is one of the university’s supporting deanships, responsible for providing academic and administrative support to colleges in all matters related to the educational and administrative processes at the university. It serves as the main body that manages and organizes the academic and administrative relationship between the student and the university. Moreover, it represents the first point of contact for students—from the moment they are admitted until their graduation.

Through the Department of Student Activities and Affairs, the Deanship also supervises the implementation of extracurricular programs and student services. The department is responsible for organizing cultural, social, sports, and artistic activities, and for encouraging active student participation to strengthen the spirit of belonging and teamwork. This is achieved by supporting and overseeing student clubs, providing the necessary resources for their programs and activities both inside and outside the university. Additionally, the department develops guidance and orientation programs—particularly for new students—to help them integrate smoothly into university life and to familiarize them with their rights and responsibilities.

Student handbook - rights to social and psychological assistance

The student handbook formally recognises a student’s right to “psychological and social assistance and care… to help the student solve problems that hinder educational achievement.” This is a regulatory basis for offering subsidised/free services (counselling, referral, case management) to students in need [2].

MOU with Charitable Society for Orphans Care (Ensan) - scholarships / pathways for vulnerable beneficiaries

The MOU with Ensan (Charitable Society for Orphans Care) formalises collaboration to provide educational pathways, training and scholarships for orphans/other vulnerable beneficiaries — an explicit institutional channel to deliver subsidised/fully-funded access and thus enable completion for students from the poorest households. Al-Maarefa University signed a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation with the “Insan” Charitable Society for Orphan Care on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the university’s headquarters in the South Sudair Hall. This agreement embodies the comprehensive renaissance that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing on all levels, especially in the health and education sectors, and complements the mission carried by both parties, and their contribution to building a knowledge and scientific society, and enhancing integration and participation between them within the frameworks of knowledge exchange and practical application. Since the reality of providing health services and building a knowledge society requires concerted and integrated efforts in everything that would advance these aspects, this reinforces the importance of this agreement, and the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the agreement’s goal. Al-Maarefa University is an academic, scientific, and training institution that is subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Education, and it educates, trains, and qualifies high school graduates to obtain a bachelor’s degree in medicine, surgery, pharmacy, and various health and technical specializations needed by all governmental and private sectors, and the equivalent of programs and training courses [7].

Qualification of Career Counselors” course

#جامعة_المعرفة , in cooperation with the Human Development Association (Himma), has set up a “Qualification of Career Counselors” course, which aims to help students choose their professional path [8].

Dialogue meeting with Kuwaiti scholarship students

Al Maarefa University hosted a dialogue session with scholarship students from Kuwait, providing orientation and direct university support to facilitate their academic integration and success.

In a friendly dialogue meeting, the delegation students from the sisterly State of Kuwait were gathered, in the presence of the Dean of the College of Medicine in Almaarefa university Dr. Khaled Al-Qamizi, and the head of the Kuwaiti Cultural Office, Mr. Ahmed Al-Khanfar [9].

We wish them a successful academic journey. pic.twitter.com/c5G8huRcSM

The College of Applied Sciences at Almaarefa University organized the first orientation session for new students from the Army's scholarship program.

The College of Applied Sciences at Almaarefa University organized the first orientation session for new students from the Army's scholarship program. The session included a warm welcome and provided detailed information about the university's educational programs. The meeting featured an overview of the academic programs and services available to students, as well as an introduction to the opportunities available to them throughout their academic journey [2].

MOU with Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company “Hikma”

Al Maarefa University signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Jazeera Pharmaceutical Industries (Hikma) to collaborate on education, training, research and community service - partnerships that commonly support scholarships, internships and funded student placements.

As part of the University of Knowledge’s efforts to enhance academic and research cooperation, a memorandum of understanding and cooperation was signed with Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company “Hikma”, aiming to develop and grow the health sector in the Kingdom by enhancing scientific research, education, innovation and enhancing joint cooperation in areas related to the specialization of both parties, which serve the sectors of research, development, education, employment and training [13]. The signing ceremony took place during the university’s participation in the Global Health Forum, in the presence of a number of officials from both sides, where the agreement was signed by His Excellency the CEO of Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company, Eng. Mohammed bin Zaid Al-Zamil, and the General Manager of Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company, Dr. Mamoun Salama Al-Araydah.

This agreement comes as part of the two parties’ efforts to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, by enhancing cooperation between academic institutions and government agencies, to achieve sustainable development goals and develop the health sector in the Kingdom.

This memorandum embodies the renaissance that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing at all levels. Based on the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the future of the Kingdom 2030, which emphasized supporting the health and education sectors, expanding the scope of their work, and contributing to building a knowledge society and enhancing integration, cooperation and participation between the two parties, and believing in the importance of enhancing efforts and exchanging experiences, and sensing their role in developing scientific and practical skills and advancing education, training and health services, in addition to enhancing the research capabilities of each of them and enabling their members to benefit from the available capabilities to implement research projects, participate in specialized scientific conferences and seminars, community service programs and volunteer activities, and employ university graduates.

As part of the efforts Almaarefa university In enhancing academic and research cooperation..

Knowledge University signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of educational, training, research and community service services with Al Jazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company (Hikma).

Academic Phobia Initiative - cooperation with Charitable Society for Orphan Care

The 'Academic Phobia' initiative — launched by Al Maarefa University in partnership with the Charitable Society for Orphan Care — demonstrates direct outreach and capacity-building efforts targeting vulnerable groups and indicates institutional engagement with NGOs to assist disadvantaged youth.

Al-Maarifa University, in cooperation with the Charitable Society for Orphan Care in the Riyadh region, launched the “Academic Phobia” initiative on Wednesday, 12/11/2019 AD, in the Great Diriyah Hall. Several topics were presented, the most important of which was university life and its requirements, which was presented by Professor Dr. Muhammad Al-Zamil, Dean of Admissions, Registration, and Student Affairs. As well as the academic difficulties of preparatory year students and how to overcome them, they were addressed by Professor Dr. Abdel Moneim Mardi, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University, and Dr. Hassan Al-Naamna addressed the definition and forms of the concept of academic phobia, its symptoms, and treatment mechanisms for it. The University was keen to share the discussion from one of its students, so Abdullah Al-Salim from the Faculty of Medicine discussed how Passing the preparatory year and skipping the transition from secondary school to university stage [12].

Such hosting comes as part of the university’s role in strengthening cooperation ties between it and charitable organizations in particular, and its effective role in providing community service.

MoU with Waey Society (Awareness Association)

Following the Global Health Forum, Al Maarefa University signed an MoU with the Waey Society to deliver joint community health programs and quality-of-life initiatives — channels that can support vulnerable students through health and social services [12].

We are pleased to Almaarefa university To announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the “Awareness” Association @WaeySociety As a fruit of fruits #Global_Health_ForumWith the aim of achieving national targets related to community health and quality of life. pic.twitter.com/MFWqQCHYcG.

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