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Student Loans, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
We are committed to attracting the best students from around the world, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Introduction
01At Qatar Foundation, we offer a range of scholarships and need-based financial aid options for students. Our admissions are always need-blind and we remain committed to attracting the best students from around the world, regardless of their financial needs.
Our loans are interest-free and include an option for repayment through working at one of hundreds of approved organizations in Qatar.
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Overview
02Students at any of the universities in Education City have access to multiple sources of funding. These options can be availed individually or combined to supplement their financial needs.
QF Merit Scholarships
Undergraduate students who have completed two semesters of academic study in Education City and have a GPA of 3.6 or above can apply for this highly competitive merit scholarship. The scholarship is renewed annually as long as the student maintains a minimum GPA of 3.6.
QF Financial Aid
A need-based, interest-free loan program that gives you an equal opportunity to receive a quality university education. All students who have been accepted into one of the undergraduate programs in Education City and can demonstrate a financial need are eligible to apply.
Students can repay their loan after graduation either through repayment (as a percentage of their monthly income) or via paid service (by working for an approved organization for a predetermined period).
Funding from university
Partner universities in Education City also offer their own merit-based or need-based funding, typically in form of a scholarship. In some cases, applicants with high scholastic achievements are automatically awarded these scholarships upon their acceptance to a university.
Private, corporate, or federal funding
US citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) may be eligible for federal assistance from the United States. Eligible students can obtain more information through the FAFSA website or through one of the US universities in Education City.
Qatari citizens and citizens of other GCC countries can seek government scholarships and private or corporate sponsorships, which typically cover up to the full cost of attendance.
Student employment
You may support the financing of your university expenses with part-time work on campus. Student employment ranges from jobs at universities, such as teaching and research assistants, to those at recreation centers and housing complexes.
Visit Tech4Work to see Education City wide jobs or contact your respective university for specific jobs on campus.
Forms
03In order to avail our funding opportunities, you’ll need to make an account and fill out the application at QF’s Financial Aid System, which will help us get a better understanding of what solution suits you most.
You can download the guidelines for the Financial Aid System below, in addition to other forms you’ll need to fill and upload on the system.
Download Documents
FAQs
04Arranging for university finances can often be stressful and confusing. To help ease some of your worries, we’ve prepared some answers to the most common questions we receive from students and parents.
If you still have any outstanding questions or concerns, send us an email at fao@qf.org.qa and we’ll help you any way we can.
Financial Aid Student Loan
A need-based loan that gives undergraduate students who are studying within Education City an equal opportunity to receive a quality university education.
- Q:What is required to become eligible for the QF Financial Aid Student Loan?A:
- Must be an international student, whether residing in Qatar or applying from overseas.
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Accepted to an undergraduate program at:
- Hamad Bin Khalifa University
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
- Texas A&M University at Qatar
- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
- Georgetown University in Qatar
- Northwestern University in Qatar
- Enrolled at one of the above mentioned universities.
- Demonstrate a financial need.
- Maintain an average GPA of 2.5 in case of being awarded.
- Maintain the standards of conduct within the Education City community.
- Have a responsible financial guarantor.
- Q:What is the annual deadline for the financial aid application?A:
Financial aid cycle for fresh students starts from 1 April until 31 May every year.
Financial aid cycle for returning students starts from 1 February until 2 March every year.
- Q:How do you access the Financial Aid System?A:
The FAS system is available online where students can access it on https://fas.qf.org.qa.
- Q:What are the next steps upon being offered a loan?A:
- Accept the financial aid student loan award on the online system.
- Submit two signed copies of the financial aid student loan contract to the QF Student Financial Services.
- Upload a scanned copy of the contract to your account on the online system.
- Q:How do you renew your Financial Aid Student Loan?A:
- Submit a new application each year between 1 February and 2 March, which will be subject to a re-evaluation process by QF Student Financial Services.
- Maintain an average GPA of 2.5 and be in good academic standing during the entire period of university study.
- Maintain the standards of conduct within the Education City community.
- Meet with a QF Student Financial Services representative periodically.
- Q:How do you repay your loan?A:
Repayment of the financial aid loan is due:
Prior to graduation: If the student has withdrawn or was dismissed from any university in Education City, the student and the legal guarantor during the study period should meet with financial aid repayment representative to sign a repayment plan for the awarded financial aid amount.
Six months after graduation date through:
- Paid service: where student can repay the loan by working at one of the approved organizations by Qatar Foundation. The list is available upon request from QF Student Financial Services. Total required numbers of working years will depend on the total awarded loan.
- Loan repayment: student will pay fifteen percent of his/her monthly basic salary, until the loan is fully settled.
For further information related to Financial Aid Loan, please email us on fao@qf.org.qa. For further information related to repayment of your loan, please email us on fao-repayment@qf.org.qa.
You may also visit QF Student Financial Services located in 2015 (Qatar Foundation Headquarters) by booking an appointment via email.
QF Merit-Based Scholarship
Undergraduate students who have completed two semesters of academic study in Education City with an outstanding GPA can apply for this highly competitive merit scholarship.
- Q:What is eligible for the QF Merit-Based Scholarship?A:
Students who fulfil the following requirements are eligible to submit an application:
- Full-time students.
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Completed two semesters of undergraduate studies at one of the following universities:
- Hamad Bin Khalifa University
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
- Texas A&M University at Qatar
- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
- Georgetown University in Qatar
- Northwestern University in Qatar
- Achieved a GPA of 3.6 or higher.
- Q:What is the annual deadline for the scholarship application?A:
Cycle starts from 15 May until 5 June every year.
- Q:What are requirements of the scholarship application?A:
Scholarship applicants are required to fill the online scholarship application and to upload the following documents before 5 June each year:
- Official transcript
- Two letters of recommendation from a faculty member
- Scanned copy of passport and Qatari ID
- Scanned copy of birth certificate
- Student records release statement
- Q:How will I be selected and notified?A:
All applications will be reviewed to make sure that applicants meet the required criteria. Successful applicants will receive a notification about their scholarship award and instructions for the next steps.
- Q:How can the scholarship be renewed?A:
- Students are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.6 or higher
- Submit an official transcript by the end of each semester
- Outstanding payments statement issued by QF Finance
For further information related to QF Merit-Based Scholarship, please email us on sch@qf.org.qa
