Centers of Excellence The University has established the following centers of excellence to consolidate the activities of academic staff and to enhance quality research indifferent disciplines of science, medicine, engineering, agriculture, management and social sciences: Research Excellence in Environmental Studies Research Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research Excellence in Water Desalination Technology Research Excellence in Bone Diseases Research Excellence in Hereditary Diseases Research Excellence in Nano Technology Research in Climatic Change The Medical Genome Unit for diagnosis of genetic diseases. • Third Degree Viruses. • Bone Restructuring Units. • Diagnostic Radiology Departments. • Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. • Pediatrics and Newborn Surgery Radiology and Cancer Treatment • Immunology • Speech and Hearing Departments. Unique Specializations The University provides students with the opportunity to specialize in unique specializations that are unavailable in other Saudi Universities and rare in the Gulf region at large. These include the following: Marine Science Meteorology & Arid Land Agriculture Earth Science Nuclear Engineering Aeronautical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Astronomy. Academic Programs In addition to the Master’s and PhD degrees, KAU offers the following Undergraduate Degrees and Diplomas. Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s Degree (Full-time program. Foundation Year (Regular, Provisional and Orientation. External Learning program. Distance Learning. Parallel Education. Jeddah Community College Diploma 7. Educational Diploma 8. Community Service Occupational Diploma There are two types of programs offered by the University. 1. Programs that require no tuition fees such as • Bachelor’s Full-time program, • Foundation Year regular program, • Educational Diploma, • Jeddah Community College programs. 2. Programs that require tuition fees such as • Provisional Foundation Year program, • Orientation Foundation Year program, • External Learning program, • Distance Learning program, • Parallel Education, • Community Service Occupational Program.