General
Qatar Scholarships is a program spearheaded by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) in cooperation with several prestigious and leading educational institutions in the State of Qatar. Qatar Scholarships offers grants in tertiary, language and higher education programs to international students from developing countries interested in studying in Qatar. It is a program driven by Qatar’s vision to advance quality education worldwide and comes in support of the Sustainable Development Goal 4: “Ensuring fair and inclusive education for all and enhancing lifelong learning for all”.
Qatar Scholarships offers grants in, certificates, diplomas, bachelors and masters degrees and PhDs as well as language programs to international students from developing countries interested in studying in Qatar and abroad.
In Qatar, you can pursue a degree, benefit from a safe environment and immerse yourself in the Arabic culture. In recent years, Qatar has been involved in building a national strategy for helping the education system grow and evolve. According to Qatar’s Permanent Constitution, education is a basic foundation for the progress of society.
Students who speak Arabic or who want to improve their Arabic skills will find Qatar an interesting study abroad destination. However, Qatar has been registering many international students due to the country’s partnerships with many universities from English speaking countries, thus offering a huge palette and variety in terms of English taught programs. From arts and design to science and technology, you can follow your dream study in any field you want.
The education system in Qatar is managed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) at all levels. These institutions have set the following strategies for developing higher education: optimize student talents and capabilities, develop student knowledge and skills that are according to labour market demands, and support the needs and aspirations of the society. Universities are also enhancing scientific research to keep aligned with other international universities worldwide.
International students who do not speak Arabic can find many educational opportunities in Qatar, as English is widely spoken and used as a second language. Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs are available in English.
It depends on the duration of your academic program. Qatar Scholarships range from 1 year certificate programs to 6-year PhD programs.
No. Suitable housing will be provided to you at no cost to you. Meals will also be fully covered. It is likely that you will share accommodations with 1 or more flat mates. Each of you would, however, have their own room.
Qatar Scholarships provides grants for programs in Arabic, English and French.
A specific number of grantees are selected for each academic partner institution each year. This number may vary from year to year and from institution to institution.
Students typically come into residence in Doha in August of the year following their selection, but academic programs may vary. Consult the academic calendar of the academic institution to which you are applying for more information.
Upon completion of their program, Qatar Scholarships students are required to return to their home country.
Many universities offer student employment programs. These are designed to help students gain real work experience while studying. Most students can work in these programs for up to 20 hours per week. However, foreign students can’t work off-campus on a student visa. This requires a separate work visa and can be difficult to obtain.
Yes, depending on the program you are taking, it may be possible to make changes to your schedule; however, you must consult your academic advisor before finalizing the schedule to ensure that the proposed changes do not extend your program past the maximum funding date of the grant.
Yes, you will be provided with a Hamad Medical Centre card. This plan covers accidents and illnesses but will not cover routine checkups or preventative care.
You will receive detailed information about how to open a bank account upon arrival in Qatar. Your Academic Institution issues the first monthly stipend in the form of a cheque, which you must use to open a bank account.
Qatar Scholarships grantees are not eligible to bring dependents with them on their visa.
We encourage Qatar Scholarships grantees to find activities and events to join in their local campus and community. Qatar Scholarships grantees can share their culture with others by participating in clubs and sports, cooking their favorite foods for friends, and more. We also encourage Qatar Scholarships grantees to give back to their host community by volunteering for community service. In order to maximize their outreach, we encourage Qatar Scholarships grantees to share their stories through the Qatar Scholarships website forum for possible highlights on the Qatar scholarships Blog or on Qatar scholarships social media.
Qatar Scholarships grantees must report all travel. Information reported should also include dates of travel, location, and an emergency contact in the area. Travel outside of Qatar must be approved by your advisor prior to purchase.
Qatar Scholarship students should not anticipate staying for a prolonged period in Qatar after completing their studies.
If unforeseen circumstances prohibit the completion of the program on time, the case will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine what actions will be taken, though Qatar Scholarship students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout their program.
The Qatar Scholarship covers the entire duration of the academic program to which you have been accepted. This can range from 1 to 6 years.
Qatar Scholarships is currently in the preliminary stages of negotiations with several academic partner institutions to offer post-graduate program scholarships.
Application Process
You don't apply for the Qatar Scholarship directly. First you apply to an academic program at one of our academic partner institutions by providing them with your application and all relevant documents. Once academically accepted, they will automatically provide the Qatar Scholarships selection committee with your file should you meet the Qatar Scholarships selection criteria. If you are selected, Qatar Scholarships will inform the academic partner institution, who in turn will inform you. They will also make all the necessary arrangement for you to begin classes.
Applications to the Qatar Scholarships program are managed by the academic partner institutions. Choose the institution and the program you wish to apply to and apply by completing the application form on their website.
Each academic partner institution has their own timelines for the application process. Please visit their websites for more details regarding the program(s) you are interested in applying for.
Yes. You apply directly to the academic institution of your choosing for the program you wish to attend.
In general, applicants are notified of their status in the fall. However, as the selection process is a comprehensive, merit-based, and multi-step process that takes place over several months. For an update on your application, please contact the academic institution to which you applied.
The academic partner institution should contact you if there is an issue but a follow up email a week or two after your application has been submitted to inquire about its progress is recommended.
Please contact the academic institution you applied to directly to make any changes to your application.
It varies from year to year. We also offer a different number of scholarships in partnership with each of our academic partners.
We only receive lists of students who have already been accepted academically into one of our academic partner institutions, so we have no way to know how many students applied and were not accepted.
You will be notified if you receive a scholarship by email. Those not receiving scholarships will not be contacted.
Yes. Anyone may apply.
Each academic partner institution has their own timelines for the application process. Please visit their websites for more details regarding the program(s) you are interested in applying for.
No. The program is for international students currently living in a developing country who are interested in studying in Qatar.
Incoming students who are awarded a Qatar scholarships need to accept or decline by the deadline indicated in their offer letter. Detailed instructions are included in the scholarship congratulatory letters. Your prompt response would be appreciated to notify the alternate as to their selection.
Check your spam folder. You also received a confirmation page upon submission of your online scholarship application.
Applications for a Qatar Scholarship are handled through our academic Partner institution. By applying to one of their academic program, students will automatically be considered for a Qatar Scholarships. Please see our instructions on how to apply.
Qatar Scholarships recipients are selected based on several criteria:
- Academic credentials
- Geographic boundaries
- Demographics
- Field of interest
- Developmental requirements of their home country
Eligibility
Please click on the button below to determine if you are eligible for a Qatar Scholarship.
No. Officially the program is designed for international students from developing countries interested in studying in Qatar.
Academic Programs
Qatar Scholarships has partnered with several prestigious and leading educational institutions to provide quality education in Qatar and around the world.
Click here to view the various programs offered by our partner institutions which are eligible for Qatar Scholarships.
Financial
A Qatar Scholarships scholarship generally covers:
- Tuition fees
- A living allowance (stipend)
- One economy class return airfare to Doha at the start and end of the scholarship
- Furnished accommodations for the duration of the scholarship
- Local transportation to classes (as required)
- Local medical insurance
The stipend varies for each academic partner institution. Tuition, food, housing, textbooks, flights to and from Doha and local transportation are covered by your scholarship. Typical stipends range from QAR500 - 2500 monthly depending on the type of scholarship, the program you are accepted into and the academic institution you are attending.
