Low Tuition Universities in Qatar, Admission Requirements and Essential Information for International Students

Qatar officially the State of Qatar, is a country in Western Asia. It is a peninsular Arab country whose terrain comprises arid desert and a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline of beaches and dunes.

Qatar has a population of about 2.8 million inhabitants. The Qatari riyal is the official currency of the State of Qatar. The currency code is QAR, and the abbreviation is QR. The capital city called Doha is a world-class city with some of the best modern architecture and technology. The city is also the biggest in the country. Spoken language is Arabic (official).

The climate is hot and humid from June to September, with daytime temperatures as high as 122 °F (50 °C). The spring and fall months—April, May, October, and November—are temperate, averaging about 63 °F (17 °C), and the winters are slightly cooler. Precipitation is scarce, with less than 3 inches (75 mm) falling annually (generally in winter).

Qatar is an independent state in the middle east and it is famous around for its wealth and opulence. This has greatly translated into every sphere of their government including their higher education system.

In this article, we will be going over the higher education system in Qatar, cost of living, tuition fees, admission requirements, admission deadline and we will list a few of the universities in Qatar that have low and very affordable tuition fees for their students.

Higher Education System in Qatar

Undergraduate Degree

The undergraduate degree in Qatar is bachelor’s degree.

Duration: 4 years (5 years in case of pharmacy and architecture)
No. of semesters: 8
No. of credits: 120
Title: Bachelor of Science/ Bachelor of Arts

Graduate Studies

The graduate degree in Qatar is Master’s Degree

Duration: 1-2 years
No. of credits: 33-36

A doctorate is rare postgraduate offering in Qatar. It is only offered by Qatar University.

Living Costs

A meal at McDonald’s costs around QAR25, while a fancier meal will probably set you back around QAR200. Similarly, a pint of domestic draft beer is QAR50. However, at a supermarket, beer costs around QAR30/bottle. In Qatar, a coffee costs the same as it would in London or Tokyo; you can expect to pay QAR15–25.

You will probably use your campus shuttle to travel between your residence and classes. But if you’re going around town, you will probably use taxis, too. The normal starting tariff for a cab is QAR10, with an additional QAR2/km charge, plus waiting time. If you can navigate the bus system, you will pay QAR3–10 for a one-way ticket. Monthly tickets are available for QAR100–200.

Tuition Fees

The cost of tuition fees depends on each individual institution. Both locals and international students pay the same fees, with the full price of about 72,100QR per semester which is approximately US$19,800.

Some universities charge fees based on ‘credit hour’, and having around 12 credit hours each semester. For instance, Qatar University, undergraduate program cost 1000 QR which is equivalent to $365.00 per credit hour. Scholarship opportunities are offered to some selected applicants from outside Qatar to pursue undergraduate programs.

These applicants may be nominated by their embassies or can apply directly to the university.

Admission Requirements

Some essential materials for admission are stated below;

Undergraduate Admission:

Secondary school / High school / College transcripts
One personal statement and one statement of intent
One letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor from high school
SAT or ACT scores (some universities in Qatar require this)
Proof of English proficiency with either IELTS or TOEFL test score (Native English speakers are exempted from this)
Extracurriculars or Awards and recognitions while in high school (optional)
Application fee ranging $75 – $100 (some nationalities are exempted from this fee, please check the application thoroughly)

Graduate Admission:

Fill and submit the application form online
Official university transcripts showing that they have completed the required courses and satisfied the degree requirements and CGPA of a bachelors or masters program
Proof of English proficiency IELTS or TOEFL scores generally required
Copy of their passport details
2 recent passport photos showing facial profile using a white background
Application fee ranging $75 – $100 (some nationalities are exempted from this fee, please check the application thoroughly)
Additionally, there are program-specific requirements for certain graduate departments, RocAppl will make this information available for the applicants.

Admission Deadline

Fall Semester: Application usually begins in March and closes in June
Spring Semester: Application usually begins in October and closes in December