Updated 11 September 2026By MIFTSaudi Aramco

Aramco College Degree Program for Non-Employees (CDPNE): eligibility, screening test and steps

A highly selective sponsorship for outstanding Saudi high school graduates, in Aramco-approved disciplines only. Unlike the Custodian program it is an employment pipeline: you sign a training agreement and work for Aramco afterwards, roughly as many years as they funded.

Arabic name: برنامج أرامكو للابتعاث الجامعي لغير الموظفين. You apply through Aramco careers (www.aramco.com/en/careers/for-saudi-applicants/student-opportunities/college-degree-program).

Key facts

Aramco CDPNE: the published rulesEach fact links to where it was published. Confirm on the official site before you rely on it.

Rule	Detail	Source
Cumulative GPA	90% or higher across grades 10, 11 and semester one of grade 12.	aramco.com
Science GPA	90% or higher in maths, physics, chemistry and biology combined.	aramco.com
Qudurat / GAT	90% or higher.	aramco.com
Age	Not exceeding 22 Hijri years.	aramco.com
Who can apply	Students in semester two of grade 12 on the General, Computer Science and Engineering, or Health and Life Science paths, or science-track students from other systems.	aramco.com
Window	Short. The 2026 registration ran roughly one week in late April.	aramco.com

When do applications open?

The 2026 window ran 22 April 08:00 to 29 April 15:00, one week exactly. The English and maths test followed on 1 and 2 May.

This window is about a week long and is announced with little notice, so check the Aramco careers site weekly from March rather than waiting for an announcement to reach you.

Dates from the last cycle · Source: aramco.com

What does the Aramco CDPNE cover?

Tuition, and a monthly stipend during study.
A preparatory year that gets your SAT and IELTS to the level top universities want.
A job waiting for you at the end, which is the main reason people choose this over the Custodian program.

Is it a good fit for you?

The Aramco CDPNE tends to suit you if:

You want a guaranteed career and are happy to commit years to Aramco.
Your major is engineering, geosciences, or a related technical field.
Your grades are genuinely at the top of your school, not just good.

How to apply, step by step

Qualify

When: Grade 11 through early grade 12 (Start in grade 11. Be ready by February of grade 12)

Check your GPA, science, and Qudurat scores. You need 90% in three separate things: your overall grades, your science grades on their own, and your Qudurat score. Miss any one and you are out.
Sit Qudurat early so you can retake it. You are allowed to sit Qudurat more than once, and only your best score counts. So sit it early: if you score low, you still have time to try again.
Check your age in Hijri years. You must be 22 or under in Hijri years. Hijri years are about 11 days shorter than normal years, so you are slightly older in Hijri than you think. Check before you assume you qualify.
Make your Aramco account. Set up your account on the Aramco careers site now, while you have time. When applications open you only get about a week, so you do not want to be filling in your details then.

Apply and test

When: Spring of grade 12 (22 to 29 April, then the test on 1 to 2 May (2026 dates))

Watch for the application window to open. Applications are only open for about one week a year, and Aramco announces it with very little warning. Open the Aramco careers site once a week from March so you do not miss it.
Submit the application. The form itself is easy and does not take long. Do not relax though: the test afterwards is what actually decides whether you get in.
Study for the screening test. Three parts: maths (a lot of trigonometry), English, and an IQ section. Practise with a timer, because running out of time is what catches most people.
Sit the English and maths test. Everyone is ranked on this score, so it is the whole competition.

Selection

When: Late spring (May to June)

Wait for your ranking. Top scorers are selected and the cohort size changes every year. The CPP exemption is a separate, case-by-case decision.
Go to the medical check. Invited by SMS if you are selected. A physical exam, rarely failed.
Put your majors in order of preference. Rank six or seven from the approved disciplines. You can usually upgrade in week one.
Go to the career fair on your dates. Attendance is expected, on the specific dates you are given.
Sign the training agreement. Read the service obligation before signing. You owe Aramco roughly the years they funded.

Prep year or direct entry

When: From August (August onwards. Waiver documents were due 1 June in 2026)

Start the prep program in Dhahran. A foundation year covering SAT and IELTS prep, academic skills, and readiness for study abroad.
Check the QS subject requirement for a CPP exemption. Use Aramco Major Match to check universities ranked 1–30 worldwide in your QS subject. A CPP exemption also requires CDPNE acceptance, an unconditional offer in a major Aramco needs that year, and its approval.

