The admission process involves acceptance of an application on three separate levels: university, department, and degree. Such acceptance does not normally take place at one point in time, and usually occurs at different stages in the student's academic career.

Admission to the University's Graduate Studies Program with graduate status is the first step. This certifies that the student is qualified to take individual graduate courses for which he has the academic prerequisites. It does not necessarily imply that the candidates is qualified to follow a specific academic program nor that he meets the special qualification requirements of an individual academic department. Securing departmental approval is the second step. For full-time graduate students, especially those who have taken their undergraduate degrees from KFUPM, this may often be secured at the out-set of graduate studies.

The third step is called "Admission to Candidacy", and consists of meeting certain formal requirements in the process of preparing for an advanced degree. Application for admission to candidacy cannot be filed until at least 50% of the semester-credit-hours in the student's approved program of study at KFUPM have been completed; it must be filed and approved at least six months before the degree is to be conferred.

General University Requirements
Graduate students are subject to the general regulations of the University, which apply to all students. In addition, various rules, which have been adopted specifically for graduate students on the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Council and approved by the Vice-Rector for Graduate Studies and Science Research, are also applied.

An applicant for admission to the Graduate Studies Program must supply or arrange for the University to receive certain formal ********s attesting to his good health and character, and certifying that he has graduated from a four-year university system with a bachelor's degree in a subject area which is pertinent to the graduate course offering at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, and that he has an adequate command of English, the language of instruction at KFUPM. For admission to the Ph.D. Program the applicant must hold a M.S. degree *****alent in quality and involving the same length of study duration as those granted at KFUPM. The specific ********s required are cited in "Admission Procedures" and on the application forms. Inquiries should be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Students are admitted to the academic program and the area of specialization indentified in their application. If this program differs from their previous program of study, they will be required to make up deficiencies after admission. A request for a change of academic program is required for any con tinuation beyond the original program requested, or for a change to new program before an existing program is completed. A request for a change in program will be considered as if it were an entirely new application, subject to procedures and standards currently applicable at that time. All applicants whose credentials meet stated minimum quantitative standards are considered for admission to Graduate Studies. The close relationship between a graduate student seeking an advanced degree and the faculty makes it necessary for a careful screening of applicants. Consideration, however, is given to the availability of facilities and to the array of professional specializations within the current graduate faculty. Priority is given to those students having the highest qualifications, with preference given to those whose previous academic record is from universities offering courses *****alent to those at KFUPM.

G.R.E. Requirements
Applicants to the Graduate Studies are normally required to take the general graduate record examination as well as the graduate record examination in their area of specialization.

Language Requirements
The language of instruction at the University is English, and all courses in the College are in English. It is essential, therefore, that all candidates for admission demonstrate a high proficiency in this language before being admitted for graduate study. Standards and procedures for demonstrating this proficiency have been established by the Graduate Studies Council and are administered by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A score of 520 on the TOEFL examination and of 4.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE) are considered to be a minimum for entry into the Graduate Studies.

A special English course, open to all graduate students with a score of 520 or better in TOEFL (or *****alent), English 510, is highly recommended for all graduate students. (See page 381). This course helps students prepare effective thesis proposals and theses.

Students repeating TOEFL Examination but could not secure the 520 (for Master) or the 550 marks (for Ph.D.) requirements, they can have the following options:

If the student secure a minimum of 450 in their TOEFL Examination, they can register for ENGL 510 Course and secure a minimum Grade of "B" or better. This has to be completed by the students by the second semester of their enrollment.
Otherwise, they have to repeat the TOEFL Examination until they secure 520 marks for the Master and 550 marks for Doctoral Program.