Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet set new eligibility requirements for its multi-billion dollar overseas higher education programme, on 1 February 2016 in an effort to narrow the state budget deficit. Limited details were released regarding the changes such as the cut to the programme size, but noted that applicants that apply for funding must be enrolled in institutions among the world's top 50 academic programmes in their field or top 100 universities, as determined by the Saudi Ministry of Education. Students must also maintain minimum grade point averages (GPA’s). The programme cost cSAR22.5 billion in 2014 that covered tuition and a monthly stipend that pays for students to take family members abroad with them, especially women who are required to travel with male guardians who also receive benefits. In 2014, 207,000 Saudi students studied abroad under the programme. (Reuters)