Saudi students in Australia cite high living costs in their argument for government funding.

In a display of generosity, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman recently decided to give students studying at their own expense in the United States the opportunity to be involved in the government’s scholarship program.

This move has instilled hope in students in Australia, who hope that they can also be included in the scholarship program, especially as the cost of living and studying in Australia is higher than in the United States.

Saudi students in Australia appealed to the relevant government authorities to include them under the banner of the royal gift, enabling them to complete their studies in the far away country.

Students Abdulrahman Al-Hazimi and Moath Mohammad Al-Qaisi said of the issue: “We hope we can be included in the scholarship program like our colleagues in the United States in order that we might be able to continue our studies and return home to serve our country.”

Salman Al-Inizi and Hamdi Al-Rasheedi, also students, noted that Australia has a very high standard of living, and fees are therefore very expensive. In view of the long periods that they have spent studying there for their degrees, they said they should also be included in the scholarship program “so that we can live better lives here.”

Mohammad Ali Al-Otaibi said that he has been studying at his own expense (like many other students across the world) and his parents sometimes struggle to pay the expensive fees and costs of living as he is enrolled in a rare specialty course.

Mustafa Mohammad Al-Bar and Ahmad Al-Kaltham said that conditions are very hard for them, with total costs for tuition sometimes amounting to $200,000, excluding living costs.

Fahad Talabah, another student in Australia, noted that six months have passed since the ministry promised to include him in the scholarship program: “Even now, I am still waiting for this support to materialize and am continuing to study at my own expense.”

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