Academic and Administrative Difficulties Facing Students on Scholarship

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the most important academic and administrative difficulties facing students on scholarship at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU). The study population composed of all IMSIU students (467) who were sent abroad to study in the second semester of the academic year 1437/1438 AH, but the study sample consisted of (128) students. The researcher followed the descriptive approach, and used the questionnaire as a tool for the study. The tool consisted of four sections: study variables, academic difficulties, administrative difficulties, and proposals that might contribute to the reduction of those difficulties. The most important results of the study included the following:

• Academic difficulties: high cost of children custody, getting provisional offers for students, and finding babysitters for children of students.
• Administrative difficulties: high cost of living and annual accommodation, lack of financial allocations in the first days of scholarships, and lack of up-to-date "scholarship and training regulations of IMSIU staff" aligned with the economic developments.
• Suggestions that might contribute to reduce those difficulties include: increase of financial allocations for students with preschool children, digitize all processes needed by the students, and revisit the regulations for students on a regular basis.