What are the eligibility criteria for the Scholarship Program?
The following criteria are used to determine eligibility and must be satisfied before the Scholarships Office can recommend approval to the Human Resources / Scholarship Committee:
- the proposed study path is in a discipline identified by the University as relevant to its development
- the university or college to be attended must be on the University approved list of institutions
- the candidate’s cumulative GPA for his/ her undergraduate studies must be equivalent to a B (very Good) or above. Subject to VPCAO approval a lower GPA as C may be acceptable if the candidate has obtained an approval for admission from the board institution
- the candidate must pass the departmental interviews
- a degree Scholarship acceptance letter has already been issued by the proposed overseas university
How do I apply for a scholarship?
You should refer to the steps outlined for your situation under the ‘How to Apply’ section of this website.
- follow the steps using the forms provided in the ‘How to Apply’ section [ English Language or Master's/PhD ].
- Applications should be completed electronically as directed on each form.
- If you have additional questions kindly contact the Scholarships Office.
May an applicant apply before receiving official test scores (i.e. TOEFL / IELTS and GRE scores)?
Those applicants who are unable to produce an English language proficiency test score or the optional GRE score by the deadline may still apply. However, the applicant must submit his/her scores to complete the application and enable it to move forward to the Dean for review.
The following students are exempted from providing an English language proficiency test score:
- students with BA earned from UK / USA universities
- Qatar University students with BA in English
How will I know if you have received all the materials submitted or if I need more specific information?
You may contact the Scholarships Office for this information.
When will the decision on the scholarship be made?
About a month after the application has been submitted, an email will be sent to inform applicants about the results.
How do scholarship students obtain Health Insurance?
Scholarship recipients have to contact Qatar University Human Resources Office for Health Insurance.
What is the time limit for the Teaching Assistant to go for his/her Master’s degree?
The Teaching Assistant must go for English Program/ Master Degree within one year of his/her appointment.
How often does the Master's scholarship recipient have to send the Progress Report and Academic Transcript to the Scholarships Office?
Master's scholarship recipients have to send the progress report and transcript immediately after the completion of each semester to:
Director
Scholarships Office
Administration Building
Room 319
Qatar University
PO Box 2713
Doha, Qatar
The scholarship recipient needs to withdraw. Will he/she have to pay back any scholarship funds?
If the scholarship is terminated or the scholarship recipient withdraws on his/her own accord during the scholarship, repayment will be due only for the remaining period of term of the scholarship, if the termination is due to the reasons other than those above, no reimbursement will be required.
What are the criteria for the extension of scholarship?
The scholarship recipient needs to send the following documents to his/her Qatar University Dean/Mentor and to the Scholarships Office:
- a letter of request from the scholarship recipient stating that he/she will need the extension and the supporting reasons
- a support letter from the overseas university Academic Advisor printed on its letterhead and stating:
- the current progress report
- the reasons for the extension and
- the courses that still need be completed in order to finish the program and
- when the courses will be finished
- the scholarship recipient must be aware that:
- Master's scholarship recipients are allowed a one year extension
- Doctorate scholarship recipients are allowed a two year extension
This case will be presented to the Human Resources Committee for review and the Scholarships Office will inform the scholarship recipient as soon as the decision is made.
What procedures should be followed if the scholarship recipient needs a Suspension of the Scholarship.
Scholarship recipients may suspend, or “freeze” their scholarships for up to one academic year, one time throughout their studies.
To request a suspension, the scholarship recipient should send to Scholarships Office the following:
- A letter of request outlining the reasons for suspension
- A letter from the overseas university on their letter head stating that the leave of absence is permitted (if the scholarship recipient is returning to the same school)
- Official transcripts and verification of enrollment in the overseas university
This case will be presented to Human Resources Committee and VPCAO for the final decision.
What steps are required in order to get approval for a transfer to another overseas university?
If the scholarship recipient decides to pursue a change of university or training scheme, he/she must:
- select the new university from the HEI‘s list of approved universities
- seek prior approval from the department and the Scholarships Office at VPCAO Office
- send to the Scholarships Office
- an email or letter addressed to VPCAO stating the request and the reason for it, as detailed as possible
- the acceptance letter from the new University showing that the scholarship recipient is accepted directly into the approved major
- a Study Plan for the current overseas university and a Study Plan for the new overseas university indicating that there will be no extension of the program
- a current official transcript from the overseas university
- In the case of a scholarship recipient changing a university in the United States, a new I20 form must be obtained
What is the next step after the completion of Master's/ PhD?
