Potential eligibility changes to a scholarship that helps Saudi Arabian students study abroad shouldn’t impact Western Kentucky University severely, according to Raza Tiwana, WKU’s Chief International Officer. 

“From my point of view, I don’t think we’re gonna see a significant change,” Tiwana said of the King Abdullah Scholarship, which about 470 WKU students use. 

“Yes the numbers (of Saudi students) may go down, but there are a lot of these Saudi students that can afford the tuition themselves,” Tiwana said. 

Tiwana said the biggest change proposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is that students will go to the top 100 universities in the world. 

WKU’s International Enrollment Management office recently provided an update on the situation during a meeting of the university’s Board of Regents Committees.

Other possible changes include higher GPA requirements, previously earned university credits in addition to ESL training. Scholarships may also be tied to job placement upon return to Saudi Arabia. 

One reason thought to be fueling the change, Tiwana said, are dropping oil prices. About 75 percent of Saudi Arabia’s revenue comes from the oil industry, according to a recent CNN report. 

Out of the 488 degree-seeking students from Saudi Arabia, 474 are sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, which facilitates the scholarship in the U.S. The top five majors of Saudi students are mechanical engineering, civil engineering, construction management, advanced manufacturing and finance. 

Tiwana estimated that tuition for international students is about $25,000 per year.

Tiwana said WKU will continue to diversify its pool of international students. 

“This is our way of actually bringing the world into our classes, into our campus.”

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter at twitter.com/aaron_muddbgdn or visit bgdailynews.com.