Arab Educational Information Network

The study aimed to investigate on the administrative obstacles facing KSA study abroad students in the US and the UK and solutions to overcome them. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire was devised to and administered to 542 students who are recipients of scholarships in these countries. Results reveal that administrative constraints faced by students on scholarship are as follows in descending order: obstacles related to the embassy of the country of study in the Kingdom (91%);obstacles related to the Ministry of Education (89%); constraints on availability of scholarships (85%); constraints on the availability of the Cultural Mission (77.2%); constraints on the administrator's availability in the semester (68.8%); and constraints on the availability of university scholarship in the country (62.4%). Study abroad arrangements of KSA with the the US and UK have encountered several issues in the recent years. Among them are: the absence of standard administrative procedures and regulations that should study abroad students should follow; the minimal authority given to attache offices in taking necessary and urgent decisions regarding scholarships and other study abroad programs; the bureaucracy involved in obtaining financial assistance that causes delays in the receipt of scholarship funds and other forms of assistance. Suggestions to overcome administrative obstacles facing the scholarship students to study abroad are provided to enhance international scholarship programs and to overcome obstacles that study abroad students on scholarship face. (Published Abstract)