Scholarship recipients must inform the Scholarships Office about the completion of their studies and then resume work at Qatar University.
Are the scholarship recipients allowed to take a break after the completion of the program?
They are eligible to take one month leave after the completion of their studies.
If the scholarship recipients fail to report to the work place, what action can the Scholarship Committee take against them?
Scholarship recipients who fail to report to the work place will have their salaries suspended. They will be considered on a leave without pay status and they will be subject to Qatar University Human Resources rules and regulations.
What does the scholarship recipients need to send the Qatar University Scholarships Office at the beginning of the semester?
At the beginning of each semester, they should make sure they have sent a list of the courses for which they have registered to the Scholarships Office, along with the total credit hours. Their tuition invoices cannot be paid without this information.
What should the scholarship recipients do if they change their contact information?
Scholarship recipients should notify the Scholarships Office upon any change in address or telephone number. If any correspondence or checks need to be mailed to the scholarship recipient, they will be sent to the last address that was provided to the Scholarships Office.
What are the responsibilities of the scholarship recipient?
- Inform Qatar University of any other scholarship offers.
- Undertake English Language proficiency tests [ IELTS or TOEFL ] if so directed.
- Acquire English proficiency score of at least:
- 500 [for study in Arabic] (if applicable) or
- 550 [for study in English] (if applicable).
- Before first departure, provide written consent mutually authorizing Qatar University to exchange and discuss performance, welfare and any other pertinent issues from time to time with his / her academic advisor / registrar at the university where he / she is pursuing a training / or graduate program.
- Sign the Scholarship Contract to denote acceptance of terms and conditions.
- Strive for excellence, and attain grade not less than 2.8 out of 4 or maintain “above satisfactory” evaluation under alternate systems.
- Attend and complete the scholarship courses in the designated institutions.
- Submit academic grades at the completion of each semester to the scholarship recipient's College and department / Scholarships Office at VPCAO office / HR Scholarship Unit.
- Participate in necessary reviews and progress processes.
- Adhere to the scholarship policies and procedures, rules and regulations of the overseas country of residence.
How should the scholarship recipient conduct him / herself as a scholarship recipient?
Scholarship recipients must follow the Standards of Business conduct in the areas of diligence, attendance, punctuality and reporting of sick leave and other absences and adhere to normal University procedures. The scholarship recipient is also expected to keep the University informed of any serious difficulties he / she may be facing.
What steps should the scholarship recipient take if he/she has changed his/her residential address?
A scholarship recipient who changes residential address must:
- inform HR Committee
- if he/she resides in the United States, he/she must register at the police station near the new residential address
- if resident anywhere outside Qatar, he / she must register with the nearest Qatari embassy
What does Qatar University pay for during the time of the scholarship?
The University shall pay for the following during the scholarship duration:
- all primary costs including tuition, registration fees, books and materials, examination fees and other approved, degree–related items
- fees and charges for entry visas, plus charges for the authentication of certificates and other documents, if officially required to finalize scholarship enrollment and continuation
- monthly allowances for the scholarship recipient and, if applicable, for the spouse/escort and up to a maximum of 3 children who are 18 years of age or younger
What general behavior is expected of the scholarship recipients?
- Before departure scholarship recipients are asked to sign a release, which authorizes the overseas University and Qatar University/College to discuss the scholarship recipients' performance, welfare and other issues on a regular basis.
- Recipients of scholarships must follow Qatar University criteria of Standards of Faculty conduct in the areas of diligence, attendance, punctuality and reporting of sick leave and other absences and also at the same time adhere to the rules and regulations of the University with which they are affiliated.
- The scholarship recipient is also expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Civil authorities of the country he/she is residing in during the scholarship.
- It is expected that the scholarship recipient will respond to any difficulties and challenges in the academic program or in private life in a positive and cooperative way and Qatar University will provide full support through the Scholarships Office in VPCAO’s office in cooperation with the overseas university authorities.
- It is essential for the scholarship recipient to keep the University informed of any serious difficulties he/she may be facing.
- In the event of a serious lapse in personal conduct or behavior of the scholarship recipient, a warning letter will be issued.
What is the policy about attendance that the scholarship recipient should follow?
The scholarship recipient is expected to strive to attend lectures/laboratory sessions/tutorials and any other related academic requirements. Attendance below overseas university requirement (without justified cause) is not accepted by Qatar University and could lead to disciplinary actions including suspension of scholarship.