Inside MIFT, every step opens into a checklist: what to have in front of you, the exact actions in order, and the mistake students most often make at that step.

Terms you will meet

CDPNE: College Degree Program for Non-Employees. "Non-employees" just means you do not already work at Aramco. This is the program for high school students.
Qudurat (GAT): The Saudi General Aptitude Test, taken through Qiyas. You can retake it, and your best score is what counts, so sit it early.
Cumulative GPA: Your average across grades 10, 11 and the first semester of grade 12 combined, not just your best year.
Science GPA: A separate average of only maths, physics, chemistry and biology. You can clear 90% overall and still fail this one, so calculate it on its own.
Screening test: Aramco’s own exam after you apply: maths (heavy on trigonometry), English, and an IQ section. Everyone is ranked on this score, so it decides who gets in.
CPP (College Preparatory Program): A foundation year in Dhahran before your degree: SAT and IELTS preparation, academic skills, and getting ready to study abroad.
Training agreement: The contract you sign. It commits you to work for Aramco after you graduate, roughly as many years as they paid for. This is a legal obligation, not a formality.
Hijri years: The Islamic calendar year, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian one. The age limit of 22 Hijri is slightly younger than 22 in Gregorian years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Aramco College Degree Program for Non-Employees?

What is the hardest requirement for the Aramco CDPNE?

Cumulative GPA 90% or higher, science GPA 90% or higher, and Qudurat 90% or higher. All three, not one of them.

When do Aramco CDPNE applications open?

The 2026 window ran 22 April 08:00 to 29 April 15:00, one week exactly. The English and maths test followed on 1 and 2 May. This window is about a week long and is announced with little notice, so check the Aramco careers site weekly from March rather than waiting for an announcement to reach you.

What does the Aramco CDPNE cover?

Tuition, and a monthly stipend during study. A preparatory year that gets your SAT and IELTS to the level top universities want. A job waiting for you at the end, which is the main reason people choose this over the Custodian program.

Where do you apply for the Aramco CDPNE?

Through Aramco careers (www.aramco.com/en/careers/for-saudi-applicants/student-opportunities/college-degree-program), run by Saudi Aramco.

Who is the Aramco CDPNE a good fit for?

You want a guaranteed career and are happy to commit years to Aramco. Your major is engineering, geosciences, or a related technical field. Your grades are genuinely at the top of your school, not just good.

Official sources

MIFT is an independent planning tool and is not affiliated with Saudi Aramco, SACM or any university. Always confirm eligibility, documents and dates on the official site.

Other Saudi scholarship guides

Updated 11 September 2026By MIFTSaudi Aramco

Aramco College Degree Program for Non-Employees (CDPNE): eligibility, screening test and steps

Key facts

Aramco CDPNE: the published rulesEach fact links to where it was published. Confirm on the official site before you rely on it.

Rule	Detail	Source
Cumulative GPA	90% or higher across grades 10, 11 and semester one of grade 12.	aramco.com
Science GPA	90% or higher in maths, physics, chemistry and biology combined.	aramco.com
Qudurat / GAT	90% or higher.	aramco.com
Age	Not exceeding 22 Hijri years.	aramco.com
Who can apply	Students in semester two of grade 12 on the General, Computer Science and Engineering, or Health and Life Science paths, or science-track students from other systems.	aramco.com
Window	Short. The 2026 registration ran roughly one week in late April.	aramco.com

When do applications open?

The 2026 window ran 22 April 08:00 to 29 April 15:00, one week exactly. The English and maths test followed on 1 and 2 May.

This window is about a week long and is announced with little notice, so check the Aramco careers site weekly from March rather than waiting for an announcement to reach you.

Dates from the last cycle · Source: aramco.com

What does the Aramco CDPNE cover?

Tuition, and a monthly stipend during study.
A preparatory year that gets your SAT and IELTS to the level top universities want.
A job waiting for you at the end, which is the main reason people choose this over the Custodian program.

Is it a good fit for you?

The Aramco CDPNE tends to suit you if:

You want a guaranteed career and are happy to commit years to Aramco.
Your major is engineering, geosciences, or a related technical field.
Your grades are genuinely at the top of your school, not just good.

