Study in Qatar

Higher Education Structure in Qatar

Study In Qatar

Qatar is a small country on the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, located on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It is a developed country with an impressive Human Development Index, with high public spending on healthcare and cultural activities. A majority of the residents of Qatar are foreigners, with a high Indian population that exceeds 20%. Doha, the capital and largest city, is home to more than three-fourths of the population of Qatar. Sports is a priority in the region, with Qatar having hosted the most recent edition of the Football World Cup.

Over the past three decades, the Government of Qatar has invested heavily in higher education. The sprawling Education City campus in Doha is home to several local Universities, as well as campuses of highly ranked foreign higher education institutions, including Texas A&M University, and Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science. It is also home to the Qatar Science & Technology Park, where several STEM companies are incubated.

The Perks of Studying in Qatar

Qatar is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #33 in the world in the US News “Best Countries for Education” report.
  • The country is ranked #23 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the World Population Review.
  • The country is ranked #60 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
  • The country is ranked #77 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.

Higher Education Framework in Qatar

There were 32 Universities in Qatar in 2020, with almost 40,000 students registering for a higher education degree in that year alone. There are four kinds of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Qatar:

1. Public Universities: There are ten such Higher Education Institutions in the country; they include Qatar University, the oldest institution of its kind in Doha. Some public Qatari Universities offer programs in association with prominent foreign Universities, including the University of Sussex.

2. Private Universities: Private HEIs in Qatar are usually less comprehensive than public Universities; some may focus on specialized fields of education and research e.g. the Global Studies Institute, and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

3. Military HEIs: Six such colleges are present in Qatar; they are mainly dedicated towards training uniformed services officers of the country, in addition to research and development activities. Two focus on police training, three on army and defense officer training, and the last is a Naval Academy.

4. Local campuses of Foreign Universities: These are overseen by the Qatar Foundation. There are nine such institutions in the country, including branches of Georgetown University, HEC Paris, University College London, and Virginia Commonwealth University. They typically offer most of the programs for which the parent campuses are famous, and the course may also involve one or two exchange semesters, where students visit the main location.

Short Term Certificates and Diplomas

Most public Universities in Qatar offer certification programs; these normally take between three and six months to complete, and some can even be attended virtually. Most students who sign up for these courses are working professionals who take advantage of the Continuing Education program to upgrade their skills. For example, Qatar University offers popular certification programs in Strategic Financial Management, Anti-Money Laundering, Project Management, General Insurance, Six Sigma, and People Management.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor’s Degree programs in Qatar may last 3, 4, or 6 years depending on the field of study (Humanities, Engineering, or Medicine). Many of them have competitive entry for foreign students, with Qatar University requiring a minimum aggregate of 70% in Standard XII for most Bachelor’s programs. Most students are admitted to a general track (e.g. Engineering) at the time of UG admission, and choose their major during their first year of study.

Postgraduate Programs

Universities in Qatar offer multiple Master’s degree programs in advanced fields of study. They are mostly taught in English, though certain programs (e.g. MA in Arabic Language and Literature) have Arabic as the medium of instruction. The admission process is extremely rigorous; undergraduate transcripts and TOEFL scores are carefully scrutinized to ensure that only the best join.

Doctoral Programs

Most Schools and Departments in Qatari Universities offer one or two doctoral programs. PhD students work on original research problems. After a year of courses and training in research techniques, they embark upon research work under the guidance of a doctoral advisor. After three or four years, when there is enough progress to publish the results, PhD students present their work during a thesis defense before 2-4 external panelists. The doctoral degree is awarded after a successful thesis defense.

Popular Disciplines Available in Qatar

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Qatar are-

Petroleum EngineeringChemical EngineeringBusiness Administration
Sports ManagementRisk ManagementNursing
PhysicsPsychologyComputer Science
Manpower ManagementBiomedical EngineeringArabic History
Fine ArtCyber SecurityDentistry

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Qatar

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Qatar.