What are causes of scholarship termination?
Qatar University expects scholarship recipients to strive for excellence. A scholarship will be terminated if a scholarship recipient:
- has previously received one (1) warning letter from Qatar University due to unacceptable academic results and continues to fail in maintaining the required academic standards in the following academic year.
- has previously received one (1) warning letter from Qatar University due to unacceptable behavior or poor performance and/or attendance and continues with the same unacceptable behavior or poor performance and/or attendance
- fails to submit the overseas university communications on academic results to Qatar University.
- is expelled from the program by the overseas college or university authorities.
- is expelled from the country by the governmental authorities.
Upon the termination of a scholarship, the appeal process may be begun and the scholarship recipient studying overseas is expected to return to Qatar immediately.
What is the appeal process?
The scholarship recipient completes an appeal form which can be obtained from the Scholarship Unit. The form must clearly state the scholarship recipient’s rationale and evidence for appeal.
What criteria does Qatar University use for cancellation of scholarship?
Scholarships are only subject to cancellation if a scholarship recipient fails to fulfill the following criteria:
- pursue his/her studies in the areas and within the timeframes specified in his/her scholarship contracts
- attain the minimum acceptable academic results
- adhere to all Qatar University standards of behavior
- adhere to attendance requirements
What are the Payments and Allowances to the scholarship recipients during the Scholarship including Family Status Allowances and Benefits?
A scholarship recipient who is sent overseas by Qatar University for postgraduate studies is entitled to his/her full basic salary, travel allowance, spouse's and other scholarship allowances.
Scholarship allowances are:
- Monthly scholarship allowances according to the provisions set by the Qatar University Scholarships Office in this regard.
- Annual travel allowance for the scholarship recipient and, if applicable, for the spouse and 3 children up to 18 years of age. The travel allowance should cover the round trip air fare in economy class from the state of Qatar to the scholarship destination abroad
- Annual book purchase allowance based on Qatar University policies in this regard.
- A shipping allowance to be paid one time during the Master's degree program study period and in accordance to Qatar University HR Policies in this regard.
- Similarly, a shipping allowance to be paid one time during the PhD. study period and in accordance to Qatar University HR policies in this regard.
- A married scholar accompanied by the spouse and children to the country of study is entitled to a monthly allowance for the spouse equivalent to 60% of the monthly payment in addition to (25% for each child to a maximum of 3 children under 18 years of age, provided that the following conditions are met: The marriage certificate is documented and approved by competent authorities in Qatar. The spouse have does not have a scholarship. The scholarship recipient's family (spouse and children) have lived with the scholarship recipient in the place of study for at least 7 months of each academic year. If the family's residency was less than 7 months, all payment must be reimbursed to Qatar University.
- Qatar University bears the tuition fees for a maximum of 3 of the scholar’s children at primary, preparatory and secondary levels in the scholar’s country of study according to Qatar University school fees policy as employees of Qatar University [faculty / staff ].
- Prior to the scholar’s departure from the state of Qatar he / she is entitled to be paid the scholarship’s allowance.
Are there any incentives for achieving excellent grades in the Master's/PhD programs?
Scholarship recipients sent overseas to obtain the Master's Degree ( Teaching Assistant ) will be receiving an annual merit increase based on his / her academic performance abroad. Similarly, any Qatar University candidate sent for the PhD degree ( Lecturer ) will be receiving the annual merit increase based on his / her academic performance abroad.
To what vacations and public holidays are the scholarship recipients entitled?
Throughout the scholarship duration, vacation is taken in line with the dates set by the country and university or college of study.
In the year in which the program is completed, special leave of 30 calendar days is granted after the official course end-date (typically last day of final examination), to allow time for the scholarship recipient to arrange repatriation.
Scholarship recipients shall observe the public holidays of the country and university or college of study and do not take Qatar public holidays. This rule applies to the entire period of the Scholarship regardless of any vacation or internship periods spent in Qatar.
How does a PhD scholarship recipient send the Progress Report to the Scholarships Office?
PhD scholarship recipients should download the 'Academic Progress Report' form available on the Scholarships Office website Forms page:
- then fill it out, sign and date it and
- have the overseas advisor add comments to this form, affix his / her signature to it and date it
- finally, mail the completed form to:
Director
Scholarships Office
Administration Building
Room 319
Qatar University
PO Box 2713
Doha, Qatar