Saudi Arabia does not run a formal home-education registration system like the UK or the US. For expatriate families, the established route is an accredited international online school: your child learns from home through live timetabled lessons with qualified teachers, then sits Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel exams as a private candidate at British Council centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. For Saudi nationals, the Ministry of Education runs its own home study route within the national system. This guide covers the legal position, the routes available, curriculum options, exam centres, university recognition and costs.
Saudi Arabia does not operate a formal home-education registration system comparable to the UK or the US. Primary education is compulsory, and enrolment in the national school system is closely tracked. What a family can do depends on whether they are expatriate residents or Saudi nationals.
Expatriate residents are not required to place their children in the Saudi national school system. Families are free to educate their children through an accredited international online school, follow a recognised international curriculum, and enter their children for international examinations at registered centres in the Kingdom. This is the route most expat families choose, and the one CambriLearn serves. No licence or approval from the Ministry of Education or ETEC is needed to enrol a child with an accredited school based outside Saudi Arabia.
For Saudi citizens, enrolment in the national education system is the norm, and school records are linked to national systems. The Ministry of Education runs a home study and affiliated-student route (intisab) within the national system, where a student follows the Saudi curriculum and sits Ministry examinations as an external candidate rather than attending classes each day. This route leads to the national certificate and is separate from following an international curriculum. Saudi families who want an international curriculum for their child should confirm the current position directly with the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education regulates schools operating inside Saudi Arabia. The Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), through its National Center for Assessment (Qiyas), oversees national assessment, university admission testing and the equivalency of foreign qualifications. These bodies govern physical schools inside the Kingdom and the national examination system. They do not license international online schools based abroad, which is why expat families can use an accredited overseas provider without seeking local approval.
No local school licence is required to enrol with CambriLearn. CambriLearn is an internationally accredited school based outside Saudi Arabia. It holds Cognia accreditation and accredited Pearson Edexcel examination centre status (Centre No. 94888). Enrolling your child does not require approval from the Ministry of Education or ETEC. Families planning to apply to a Saudi university later should read the university section below, which explains the Ministry equivalency process.
There are three practical routes. The right one depends on nationality, the qualification you want your child to hold, and where you expect them to go to university.
The route most expat families take. You enrol your child with an accredited online school that teaches an international curriculum through live timetabled lessons with qualified specialist teachers. Your child studies from home and sits examinations at registered centres in the Kingdom. CambriLearn students in Saudi Arabia sit International GCSE, AS Level and A Level examinations as private candidates at British Council centres, or earn a Cognia-accredited US high school diploma. No local registration is required for this route.
The Ministry of Education provides a home study and affiliated-student route within the national system. A student follows the Saudi curriculum in Arabic and sits Ministry examinations as an external candidate. Successful completion leads to the Saudi General Secondary Certificate. This route suits families who specifically want the national qualification. Registration and current conditions are handled through the Ministry of Education.
Families who want a campus can enrol at one of the international day schools in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and other cities. These schools teach British, American or IB curricula and issue the same qualifications, at a considerably higher cost. Some families combine an accredited online school with tutoring or local activity groups to keep a campus-style structure without the campus price.
Where students sit exams. The British Council runs examination centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, and accepts private candidates for both Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel school examinations. Registration is completed online through the School Registration System ahead of each session. Cambridge sessions run in May/June and October/November; Pearson Edexcel adds a January session. Fees are billed in Saudi Riyals and paid directly to the British Council. See the exam centres page for details.
Families in Saudi Arabia can access every major international curriculum. The table covers the main options available through CambriLearn.
| Curriculum | Qualification | Exam Body | Saudi University Admission | International Recognition | Via CambriLearn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International British* | International GCSE, AS & A Level | Cambridge Assessment | Accepted via MoE equivalency | 160+ countries | Yes, private candidate exams |
| Pearson Edexcel | Int. GCSE, Int. A Level | Pearson | Accepted via MoE equivalency | 80+ countries | Yes, accredited centre (No. 94888) |
| US K-12 | US High School Diploma | Cognia | Accepted via MoE equivalency | US, NCAA approved | Yes, Cognia accredited |
| National (MoE) | Saudi General Secondary Certificate | Ministry of Education | Direct admission | GCC region | No |
Where do Saudi homeschool students sit exams? CambriLearn students in Saudi Arabia sit International British Curriculum and Pearson Edexcel examinations as private candidates at British Council centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. US curriculum students earn their diploma through CambriLearn's Cognia-accredited programme without a separate exam sitting. For centre details, see the exam centres page.
The International British Curriculum is the most common choice for expatriate families in Saudi Arabia. International GCSEs and A Levels are recognised in 160+ countries and, for families staying in the Kingdom, accepted for Saudi university entry once the Ministry of Education has granted certificate equivalency. The university section below explains how that works.
