Welcome to KAUST.
Let's get you set up.

Blackboard Ultra is where your courses live: assignments, grades, announcements, and course materials. It works from anywhere, no VPN needed. For virtual class sessions, your instructor may use Blackboard Collaborate inside the course or any video platform available to you. Assignment submissions, including Turnitin, are handled inside Blackboard.

• Google Workspace is your primary suite: Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet. Google Drive gives you 100 GB shared across Gmail and Drive.
• OneDrive (25 GB, can be increased to 50 GB) for your personal KAUST files and drafts.
• SharePoint for work you share with your PI and teammates. Everyone edits one shared version, so there is no chasing the latest copy.
• Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) are also available at portal.office.com.

Using a personal device?

You can install the Google and Microsoft 365 apps on a personal phone or computer and sign in with your KAUST account, so you stay reachable and skip a personal subscription. Keep your KAUST work in KAUST storage though: Google Drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint, not scattered across personal devices. When your time at KAUST ends, access ends with it.

KAUST supports four video platforms. All work remotely, all use your KAUST sign-in. Use whichever suits the session and the people in it.

• Microsoft Teams
• Cisco Webex
• Zoom
• Google Meet

For class sessions, your instructor may run things through Blackboard Collaborate or one of the platforms above.

Your KAUST device comes with the essentials pre-installed. For anything else approved, use Software Center (Windows) or Self Service+ (macOS), no admin rights required. Even free tools like Zoom and Chrome go through here.

On a personal device, sign in with your KAUST account to install the Google and Microsoft 365 apps.

The Software Catalog holds additional software beyond what is already on your machine.

Most core tools work from anywhere without VPN. You need the KAUST VPN only for internal systems, lab resources, and network drives.

• No VPN needed: KAUST Portal, Microsoft 365, Blackboard, Google Workspace, Webex, Zoom, the Library, and password reset.
• VPN required: lab servers and instruments, Remote Scientific Workstations, network drives, and the IT Service Desk portal.
• VPN: already installed on KAUST devices, or available in Self Service+ and Software Center. On a personal device, go to vpn.kaust.edu.sa, select the Students group, and the client installs on first connection.
• Single Sign-On lets one KAUST login reach many systems.

KAUST runs a campus-wide secure printing service. Send a job from your device and release it at any participating printer with your badge.

If your research involves high-performance computing, cluster environments, or scientific workstations, KAUST IT supports you.

• Remote Scientific Workstations give you remote desktop access to a powerful KAUST workstation for scientific work. VPN required.
• KAUST GitLab at gitlab.kaust.edu.sa for version control and code collaboration.
• KAUST Library research databases at library.kaust.edu.sa. Off campus, sign in with your KAUST credentials, no VPN needed.

Procuring high-performance GPUs or export-sensitive hardware for your research? Review the approval process before you order, so nothing is held up at customs or purchasing.

For large or protected research datasets, DataWaha and Secure DataWaha provide dedicated research storage.

KAUSTCentral is the community super app: your Digital KAUST ID, bus routes and parking, the campus directory, dining, events, and community services, all in one place.