Article Summary
● The Ma’aden Scholarship Program for 2026 is offered through the Wa’ed Path as an employment-linked scholarship, with study pathways at Colorado School of Mines in the United States and UNSW Sydney in Australia.
● It covers a range of engineering and technical majors serving Ma’aden’s operations in gold, phosphate, aluminium and wider mining.
● Under the currently published requirements, applicants need a high-school average of at least 90%, scores of at least 85% in both the General Aptitude and Achievement Tests, and must be under 20 years old.
● Language requirements vary by university and pathway for the published 2026 round. Colorado School of Mines requires IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0; UNSW pathways list IELTS 5.5, Writing 5.5, and no other skill below 5.0. TOEFL alternatives are available, and Colorado also accepts Duolingo at the published thresholds. Requirements may change in future rounds.
● Published scholarship benefits include tuition coverage, a monthly stipend, a housing allowance, medical insurance, annual travel tickets, and additional allowances or academic support depending on programme details.
The Ma’aden International Scholarship Program is an international bachelor’s degree scholarship offered through the Wa’ed Path as an employment-linked scholarship at Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden). The programme is aimed at recent Saudi high school graduates. The published 2026 round includes five-year study paths at Colorado School of Mines in the United States and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, depending on the major. These universities and requirements apply to the currently published round, so review new announcements by Ma’aden and the Saudi Ministry of Education whenever another round opens. This article covers Ma’aden scholarship admission requirements, IELTS scores, how to apply, and common mistakes that result in applications being rejected.
What Is the Ma’aden International Scholarship Program and Which Majors Does It Cover?
The Ma’aden International Scholarship Program is a strategic initiative by Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) to develop Saudi specialists in mining and related industries. The programmes published for the 2026 round are divided between Colorado School of Mines in the United States and UNSW Sydney in Australia. The Saudi Ministry of Education’s programme pages indicate that universities and pathways differ by major; Mining Engineering, for example, appeared on paths at both universities.
The programme forms part of the Wa’ed Path’s employment-linked scholarship model: academic study is aligned with Ma’aden’s future staffing needs and a career path with the company, subject to meeting programme requirements and graduating.
Majors Offered by the Ma’aden Scholarship Program
Ma’aden’s current programme page lists eight principal majors:
- Mining Engineering.
- Geoenergy and Geostorage Engineering.
- Geological Engineering.
- Geophysical Engineering.
- Metallurgical Engineering.
- Electrical Engineering.
- Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering.
- Environmental Engineering.
Ministry of Education pages show that some majors are associated with the Colorado pathway, others with UNSW, while Mining Engineering appeared on pathways at both universities. Applicants should therefore consult the relevant major’s page under the Wa’ed Path to identify its university during an open application round.
Do not choose a major independently of its university: the published language requirement also depends on the university. Start with your intended major, verify its university, and compare your current score with the IELTS or TOEFL requirement for that pathway. You can review general programme information in the Wa’ed Path.
The programme is closely connected to Ma’aden’s work in aluminium, phosphate, gold, and broader mining operations. Your major is therefore selected to meet the company’s future needs, rather than being a completely unrestricted choice. Learn about the best universities in the United States for scholarship students.
Official Ma’aden Scholarship Admission Requirements
Ma’aden publishes clear admission criteria on its official website. For the currently published 2026 round, the fundamental eligibility requirements are:
- Nationality: The applicant must be a Saudi citizen.
- High school: A recent graduate from the General Track, Computer Science and Engineering Track, or an equivalent pathway, with a grade average of at least 90%.
- General Aptitude Test: A score of at least 85%.
- Achievement Test: A score of at least 85%.
- Age: The applicant must be under 20 years old.
- English language: Meet the university- and pathway-specific language requirement. No single IELTS score applies to all published pathways.
General Wa’ed Path eligibility requirements also include good conduct, full-time study, residence in the scholarship country throughout the study period, and equivalency certification for a high-school qualification issued outside Saudi Arabia. Admission is also subject to the programme’s policies and competitive selection criteria.
If you are comparing Ma’aden with other programmes, read the Saudi overseas scholarship guide to understand the general pathways and conditions before choosing the best option.
What English Test Score Does the Ma’aden Scholarship Require by University?
The published English-language requirements differ by university:
| University pathway | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Other published alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of Mines | 6.5 overall, with no skill below 6.0 | 80 overall: Writing 17, Reading 20, Listening 21, Speaking 21 | Duolingo 105 overall, with no subscore below 100 |
| UNSW Sydney | 5.5 overall, with Writing 5.5 and no other skill below 5.0 | 65 overall: Writing 18, Reading 4, Listening 4, Speaking 14 | Ma’aden’s page did not list Duolingo as an alternative for this pathway |
Important: Do not look at the overall score alone. For example, IELTS 6.5 with a score of 5.5 in one skill does not meet the published requirement for the Colorado pathway. If a university’s general admission requirements differ from the Ma’aden scholarship announcement, use the condition published for the relevant Ma’aden or Ministry of Education round, and check for updates before applying. If you are choosing between the two tests, read our IELTS vs TOEFL comparison after first confirming which tests your specific Ma’aden pathway accepts.
How Can You Prepare for the IELTS Score Required by Ma’aden with GoIELTS?
Begin by identifying the university and pathway you want to apply to, because the required language score is not identical across all pathways. Then compare your current results with both the overall requirement and the minimum score for each skill. Preparation time differs depending on your current level and weaknesses, so do not assume a fixed number of weeks will be enough for every applicant. Start with three clear steps:
1. Find Out Your Actual Level First
Do not start preparing without knowing your starting point. Use a free IELTS mock test to assess your performance across the test skills and identify the areas where you need more practice. Treat any mock-test band as a training estimate, not an official IELTS result or a guarantee of the score you will obtain in the real exam.
