Academic Advisors

Academic Advisors

All students have an academic advisor responsible for reviewing and approving study plans and course registration. Students should frequently meet with their academic advisor to make sure that they are making satisfactory progress toward their degrees.

Student-Advisor Relationship

Students and their academic advisors share the responsibility in creating a professional academic student-advisor relationship. Mutual respect, honesty, and effective communication will help cultivate a successful relationship. Early in the student-advisor relationship, students and academic advisors should discuss expectations of the relationship, and both should consider not only academic, research, and professional goals but also issues pertaining to academic and research circumstances, including schedules, work-life balance, and personal and family responsibilities. Both students and academic advisors are responsible for communicating as necessary.

If students are facing issues during their time at KAUST, students should be able to raise these issues in confidence with their academic advisor. Advisors should support their students and provide advice and guidance as appropriate. Students can also approach their Graduate Program Coordinators (GPCs) at any time. It is recommended that students maintain regular contact with their GPCs throughout their time at KAUST. GPCs can give advice and, where necessary, refer students to other sources of help, or raise matters with their associate dean or dean.