Qatar: Best Universities in Qatar for International students, 2021

One of the economically powerful nations in the Middle East and the world, Qatar is an oil-rich, high-income economy with a sizeable migrant working population from all over the world. The many perks of living in Qatar include extremely low unemployment rate, low tax rates (and no income taxes), high standard of living, one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, and amenability to assimilating foreign student and working population. So, unsurprisingly, its education sector is designed and monitored to ensure that it contributes to the development of Qatar and Qatar’s relationship with the world.

Most of the top universities in Qatar are local branches of American universities, though there are a few that are indigenous. We are going to explore what options are available to an international student who wishes to study in Qatar. Here are 5 of these universities you should know about.

Best Universities in Qatar for International students, 2021

1. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
   One of the branch campuses of the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University is located in the capital city of Doha. Most of its programs are for the undergraduate degree, though it does run programs for post-graduation and doctoral research. Currently, it offers courses in the field of Business Administration, Biological Sciences, Information Systems, and Computer Science. Its operations are funded entirely by Qatar Foundation, a semi-private, non-profit organization that undertakes initiatives aimed at education and general development.
2. Qatar University
   Situated on the outskirts of the capital, Qatar University was founded in the year 1973 and is the only government university here. The university is known for its research infrastructure, particularly its library that maintains a vast collection of ancient manuscripts. Its academic organization comprises a range of courses that are offered in 10 constituent colleges. These courses include those in Law, Medicine, Health Science, Sharia and Islamic Studies, Business and Economics, and Arts. Qatar University invests significantly in conducting researches and has established 17 research centers including the Centre for Sustainable Development, Gulf Studies Centre, Social and Economic Survey Research Institute, and Laboratory Animal Research Centre.
3. Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
   Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar is a local branch of Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, and was founded in the year 2001. It was established in furtherance of an agreement between the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and Cornell University. It is affiliated with General Hospital as well as Women’s Hospital of Hamad Medical Corporation. Just like other branches of American universities here, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar receives funding from Qatar Foundation—and it is the largest funding for any such branch in the country.
4. Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
   The youngest entry in the list, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies was founded in the year 2014 but has quickly gained prominence in the region. As the name suggests, it is a graduate school. It offers Master’s degrees in a number of disciplines related to humanities and social sciences. The main thrust behind its popularity is the fact that it is an initiative of one of the most influential think-tanks in the country, the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. The institute aims to prioritize Arabic over English as a medium of instruction. Presently, there are 5 academic units of the institute: School of Social Sciences & Humanities, School of Public Administration & Development Economics, Language Center, Excellence Center for Training and Consulting, and Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies.
5. Northwestern University in Qatar
   Yet another outcome of the agreement between the Qatar Foundation For Education, Science and Community Development, and Northwestern University, the latter’s branch campus was founded in the year 2008. Most of the courses offered here are similar to those offered at the main campus in the United States, though changes have been made to bring the curriculum in alignment with local circumstances and needs. You should note that the Qatar Campus houses one of the most lauded journalism and communication schools in the region. To provide practical exposure to students, it has entered into partnerships with Qatar Computer Research Institute, Al Jazeera network, and Doha Film Institute. There is also an exchange program that allows students to visit and study at the main campus.