The College of Engineering and Physics (CEP) was established in 1965, initially comprising two separate entities: the College of Engineering Sciences and the College of Applied Engineering. Originally, there were noticeable disparities between the equivalent undergraduate programs offered in the two colleges. However, over time, these programs gradually converged and became nearly identical, culminating in their consolidation into programs offering dual options in 2021.
Graduate programs were early additions to the college, with the Master of Science (MSc) introduced in 1972 and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) introduced in 1982. At present, all departments within the college offer these graduate degrees.
In October 2008, the Engineering programs received accreditation from ABET. The accreditation is important to ensure adherence to rigorous standards and guarantee that graduates receive global recognition for their degrees, making them equivalent to similar qualifications from other institutions. Subsequently, in 2014, the Physics program obtained accreditation from the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA).
In 2020, the college initiated the offering of concentrations for all Bachelor of Science degrees. Students in their senior year are actively encouraged to select all their elective courses from a particular domain to establish their concentration. The name of the concentration is subsequently included on the transcript alongside the degree title. An advantageous aspect of these concentrations is that they do not necessitate any additional credit hours, as they substitute for elective courses in the curriculum. Simultaneously, the college commenced offering professional master's degrees tailored to meet industry requirements. These programs typically last one to two years, aligning with global trends and the demands of the job market.
In 2021, the university underwent a restructuring of its colleges, resulting in the renaming to the College of Engineering and Physics. During this reorganization, the Chemical Engineering and Civil Engineering programs were relocated to other colleges within the university. In contrast, Control and Instrumentation Engineering, along with Physics, were integrated into the newly named college. The primary aim of this restructuring was to consolidate related disciplines under one umbrella.
In 2023, the university completed its shift from a historically exclusive male-only enrollment in engineering programs to a merit-based admission system, irrespective of gender. The transition commenced in 2019 with the acceptance of female graduates in specific majors. By 2021, an initial quota-based admission system for undergraduate students was introduced. During the academic year 2021-2022, the first cohort of female undergraduate engineering students began their freshman year. Subsequently, the quota-based admission system was gradually phased out. In the academic year (2023-2024), KFUPM successfully concluded the transition to a comprehensive merit-based admission process.
Currently, the college has around 2500 undergraduate enrolled students in five departments offering Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, and Electrical Engineering and Physics. Ensuring relevance to industry needs, each department maintains an Industrial Advisory Board comprised of members from various sectors.