The Postgraduate Research Program is a new strategic program in the national research and development support ecosystem. It is a long-term strategic investment aimed at developing a set of scientific skills needed to boost Saudi Arabia’s position among leading countries in the field of science, technology and innovation.

This program works - in general - by providing financial support to Saudi graduate students. It also provide the required technical assistance, including devices and equipment for the implementation of Master's and PhD research. This research is based on R&D approaches related to production and manufacturing problems.

The program’s goals include the following:

• Encouraging outstanding graduate students to conduct world-class research in various sciences according to advanced scientific knowledge worldwide.
• Developing scientific skills to elevate the Kingdom’s status as a pioneer in science, technology and innovation.
• Supporting modern scientific and technological discoveries and playing a role in establishing the necessary foundations for building a knowledge-based society and economy
• Enhancing the culture of implementing joint research among graduate students in universities, government and private agencies, to ensure harmony among them.

Under this program STU-UQU had submitted 18 proposals in 2017 out which 11 proposals were for Masters students and 7 were for PhD candidates. Out of total 18 proposals submitted 3 Master students proposals were accepted.

In 2018 26 proposals were submitted out which 10 were for Masters students and 16 for PhD candidates. 

3 projects from 2017 and 4 from 2018 have been accepted for funding and work has been started on them.