General Information
Criteria for the Selection of U.S. Universities and Programs :
- Does the university have a good reputation based on its previous
relationship with SACM?
- Does the university have legal standing at its location?
- Does the university offer degrees at the Bachelor, Master or
Doctoral levels?
- Has the university received accreditation from a recognized
accrediting organization?
- Does the university have a permanent physical location?
- Has the university been established for at least twenty years?
- Does the majority of the faculty have a PhD in their academic
field?
- Does the university require proof of English proficiency before
accepting a student?
- Is the university primarily religiously oriented?
- Are most of the faculty members full-time teachers?
- Do international students consist of a minority of the university,
numbering around 15%?
- Is the academic year based on a quarter or semester calendar?
- Are degrees and courses primarily online?
- Can the student receive a degree from the university within
the generally expected time frame?
English Language Preparation :
Each student will be placed in an English program approved by SACM and which is best suited to his or her stated needs and estimated proficiency. SACM prefers that students enroll in English language centers at their respective universities upon receiving an academic conditional admission where they will familiarize themselves with the campus and city where they will probably continue their academic program. They also may need to enroll in ESL programs near the university accepting them conditionally.
Protocol for Online Admissions Applications :
A growing number of universities in the United States are requiring students to apply for admissions ONLINE and are no longer accepting paper-based applications. In this case, it is the policy of the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to the United States to ask students to complete these applications online and submit them to the university and send the necessary application fee to the universities directly. SACM then works to ensure that the universities receive the students complete and certified application package and financial guarantee. The student must provide SACM admissions with proof that he or she applied online with the student number and a copy of the email confirmation. SACM may then follow up with the universities on behalf of the student with its established contacts to ensure that the students application is complete and ready for the admissions committee.
Online Degree Programs and Courses :
Online degree programs are strictly forbidden.
Online courses may be permissible through the approval of the SACM Academic Advisor.
The student must supply a valid and convincing reason for electing to take an online
course. Examples of acceptable grounds for taking an online course include :
- The necessary course is not available in the students university.
- The timing of a classroom based alternative to the online course
is not viable for the student.

