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Please note: Information in this section is subject to change depending on any changes to the university's policy on married students.
Information current as of 24/02/2017 .
There are many married brothers who apply to the university as well as many current students who decide to get married. The decision to travel to Madinah while married or before getting married is a big one. This should not deter you from applying, however it is a topic that needs to be understood so that you do not encounter difficulties resulting from a lack of insight into the whole process.
If you are accepted into the university you are given a residency permit to reside in Saudi Arabia. This permit is limited to you and does not extend to any of your family (wife and children). If you wish to bring your family with you to Saudi Arabia, then you will need to apply at the university to have them issue them a residency permit as well. There are couple of other methods to obtain a residency permit for your family, however they are not done through the university and it is recommended that you do not put too much hope in them.
The university's policy on married students seems to change from year to year, with some years in the past being very difficult to bring your family, while others were quite easy.
The general rule of being able to apply from the second semester of the undergraduate programme has been changed. You can now only apply to bring your family if you are currently enrolled in the masters or PHD programme.
If you are successful in bringing your family, you will need to consider the costs of living. At this point in time the university does not cater for married couples unless they are in either the Masters or PhD programmes. Some students in the Masters and PhD programmes tend to avoid the university supplied apartments due to space limitations, a long waiting list, or other problems. Thus, if you decide to bring your family, chances are you will need to be living off campus and providing for them yourself.
The cost of housing in Madinah varies based on your proximity to Masjid Al-Nabawi and your position or distance from The Sanctuary Zone (The Haram). Housing will almost always be an apartment, and unfortunately in Saudi Arabia the norm for an apartment which is considered ready for rent is basically one which is completely devoid of any furniture, air-conditioners, kitchen benches or cupboards or any other furniture which you would expect to be present.
When renting in Saudi Arabia, you are looking at an empty, carpet-less apartment which you will need to furnish with your own money. If there ever comes a time where you need to move or leave Madinah, you will probably have to sell your furniture, or get some movers to transport everything (including the kitchen) to your new apartment.
The exception to this rule comes into play during the university holiday season. During this period, graduating students will usually look to transfer their rental agreements and sell their furniture and even their car - usually to another student.
There are a few methods for finding an apartment for rent, some of which include:
You can search on-line for apartments for rent with this Google search (search and results are in Arabic).
There are various real estate agents placed throughout the city. They usually have a list of properties available for rent within the area they are located.
All prices in this table are approximate and are in SAR (1 USD = 3.7505 SAR).
| Item | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment | 12000 - 20000 (p.a) Rent is usually paid upfront for a 6 month period or the entire year. |
|
| Kitchen (Benches / Cupboards) | ~ | |
| Small Oven | ~150 - 300 | |
| Small Stove | ~200 | |
| Oven + Stove | ~600 - 1000 | |
| Fridge (big) | ~1000 - 1500 | |
| Fridge (small) | ~500 | |
| Washing Machine (manual) | ~400 - 600 | |
| Washing Machine (automatic) | ~1000 - 1200 | |
| Bedroom (Bed + Closets) | ~3000 - 4000 | |
| Carpets | ~170 - 600 | |
| Living Room (Majlis) | ~80 - 150 (per meter) | |
| Kitchen Table | ~400 | |
| Air Conditioner | ~3000 - 4000 | |
| Gas Cylinder | ~120 purchase + 15 refill | |
| Water Cylinder | ~36 Purchase + 5 refill | |
| Electricity | ~20 - 50 / month | |
| Iron | ~40 - 100 | |
| Vacuum Cleaner | ~180 - 280 | |
| Microwave | ~200 - 300 | |
| Water Cooler | ~80 - 400 | |
| Glasses | ~10 - 30 (6 pc) | |
| Pots | ~80 (3pc) | |
| Food | ~600 - 800 / month | |
| Return Ticket (to Aus) | ~6000 (pp) |