Though smaller in size in comparision to many of its neighboring countries, Qatar in recent years has emerged as one of the richest countries, investing significant amount in internationalizing its higher education system. Qatar has become a global player in education sector with hundreds of students and expats flocking to the country every year. Through the Qatar Foundation, the country is increasingly encouraging foreign universities to set up satellite campuses in the country to boost education levels. From undergraduate to postgraduate level, many extensive universities offer some of the world’s best educational courses — mostly all housed in state-of-the art facilities – to international students in Qatar. Studying in any of the Qatar university will be a fantastic experience for those who are intrested in exploring the islamic culture as universities in Qatar follow islamic rules and regulations.
Are you already getting excited to syudy in Qatar? But before you make your final decision, you need to understand some important aspects of the country such as what are the top universities, scholarship opportunities, employment opportunities, visa procedure etc.
Why to study in Qatar?
The main reason for international students to study in Qatar is to know its Arabic culture and peaceful environment. Students who speak Arabic or who want to improve their Arabic skills will find studying in Qatar very interesting. Students who are not so good in Arabic, will also find a welcoming environment as English is widely spoken in the country. Many masters programs in the field of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Business are taught in English.
Top universities in Qatar
As Qatar is emerging as an international hub of education for foreign students, many world class universities are opening their branches there too. In addition to its own homegrown institutions, Qatar is also home to many branch campuses run by overseas institutions. Qatar University and Hamad bin Khalifa University are the two biggest universities in the country along with many other foreign institutions such as Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Medical College, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, the Carnegie Mellon University, Virginia Commonwealth University (School of the Arts) and Texas A&M University.
Scholarship opportunities
To ease the financial burden of international students, Qatar university and other private universities in Qatar offer a number of scholarships. While the majority of scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and scholarly achievement, Qatar University also offers scholarships that are considered as financial aids. All scholarships cover the cost of tuition fees while some of the scholarship benefits include free accommodation in university dormitories, transportation to and from the university, and a yearly airfare ticket to the home country of international students.
Admission procedure to study in Qatar
To pursue any course in Qatar, students can directly apply for admission to any of the universities of Qatar. Moreover a student must be passed out from the recognised university of their respctive countries.
Cost of study in Qatar
The cost of education at Qatar University is QR 1,250 (about $350) per credit hour. The number of credit hours needed varies by Master’s program, but usually it is 30-35. Most of the Master’s programs take two years to complete, and many provide the option to complete a thesis (research option) or focus on practical application through additional coursework or internships. The academic year for a course consists of two semesters — Fall and Spring. Fall semester runs from September to January, while Spring semester runs from February to June.
Visa procedure
To study in Qatar, students need a sponsor to get a visa. And students who don’t have any sponsor should be sponsored by the school where the student will be studying. Getting a student visa is very simple. After getting a letter of confirmation from the respective school, students can apply for the visa at the Qatar Embassy or the Consulate in their home country. Students are also required to demonstrate that they have sufficient means of support to complete their studies.