Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program

Program Mission:
To advance scientific discovery and technological innovation in environmental science and engineering through cutting-edge research and leadership training. The PhD program aims to produce scholars capable of generating original knowledge and sustainable solutions for global and national environmental challenges.

Program Goals:
• Develop nationally and globally recognized researchers capable of producing original scientific and technical contributions in environmental science and engineering.
• Advance interdisciplinary knowledge integrating science, engineering, and policy to solve complex environmental problems.
• Promote innovation and leadership in academia, industry, and government sectors to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and global sustainability goals.
• Build national and international networks for research, training, and knowledge transfer.
• Instill ethical research practices and social responsibility in addressing the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Knowledge and Understanding:
• K1: Demonstrate deep, specialized, and integrated understanding of advanced theories and emerging concepts in environmental science and engineering.
• K2: Critically analyze and synthesize complex interdisciplinary knowledge to address frontier challenges in sustainability and climate resilience.
• K3: Exhibit comprehensive understanding of advanced research methodologies and their application to develop new scientific knowledge.
• K4: Contribute original and innovative research that extends the frontiers of environmental science and engineering

Skills:
• S1: Formulate and test original hypotheses using advanced experimental, analytical, and modeling techniques.
• S2: Critically evaluate, integrate, and apply emerging theories to develop innovative and sustainable environmental solutions.
• S3: Design and conduct independent research projects that generate significant new knowledge and peer-reviewed outputs.
• S4: Communicate complex research findings effectively to academic, professional, and public audiences using diverse communication and ICT tools.

Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility:
• V1: Demonstrate the highest levels of academic and professional integrity, accountability, and ethical responsibility in research and scholarship.
• V2: Exercise leadership and autonomy in managing advanced research teams, collaborations, and strategic initiatives.
• V3: Contribute to the development of a knowledge-based society by promoting environmental awareness and evidence-based policy.
• V4: Engage in lifelong learning, mentorship, and community outreach to foster sustainable societal development.

PhD Course Requirements

Students entering the PhD Program must complete the requirements below.

300-level courses (6 credits)
Graduate Seminar (non-credit)
Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)

The Academic Advisor may request the completion of additional courses. Courses taken while pursuing the KAUST MS degree cannot be counted towards the PhD course requirements. Courses must be technical courses and cannot be substituted with Research, Internship, or Broadening Courses to fulfill degree requirements.

Graduate Seminars (non-credit)

All students must register for BESE 398 and receive a Satisfactory grade for a minimum of five Semesters. For more details about BESE Seminars please contact your GPSA.

Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)

All students must complete the Winter Enrichment Program (WE 100) for credit at least once during their studies at KAUST. Students who have previously completed WEP will be exempt from this requirement in their future studies.

Dissertation

The Dissertation is the final milestone of the PhD program. Students must complete the following:

Petition to defend Dissertation/ Form Dissertation Defense Committee
Defend Dissertation
Archive Dissertation

Petition to Defend Dissertation

Students must determine the Defense date with the agreement of all members of the Dissertation Defense Committee. It is the sole responsibility of students to submit the required documents in consultation with the GPC and the Dissertation Advisor by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar and at least 2 months prior to the Defense date.

Students must defend their Dissertation and obtain the final approval of the Dissertation Defense by the end of their fourth year (8 Semesters and 4 Summer Sessions). Students must follow the Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines available on the KAUST Library webpage when they write their Dissertation.

Formation of Dissertation Defense Committee

The PhD dissertation defense committee must include a minimum of four members and may have up to five members. The composition of the committee is outlined as follows:

Member	Role	Program Status
1	Chair	Primary or alternative affiliation within the student’s program
2	Faculty	Primary or alternative affiliation within the student’s program
3	Faculty	Primary or alternative affiliation outside of the student’s program
4	External Examiner	Affiliation outside of KAUST
5	Faculty or Research Scientist	Affiliation within or outside of KAUST

Notes:

The committee must be approved by the Dean.
Members 1-4 are mandatory, while member 5 is optional.
The student’s advisor serves as the chair of the committee and must use the affiliation within the student’s program.
Either member 1 or member 2 must have primary affiliation within the student’s program.
The student’s co-advisor may serve as member 5.
Professors of Practice and Research Professors may serve as members 1-3 or 5, depending on their affiliation and whether they are the student’s co-advisor. They cannot be the advisor of the student and cannot serve as the chair of the committee.
Adjunct Professors and Professors Emeriti may continue serving on committees in the roles they had at the time of their departure but are not permitted to serve on new committees.
Visiting Professors may only serve as member 5, but they are not permitted to serve as external examiner.
Once approved, any changes to the committee require the approval of both the student's advisor and the Dean.

View a list of Faculty and their affiliations here.

Dissertation Defense Results:

The format of the Oral Defense is left to the discretion of the dissertation Committee. At the end of the Final Defense, students will be evaluated with one of the following outcomes:

Pass: The Committee agrees with no more than one dissenting vote. The dissertation must be archived within two weeks of the defense, and the student must send the Result Form to the GPSA within two days of the defense.
Pass with Conditions: All committee members must agree on the required conditions. If they cannot agree, the Dean will make the final decision. The student has up to three months to meet these conditions, unless the Committee unanimously agrees to change the deadline.
Fail with Retake: If conditions cannot be met within three months, or more than one member casts a negative vote, one retake of the defense is allowed. The retake must occur within six months of the original defense unless the Committee unanimously agrees to a shorter timeline. If the student fails the retake, they will be dismissed from the University. The Committee Chair must immediately inform the GPSA to initiate the necessary actions.
Fail Without Retake: The decision must be unanimous, resulting in the student’s dismissal from the University. The Committee Chair must inform the GPSA immediately to take the necessary actions.

Additional Guidelines:

Students who have exceeded their duration of study must apply for an extension as per the Time Limit and Extension Policy. All conditions must be fulfilled by the end of the extension period, which takes precedence over the Committee’s set deadlines.
The outcome of the Dissertation Defense must be recorded by submitting the Dissertation Defense Evaluation Form to the Office of the Registrar within two days of the defense.
Additionally, students must submit the Defense Results Form by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar.
The required forms are available on the webpage of the Office of the Registrar.

Dissertation Document

Students must follow the Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines available from the KAUST Library when they write their Dissertation.

Dissertation Archiving

Students must archive the Dissertation in the KAUST Library two weeks from the defense date. This must not exceed the deadline published in the Academic Calendar. The required form is available from the Office of the Registrar.