Welcoming KGSP Cohort-18

Every summer, KGSP welcomes new students to the program, and 2026 is no exception! 

Seventy new students attending top global universities in the United States, Canada, and the UK have been actively engaged in both virtual and in-person programming throughout the summer to help prepare them for their undergraduate careers. Studying a wide range of majors, including Material Science and Engineering and Environmental Engineering, this group has already left their mark on the KGSP Onboarding team, led by Advising Manager Lauren Lewis and KGSP Advisor Huzaifa Potia.  

Getting to know cohort 18 throughout the onboarding journey has been a real pleasure. Students have been engaged throughout the process- during weekly kickstart meetings and on the cohort 18 whatsapp group (-Huzaifa Potia) 

One of the highlights of the summer is the annual Pre-Departure Orientation, which was hosted at KAUST from June 23rd–25th. Spanning three days, the orientation covered a great deal of information and gave KGSP alumni, including Cohort 1 alum, Mariam Awlia, the opportunity to give students guidance and advice on their journeys ahead. Mariam completed her KGSP undergraduate program at University College London, and the KGSP is thrilled to have three new students attending University College London for the first time in over 15 years. Other KGSP Alumni, including current KAUST PhD students Kawthar Alashoor, Sondos Qoqandi, Ali Alnasser, and Zainab Al Hubail led tours of their labs at KAUST, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at KAUST’s state-of-the art resources.  

About the PDO, Yasmin Bai, who will begin at the University of Toronto as an Immunology major this fall said “My favorite part of the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) was getting to meet my fellow KGSP students and the KGSP Advising team. I enjoyed getting to experience life at KAUST, and getting to meet impressive KGSP alumni showed me a glimpse of what my future looks like. Now, I am more excited than ever for this new chapter in my life!”  

During the event, Cohort 18 also heard from current KSGP students about their experiences with summer enrichment, advising, and being a successful STEM student. Further, Yasmin said “As I begin my KGSP journey, I am most excited about is the chance to immerse myself in a completely new culture and build global networks. The absolute best part of being part of the KGSP is the brilliant community of peers I have surrounding me!”  

There is a lot of do before the students arrive in the U.S, Canada, or the UK. Cohort 18 students have begun to receive their student visas and study permits, and the first to travel are set to arrive by mid-August. All new students will participate in a post-arrival orientation to familiarize themselves with the KGSP scholarship and opportunities, reinforcing what they learned at the Pre-Departure Orientation while also introducing them to life as a university and KGSP student. 

About her onboarding experience so far, Tala Alharbi, who is heading to the University of California, Berkeley this fall to study Mechanical Engineering said, The KGSP onboarding support has been incredibly helpful in preparing me for this next chapter. It clarified so many details that initially felt overwhelming and gave me a much clearer understanding of what to expect, allowing me to start this journey feeling informed and confident. 

We are excited to continue to work with Cohort 18!