Admission Requirements

 Admission to the program requires fulfilling all KFUPM and Graduate Studies requirements. These can be found in the recent Graduate Bulletin at the URL: KFUPM Graduate Bulletin, with more details.

Applicants seeking admission to the Ph.D. in CBE must meet the following criteria:

  • Educational Background: A master’s degree in architectural engineering, Construction Engineering & Management, Civil Engineering, Building Engineering, or a closely related discipline from a recognized institution.

  • Academic Performance: A strong academic record with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (or equivalent) in previous graduate studies.

  • English Proficiency: Satisfactory scores in TOEFL or IELTS, in line with KFUPM graduate admission policies.

  • Graduate Admission Test: GRE (or equivalent) may be required according to KFUPM regulations.

  • Supporting Documents: Statement of purpose, updated CV, and letters of recommendation.

  • Interview: Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview to assess their research potential and alignment with departmental research themes.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Ph.D. in Construction and Building Engineering, students must complete:

  1. Total Credit Hours: 42 credit hours, distributed as follows:

    • Core Program Requirements: 15 credit hours

    • Electives: 15 credit hours (from Construction Engineering and Building Engineering clusters, or approved free electives)

    • Seminar: 0 credit hours (mandatory attendance and participation)

    • Pre-Dissertation: 3 credit hours (successful proposal development and defense)

    • Dissertation: 9 credit hours (original research, final dissertation, and public defense)

  2. Comprehensive Examination: To be taken after completion of core coursework, typically at the end of the second year.

  3. Research Dissertation: Completion of an original doctoral dissertation that demonstrates independent research and makes a significant contribution to the field.

  4. Residency: Full-time study on campus.

  5. Duration: Normally completed in 4 years (with a maximum of 6 years, per KFUPM regulations).