Saudi Gazette, 4 August 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Universities Affairs has issued two new regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate study and examinations.

The regulatory changes will be implemented from 2022 to the 2023 academic year.

They will regulate procedures and have been issued to keep up with developments in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

They aim to increase the operational efficiency of Saudi Arabian universities and improve the quality of education output in line with labour market demands.

This will boost the recruitment of talented and innovative students and foster distinction and competition between universities.

Universities will have broad powers regarding academic procedures based on governance and a flexible institutional framework.

Under the new regulation for study and examinations, universities can change the semester, level or year schedule at the undergraduate level. They outline a different assessment system will be imposed. The system is compatible with the regulations followed by world-leading universities.

In terms of the regulatory changes affecting undergraduate studies, universities can promote a flexible education system for students, allowing them to earn degrees other than a bachelor’s degree.

For example, those who did not meet the requirements for a bachelor’s degree can be awarded a diploma in the specialism they are pursuing.

The same flexibility will be given to postgraduate students.

Universities will allow students to earn a lower academic degree than the programme they enrolled in.

Joint programmes for postgraduate studies will be able to be established between universities in or outside the Kingdom.

Students enrolled at a non-Saudi university will have the opportunity to enrol in courses at a Saudi university. They may earn a degree or certificate approved by two educational institutions with a joint programme. Students can enrol in two programmes simultaneously or from a previous stage. In addition, students can calculate equivalent courses within their cumulative average.

Various entities helped draft the regulations. They included the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, multiple universities and specialists and Government agency officials who are members of the Council of Universities Affairs.

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