The UQU Deanship of Postgraduate Studies has declared that the number of applicants to postgraduate programs via the e-Admission Portal for tha academic year 1437/1438 has mounted to 7.420 applicants.

This announcement was made during a meeting between the UQU President, Dr. Bakri bin Maatooq Assas, the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Dr. Thamer bin Hemdan al-Harbi, and the Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah al-Fureih. Attending the meeting, also, was the Vice Dean of Postgraduate Studies for Admission, Dr. Suleiman bin Ahmed al-Saeed. The Vice Dean of Postgraduate Studies (Girls Section), Dr. Maysoon al-Bunian, also participated in the meeting via video conferencing, as the meeting was held at the UQU President's Office at al-Abidiyah Campus.

The Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Dr. al-Fureih, stated that up to 7.420 students have applied via the e-Admission Portal to diploma, MA and PhD programs of 11 UQU colleges and institutes. Having briefed the meeting participants on the admission steps and phases, he mentioned that applicants had to take written exams on Rajab 3-11, 1437H, before they went through oral exams on Rajab 24-28, 1437H. The exam results are scheduled to be announced on Shaaban 15, 1437H, whereupon admitted applicants shall submit their documents to the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies to be matched and verified over the period from Shaaban 22 to Ramadan 18, 1437H. Meanwhile, he thanked the UQU President for his unceasing support, and lauded the efforts of the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Dr. al-Harbi.

For his part, the Vice Dean of Postgraduate Studies for Admission, Dr. Suleiman al-Saeed, mentioned that out of the 7.420 applicants, 16 percent applied for diploma programs, 66 percent for MA programs, and 18 percent for PhD programs. 249 of the applicants are teaching assistants at Saudi universities; 208 are instructors. He thanked the Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Dr. al-Fureih, for his efforts and follow-up.

The UQU President, Dr. Bakri Assas, on his part, stressed that postgraduate programs should keep at pace with the work market demands. He made clear that eligibility of candidates for the postgraduate programs is measured electronically depending on who get higher marks at the oral and written exams prepared by the UQU departments and colleges. Students of both genders are put to test: boys at the UQU main campus in al-Abdiyah, and girls at al-Zaher and al-Qunfudah campuses.

The Admission Portal, according to Dr. Assas, has been designed in a way commensurate with requirements of the postgraduate programs, with the aim of simplifying application procedures.

Dr. Assas lauded the unstinting support the university receives from the Government. Thanks to such support, the university managed to equip all colleges, institutes and research centers as per the highest standards and most advanced technologies. He praised the efforts exerted by the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies in developing strategic plans for admission to its plans, as well as the efforts made by the Deanship of Information Technology in getting things ready for application through the portal.