Admission and Graduation Requirements

The admission requirements for the Computer Engineering program at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) are as follows:

• A high school degree, substantially equivalent in length, content, and quality to the current high school program (Science) of the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia.
• Passing the University Admission Test.
• Successful promotion from the Orientation Program.
• Fulfillment of all other University requirements.
• A record of good conduct.
• Physical fitness and good health.
• Approval of his employer, if he is an employee of any government or private agency.

An applicant for admission to an undergraduate program at KFUPM must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

1. He must have a Saudi secondary school certificate, or its equivalent, and have majored in natural or technological sciences.
2. He is required to take an entrance exam which consists of an aptitude test and a subject test administered by the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education.
   • The aptitude test has two components: the verbal and the quantitative. The test is aimed at determining the general capabilities of students in the two areas mentioned above.
3. The University assigns a certain weight to the three components, i.e., high school grade, the aptitude test, and subject test scores. A cut-off point is decided for the weighted average of the applicant's grades in the three components and the eligible students are pronounced successful for admission.
4. The number of students accepted is limited to the number of seats available as decided by the University Council based on the capacity of resources at the University.
5. The applicant must submit the required documents to the University within a specified period.
6. An applicant who has graduated from a secondary school system outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must have completed twelve years of combined primary and secondary school studies from a recognized school. He is also required to provide an equivalency certificate from the Saudi Ministry of Education. In addition, he is required to take the aptitude and subject tests.

Academic Regulations

Student Responsibility

Students are responsible for knowing and following the academic rules and regulations, including the requirements for graduation. Faculty advisors will assist students in planning their academic programs but are not expected to relieve students of this responsibility.

Academic Advisor

Each student at the University is assigned an academic advisor who will assist the student with matters relating to scheduling, course selection, registration, and the like. The advisor is a faculty member in the academic department in which the student is enrolled. The advisor of all first-year students is the Director of the Preparatory Year Program.

Advisors assist students in the following ways:

• Selecting a degree program consistent with the student's goals and ability.
• Interpreting and understanding the academic regulations.
• Informing the student of the sequence of required and elective courses in his degree program and suggesting electives.
• Monitoring the student's progress and assisting with possible drop/add decisions.
• Acting as an initial approval agent for pre-registration, registration, and scheduling transactions.
• Assisting in course substitution, if necessary.

Graduation Requirements

The plan of study in Computer Engineering consists of 128 credit hours of coursework, which include essentially the same basic requirements as other engineering programs in the areas of physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering science and social science, and humanities. The program is composed of 22 credit hours as general education requirements, 32 credit hours as Math & Science requirements, 12 Credit hours as digital foundation, 47 credit hours as core requirements, and 15 credit hours as major electives. The student is offered two opportunities to gain practical experience during his study. He can spend 8 weeks during summer or he may choose to spend 15 weeks in a more intensive Internship program in the computer engineering-related industry. The student is expected to finish the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in 4 years in addition to one year spent in the Orientation Program.

To become eligible for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, a student must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Cumulative and major GPAs of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00-point scale.
2. Completion of the number of semester credit hours (Total of 128 credit hours) required by the department.
3. Completion of the prescribed and elective academic work required by the department.

Every student follows a degree plan to monitor progress through his program and to certify that all graduation requirements are fulfilled.

King Fahd University For Petroleum And Minerals

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Overview:

King Fahd University For Petroleum And Minerals (KFUPM) is a public research university located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It is renowned for its focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly in petroleum engineering. KFUPM boasts a high global ranking, particularly in petroleum engineering and data science.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

High Global Ranking:

KFUPM holds a strong global ranking, particularly in petroleum engineering and data science.

Focus on STEM:

The university specializes in STEM fields, offering a wide range of programs in these areas.

Research Opportunities:

KFUPM is a research-intensive university with a strong focus on innovation and collaboration.

US Patent Record:

KFUPM ranks highly among universities worldwide in terms of the number of US patents registered.

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Academic Programs:

Undergraduate:

KFUPM offers a variety of undergraduate majors and concentrations across various STEM fields.

Graduate:

The university provides a range of graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees.

Colleges and Departments:

KFUPM is organized into several colleges and departments, each specializing in specific areas of study.