Umm al-Qura University (UQU) has announced that it would receive applications for postgraduate programs for the academic year 1437/1438H via the Online Admission Portal over the period starting from Jumada al-Oula 27th, till Jumada al-Thania 15th, 1437H. This was decided during the meeting convened by the UQU President, Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas, and attended by the Vice President for Post Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Thamer bin Hemdan al-Harbi, and the Vice President for Academic Development and Community Service, Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah al-Fureih. Participating in the meeting, also, was the Dean of Information Technology, Dr. Majed al-Gethami. There were other officials who participated in the meeting via video conferencing, including vice-deans of postgraduate studies and IT. The meeting was held at the UQU President's Office at al-Abdiyah Campus.

The Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Dr. al-Fureih, briefed attendees on the updates introduced to the Admission Plan for the upcoming academic year, 1434/1438H. He said, "The available diploma, master and PhD programs are to be declared tomorrow, Monday, Jumada al-Oula 20, 1437H. Applications shall be submitted at the Online Admission Portal over the period starting from Jumada al-Oula 27th, till Jumada al-Thania 15th, 1437H."

He mentioned that that the Admission Deanship spares no effort to push forward development of admission to post-graduate programs, and of the services provided for applicants and students. In doing so, the deanship received generous support from the UQU President, and good assistance from Vice President for Post Graduate Studies and Research. Meanwhile, he praised the collaboration going on between the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies and the Deanship of Information Technology; with the aim of harnessing technology for developing online admission, among the other dealings and processes for which the deanship takes responsibility.

For his part, the Vice Dean of Postgraduate Studies for Development, Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hindi, jointly with Dr. Suleiman Ahmed al-Saeed, gave a presentation explaining the proposed admission plan in detail.

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.