2. Identify Your Skill Gaps Accurately
After taking an IELTS mock test, find out whether your main weakness is Writing, Listening or Reading. GoIELTS generates detailed performance reports showing patterns in your mistakes by question type, rather than leaving you to guess your level.
3. Practise Writing and Speaking with Immediate Feedback
GoIELTS offers practice assessments for Writing and Speaking based on IELTS criteria, with feedback on grammar, coherence, vocabulary and fluency. Use these results for training and progress tracking, not as an official score issued by a certified IELTS examiner.
To compare language requirements between scholarship programmes, review the IELTS scores required for scholarships by programme and major.
How to Apply for the Ma’aden Scholarship Program
For the 2026 Wa’ed Path round, applications to the Ma’aden pathways were open from 19 July to 2 August 2026. The Ma’aden and Ministry of Education pages currently show applications as closed. Do not assume the same dates will apply to a future round; when new applications open, rely on the dates announced by Ma’aden and the Ministry of Education at that time.
What Should You Check Before Starting an Application?
Before applying in any future round, verify that your details and test results meet the requirements of the published pathway: high school grades, General Aptitude Test, Achievement Test, and the language requirement for the university. The supporting-document list and uploading procedure depend on the application form or guide issued for that particular round. Do not assume that the requirements for a previous round will remain unchanged.
What Should You Avoid When Applying for the Ma’aden Scholarship?
Do not rely only on meeting the minimum high school average. Ma’aden’s initial shortlisting considers your grades as well as Aptitude, Achievement and English scores, so verify every requirement before submitting, especially the minimum for each language skill. Meeting the minimum makes you eligible for selection; it does not mean you have received final admission. Learn about the best IELTS preparation books.
What Are the Ma’aden Scholarship Selection Stages?
Ma’aden describes a three-stage selection process:
- Initial Shortlisting: Based on high school results, General Aptitude and Achievement Test scores, and English-language requirements.
- Psychometric Assessment: An assessment of the abilities and traits required during selection.
- Comprehensive Medical Examination: The medical stage included in the published selection procedures.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not mean automatic acceptance. Eligible applicants must still go through competitive shortlisting and assessment.
What Are the Benefits of the Ma’aden Scholarship Program?
Ma’aden publishes a range of financial and academic benefits for scholarship students during their studies. The main benefits include:
1. Benefits During the Study Period
- Tuition fees: Tuition coverage under the terms of the programme.
- Monthly stipend: Monthly financial support throughout the scholarship, subject to programme policy.
- Housing allowance: Included among the published scholarship benefits.
- Medical insurance: Medical coverage during study under the programme.
- Annual travel tickets: According to the published benefits.
- Additional academic support: Book and materials allowances, rewards for outstanding students, and academic guidance or support under the programme details.
2. Connection to a Career Path
The programme is part of the Wa’ed Path for employment-linked scholarships. This means academic study is aligned with Ma’aden’s needs and a career path with the company after meeting programme requirements and graduating. The specific role, compensation and employment benefits after starting work are determined by the offer and policies announced to the successful candidate.
3. Financial Incentives and Allowances After Starting Work
Specific salaries or allowance percentages for programme graduates should not be stated unless Ma’aden officially publishes them for the relevant round or role. The employment package varies according to the job, location and applicable policies at the time of appointment.
To compare this programme with another company scholarship, see the Aramco scholarship programme guide.
Conclusion
The Ma’aden International Scholarship Program offers a real opportunity to students with strong academic results who want to build a specialised engineering career.
However, the language requirement calls for early planning because it varies by university and pathway. Do not assume that IELTS 6.5 applies to all Ma’aden scholarship options; first confirm the university and major you are targeting.
If IELTS is the requirement preventing you from completing your Ma’aden application today, start by assessing your current level and make a plan based on an actual result rather than a guess.
Frequently Asked Questions
The published 2026 requirements include Saudi nationality, recent graduation from an accepted high-school track, a high-school average of at least 90%, scores of at least 85% on the General Aptitude Test and 85% on the Achievement Test, and compliance with the programme’s published age limit. Applicants must also meet the language condition for their university and pathway; no single IELTS score applies to all Ma’aden pathways.
Ma’aden’s current scholarship programme page does not publish a specific starting salary for graduates or fixed allowance percentages after employment. Compensation depends on the job, location and policies in effect when employment begins. Refer to the employment offer or Ma’aden’s official announcement at the time of appointment.
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) operates in mining and mineral industries. Its activities include extracting and processing gold, phosphate and aluminium, as well as broader mining operations in Saudi Arabia.
The Ma’aden programme is part of the Wa’ed Path for employment-linked scholarships, so study is connected to a career path at the company after completing the programme and graduating. The position, salary and allowances after employment begins depend on the offer and policies applicable at the time of appointment.
Yes. The published 2026 round includes both male and female Saudi applicants. Female applicants are subject to the same published eligibility and competitive selection requirements for the pathways available. Check the majors open in each new round rather than assuming that every major remains available every year.
No. The published application period for the 2026 round ran from 19 July to 2 August 2026 and applications are currently closed. Do not assume those dates will repeat next time. Check announcements by Ma’aden and the Saudi Ministry of Education when a new round opens.
There is no single requirement for all pathways. In the published 2026 round, the Colorado School of Mines pathway requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no skill below 6.0, while UNSW pathways list IELTS 5.5, with Writing at least 5.5 and no other skill below 5.0. Always verify the university and major requirements in the current round’s announcement.
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