Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) جامعة الإمام محمد بن سعود الإسلامية

Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, known as IMSIU or IMAMU, is one of Saudi Arabia's most distinguished public universities. It is located in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, approximately 20 kilometers from King Khalid International Airport. The university traces its roots to 1950, when King Abdulaziz commissioned the founding of an Islamic institute in Riyadh. The College of Sharia Sciences opened in 1953, and the institution officially became a full university in 1974 through a royal decree. It was named after Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqrin, the founder of the First Saudi State and the emirate of Diriyah. Today, IMSIU stands as a comprehensive academic institution that integrates Islamic values with modern academic excellence. It serves students across Saudi Arabia and the world, contributing to knowledge, research, and the development of qualified professionals for the Saudi labor market and beyond. Vision and Mission Vision To be a globally distinguished university that commits to Islamic values, academic excellence, and sustainable community partnership. Mission To nurture intellect, creativity, and moral values in men and women for leadership and service to society through high-quality learning and research. The university aims to meet the educational and development needs of Saudi society by preparing scientifically, culturally, and intellectually qualified human cadres to serve the community. Colleges and Institutes IMSIU is organized into 14 colleges, 3 higher institutes, 70 scientific institutes within Saudi Arabia, and 5 overseas institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti. The 14 Colleges College of Sharia and Islamic Studies College of Religion Fundamentals (Usul al-Din) College of Arabic Language College of Social Sciences College of Media and Communication College of Languages and Translation College of Computer Science and Information Science College of Economics and Administrative Sciences College of Medicine College of Sciences College of Engineering College of Education College of Education and Community Services College of Law The 3 Higher Institutes Higher Judicial Institute (featuring a Virtual Court for practical training) Institute of Dawah and Ihtisaab Institute of Arabic Language Teaching for Non-Native Speakers Overseas Institutes IMSIU extends its educational mission internationally through institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti, making it one of the few Saudi universities with a formal overseas academic presence. Specialized Learning Resources Virtual Court at the Higher Judicial Institute for law and judiciary training Hadith Lab at the College of Religion Fundamentals for Islamic studies research Institute of Translation and Arabization for Arabic-to-foreign-language translation and vice versa Bawabat Al-Marifa (Knowledge Portal) for access to university publications and conference proceedings Academic Programs IMSIU offers programs across multiple levels of education: Diploma programs for vocational and pre-degree studies Bachelor's degree programs across all 14 colleges Master's degree programs managed by the Deanship of Graduate Studies Doctoral (PhD) programs in a wide range of disciplines Fields of study include Sharia, religion fundamentals, Arabic language, social sciences, media and communication, languages and translation, computer science and information science, economics and administrative sciences, medicine, basic sciences, and engineering. Modes of Study Conventional Education: full-time on-campus study Parallel Education: for students who did not qualify through standard admission channels E-Learning: fully online programs through the university's digital platform Distance Education: flexible study for students outside Riyadh Continuing Education: professional development and short courses for the workforce The language of instruction is Arabic in most programs. English is used in medicine, sciences, engineering, computer sciences, and languages and translation programs. Tuition-Free Education and Scholarships Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University is a tuition-free institution for all enrolled students. This commitment to accessible education makes it one of the most affordable high-quality universities in the Arab world. In addition, the university offers scholarships that include: A monthly stipend of 990 SAR for students in science and health programs A monthly stipend of 840 SAR for students in humanities programs A 75% discount on foreign academic books Fully furnished university housing and hostel accommodation Meals at the university restaurant Free medical treatment and healthcare services Full return air tickets to the student's home country for international scholarship recipients Currently, more than 7,400 international students study at IMSIU under scholarship arrangements, reflecting the university's strong commitment to global academic inclusion. Campus and Facilities IMSIU's main campus in Riyadh spans a total area of over 7 million square meters. It operates two separate campuses: University City for Male Students: covering approximately 2.77 million square meters King Abdullah City for Female Students: covering approximately 1.7 million square meters The foundation stone for the current university building was laid on 5 January 1982 during the reign of King Khalid Ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. The campus was officially opened in 1990. Key Campus Facilities Prince Sultan Library for Science and Knowledge: founded in 1952, now a partner of the World Digital Library Sports facilities and recreational spaces University housing and hostel complex University restaurant and food services Medical and healthcare center IMSIU internal TV channel and College Studio Miraat Al-Jami'ah: a weekly university newspaper Electronic Services Portal and Cloud Services for students and staff Alumni Program portal connecting graduates with the university community Research and Academic Journals Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University places a strong emphasis on academic research and knowledge production. The university's research activities are organized at both national and international levels. Peer-reviewed academic journals published by the university across multiple disciplines Research centers dedicated to Islamic studies, social sciences, sciences, and engineering Academic associations and knowledge communities supported by the university The Knowledge Portal (Bawabat Al-Marifa) providing access to published conference proceedings Active participation in international research partnerships and agreements Accreditation and Quality IMSIU holds full institutional accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), represented by the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation. This accreditation confirms the university meets Saudi Arabia's highest standards for academic quality and institutional governance. Globally, IMSIU is ranked in the 851 to 900 band in the QS World University Rankings 2026, placing it among the recognized universities in the Arab world. Community and International Engagement IMSIU's mission extends well beyond the campus. The university actively serves the broader Saudi community and the global Muslim world through a range of programs and partnerships. 66 public education institutes (primary and secondary) operating across all regions of Saudi Arabia The Institute of Translation and Arabization, facilitating knowledge exchange between Arabic and foreign languages Overseas academic presence in Indonesia and Djibouti International partnerships and cooperation agreements with universities and institutions worldwide University Endowment programs supporting sustainable development and long-term community impact Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) initiatives aligned with the United Nations global agenda Under: Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Electronic Services: imamu.edu.sa/en/eServices Why choose IMSIU? One of Saudi Arabia's oldest and most respected Islamic universities, founded in 1953 Fully tuition-free with generous scholarship packages for international students 14 colleges and 3 higher institutes covering Islamic, humanities, science, and technical fields 70 scientific institutes within Saudi Arabia serving communities across the Kingdom International presence in Indonesia and Djibouti, extending the university's global reach Home to the Institute of Translation and Arabization, a unique resource for linguistic research Ranked 851 to 900 globally by QS World University Rankings 2026 Fully accredited by ETEC (Education and Training Evaluation Commission) Dual campus model with separate cities for male and female students, each with full facilities Partner of the World Digital Library through the Prince Sultan Library for Science and Knowledge