The name of the city No. of Universities 
Doha14
Al Rayyan2
Al Daayen1

Average Monthly Expenses in Qatar for International Students

Undergraduate tuition fees for international students in Qatar are approximately 3,000 Qatari Riyals (INR 600,000 per year), with dental and medical courses being significantly more expensive (over QR 5,000 or INR 1,000,000 per year). Graduate programs have an even higher price point, with the fees per credit hour exceeding 2,000 Qatari Riyals (over INR 40,000), and a lack of state-sponsored graduate scholarships for international students. However, meritorious students who apply for a Graduate Assistantship are likely to receive a stipend that pays the entire amount of the tuition fee, with some left over towards living costs.

International students who opt for on-campus accommodation will spend approximately 900 QR (INR 20,000) per month on rent, which is 80-90% lower than the cost of a private apartment in Doha. Other living costs include food, transportation, and shopping for daily necessities; these are usually on par with the accommodation costs.

Students Visa Requirements

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Qatar.

Applicants for a long term Qatar Type D Student Visa must satisfy the following conditions:

  • Possession of an international passport issued in the home country of the applicant, valid for at least one year from the expected date of arrival in Qatar.
  • Submission of two passport size photographs.
  • Submission of an Admission Letter from a University located in Qatar. This is not a compulsory condition at the time of application, but it must be submitted before the student travels to the country.
  • A certificate of sound health from any accredited clinic in the home country of the candidate.
  • Details of a financial sponsor who is a permanent resident of Qatar. This includes an affidavit signed by the sponsor.
  • A Good Conduct Certificate issued by the Police Authorities in the home country of the candidate. This is needed for the issue of a Qatari Residence Permit.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The basic application fee for a Type D Student visa is 602 Qatari Riyals, which is over INR 13,000. However, if a candidate applies via a travel agent or immigration consultant, there will be additional service charges. This amount is not refundable if the visa application is rejected.

The two photographs submitted during the Qatar student visa application process must be 3.5 cm (width) by 4.5 cm (height). They should be shot against a light colored background, and the face of the applicant must occupy at least 70% of the picture area. The face must be looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression, and no other persons may be present in the photograph.

The most common reasons for rejection of a Qatari student visa application are incomplete or erroneous details in the application form, and insufficient proof of access to funds. In both these cases, the candidate should submit a new application, after ensuring that financial statements and application details are entered correctly. He/she must also consult with the sponsor in Qatar to ensure that the affidavit of financial support is properly submitted. If the reason for rejection is more serious e.g. an undeclared criminal record, there is a low chance that any fresh application will be successful, and the applicant should contact the Consulate for further instructions.

International students in Qatar can work part time only if their University has a Student Employment Program on campus. If this is the case, they can work up to 20 hours per week to support their studies. However, foreign students are usually not allowed to work off campus during the semester, either part time or full time, as this requires a separate work visa. During the summer vacations, students who obtain an internship in Qatar will often be assisted by their employers to apply successfully for such a visa, and they can work full time for 2-3 months.

Most Universities offer scholarships to meritorious international students. In addition, the Qatar Scholarships Program provides financial aid based on both need and merit for the duration of a student’s stay in the country. This may involve partial tuition fee coverage, a complete fee waiver, or an additional stipend to help with living costs, based on the extent of need, academic achievements, and quality of the scholarship application.

The student visa application process must be carried out in parallel with the application to a Qatari University. Therefore, students should only apply if they are confident of admission to at least one University. If the student visa is granted without any offer of admission, the visa fee will not be refunded.

The capital city of Doha has several health centers and sports facilities; many of these are located within the Universities, and wellness centers and gyms are situated within walking distance. Sports clubs catering to those who play basketball, soccer, hockey, and golf are also available, to ensure that students can maintain sound physical and mental health.

Under the terms of the Type D Long Term Qatar Student Visa, international students must return home soon after the completion of their degree and graduation ceremony. Therefore, they must work closely with the Careers Office of their University to ensure that their job application and interview procedure takes place in the early part of the final year of study, so that they have a job offer in hand before they graduate. In this case, they can request their employer to start the work visa application process well in advance, so that they do not have to travel often to and from Qatar.

The course syllabus and quality of education in the Qatari campuses of Western Universities aims to be as close as possible to that in the main campus. Therefore, the degree certificates distributed by these institutions of higher education are identical to those awarded by the parent campuses. Candidates who complete their graduation from these Universities will definitely experience a positive impact on their overall professional profile.