How to apply, step by step

Qualify

When: Grade 11 through early grade 12 (Start in grade 11. Be ready by February of grade 12)

Check your GPA, science, and Qudurat scores. You need 90% in three separate things: your overall grades, your science grades on their own, and your Qudurat score. Miss any one and you are out.
Sit Qudurat early so you can retake it. You are allowed to sit Qudurat more than once, and only your best score counts. So sit it early: if you score low, you still have time to try again.
Check your age in Hijri years. You must be 22 or under in Hijri years. Hijri years are about 11 days shorter than normal years, so you are slightly older in Hijri than you think. Check before you assume you qualify.
Make your Aramco account. Set up your account on the Aramco careers site now, while you have time. When applications open you only get about a week, so you do not want to be filling in your details then.

Apply and test

When: Spring of grade 12 (22 to 29 April, then the test on 1 to 2 May (2026 dates))

Watch for the application window to open. Applications are only open for about one week a year, and Aramco announces it with very little warning. Open the Aramco careers site once a week from March so you do not miss it.
Submit the application. The form itself is easy and does not take long. Do not relax though: the test afterwards is what actually decides whether you get in.
Study for the screening test. Three parts: maths (a lot of trigonometry), English, and an IQ section. Practise with a timer, because running out of time is what catches most people.
Sit the English and maths test. Everyone is ranked on this score, so it is the whole competition.

Selection

When: Late spring (May to June)

Wait for your ranking. Top scorers are selected and the cohort size changes every year. The CPP exemption is a separate, case-by-case decision.
Go to the medical check. Invited by SMS if you are selected. A physical exam, rarely failed.
Put your majors in order of preference. Rank six or seven from the approved disciplines. You can usually upgrade in week one.
Go to the career fair on your dates. Attendance is expected, on the specific dates you are given.
Sign the training agreement. Read the service obligation before signing. You owe Aramco roughly the years they funded.

Prep year or direct entry

When: From August (August onwards. Waiver documents were due 1 June in 2026)

Start the prep program in Dhahran. A foundation year covering SAT and IELTS prep, academic skills, and readiness for study abroad.
Check the QS subject requirement for a CPP exemption. Use Aramco Major Match to check universities ranked 1–30 worldwide in your QS subject. A CPP exemption also requires CDPNE acceptance, an unconditional offer in a major Aramco needs that year, and its approval.

Inside MIFT, every step opens into a checklist: what to have in front of you, the exact actions in order, and the mistake students most often make at that step.

Terms you will meet

CDPNE: College Degree Program for Non-Employees. "Non-employees" just means you do not already work at Aramco. This is the program for high school students.
Qudurat (GAT): The Saudi General Aptitude Test, taken through Qiyas. You can retake it, and your best score is what counts, so sit it early.
Cumulative GPA: Your average across grades 10, 11 and the first semester of grade 12 combined, not just your best year.
Science GPA: A separate average of only maths, physics, chemistry and biology. You can clear 90% overall and still fail this one, so calculate it on its own.
Screening test: Aramco’s own exam after you apply: maths (heavy on trigonometry), English, and an IQ section. Everyone is ranked on this score, so it decides who gets in.
CPP (College Preparatory Program): A foundation year in Dhahran before your degree: SAT and IELTS preparation, academic skills, and getting ready to study abroad.
Training agreement: The contract you sign. It commits you to work for Aramco after you graduate, roughly as many years as they paid for. This is a legal obligation, not a formality.
Hijri years: The Islamic calendar year, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian one. The age limit of 22 Hijri is slightly younger than 22 in Gregorian years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Aramco College Degree Program for Non-Employees?

What is the hardest requirement for the Aramco CDPNE?

Cumulative GPA 90% or higher, science GPA 90% or higher, and Qudurat 90% or higher. All three, not one of them.

When do Aramco CDPNE applications open?

What does the Aramco CDPNE cover?

Where do you apply for the Aramco CDPNE?

Through Aramco careers (www.aramco.com/en/careers/for-saudi-applicants/student-opportunities/college-degree-program), run by Saudi Aramco.

Who is the Aramco CDPNE a good fit for?

Official sources

MIFT is an independent planning tool and is not affiliated with Saudi Aramco, SACM or any university. Always confirm eligibility, documents and dates on the official site.