The Qatar University scholarship you can apply for from abroad is the International Students Scholarship, Qatar University’s own undergraduate award for school leavers with a high school average of at least 95%. It waives tuition and textbook fees and pays QAR 500 a month, with shared student housing, transport, one return ticket a year and a residence permit sponsored by the university. A second route, the Talent Scholarship, takes an 80% average if you can show a talent in areas such as research, sport, media or literature.
Qatar University (QU) lists ten scholarship types in all, but most are for Qatari nationals, residents of Qatar, GCC students or current QU students. Below I sort them by who can apply, then cover the grade bars, the conditions you must keep, graduate funding and the dates. International undergraduate applications for Fall 2026 ran from 1 to 25 March 2026 and are closed, so the deadline, for Fall 2027, is 25 March 2027.
Qatar University scholarship types and who can apply
| Scholarship | Category | Who can apply | Minimum high school average |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Students Scholarship | Competitive | International students applying for a bachelor’s degree | 95% |
| Talent Scholarship | Competitive | Non-Qatari students, international applicants included, with a recognised talent | 80% |
| H.H. the Emir of Qatar’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence | Competitive | Holders of the Qatari secondary certificate, graduating in the year they apply | 95% |
| Student Recruitment and Excellence Scholarship | Competitive | New bachelor’s students who live in Qatar | Not stated |
| Outstanding Performance Scholarship | Competitive | Current QU students with a GPA of 3.50 and 30 QU credit hours | Not applicable |
| GCC States Scholarship (Embassies) | Competitive | GCC nationals nominated by their embassy, with a certificate from outside Qatar | Not stated |
| GCC Qatari Certificate Scholarship | Non-competitive | GCC students with the Qatari high school certificate | Not stated |
| Children of QU Employees | Non-competitive | Children of full-time QU staff, up to three per employee | Not stated |
| Short Arabic Program Scholarship | Other | Non-native Arabic speakers from outside Qatar nominated by a partner organisation | Not stated |
| College of Education Diploma | Other | Staff of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education or other government education bodies | Not stated |
If you live outside Qatar and the Gulf, only the first two rows apply to you, plus the Short Arabic Program if an organisation that has an agreement with QU nominates you.
Qatar University International Students Scholarship
Benefits
- Tuition: full exemption from tuition fees.
- Textbooks: exemption from textbook fees.
- Monthly pay: QAR 500.
- Housing: university student housing, two students per room, with transport.
- Travel: one return air ticket a year.
- Residence permit: issued under Qatar University’s sponsorship.
QU’s scholarship page does not list health insurance or a separate living allowance, although some websites claim both. QAR 500 is pocket money, so budget for food and personal costs from savings or family support.
Who is not eligible
- Transfer students from another university
- Visiting and non-degree students
- Applicants for a second bachelor’s degree
- Anyone already holding another scholarship or sponsorship
Qatar University Talent Scholarship
The Talent Scholarship is the easier grade bar for international students. You need an 80% average, plus at least 80% in your Grade 11 final results and your Grade 12 first-semester transcript. QU accepts talent in scientific research, technology and innovation, literature, media, sports and male acting.
| Benefit | Talent Scholarship |
|---|---|
| Tuition and textbooks | Full exemption |
| Monthly pay | QAR 1,000 |
| Admission | Guaranteed place in your chosen programme, except medicine and dental medicine |
| International students also get | Shared housing with transport, one return ticket a year and a residence permit |
| GPA to keep it | 2.5 out of 4.0 |
| Extra duty | You must represent the university regularly in your talent area |
If your average sits between 80% and 94%, this is the QU award to aim for. Gather proof of your talent early: certificates, competition results, published work or a portfolio.
Minimum averages for admission to each college
The scholarship needs an admission offer first, and QU is raising most college minimums from Fall 2027. International applicants for Fall 2027 should plan against the right-hand column.
| College | Until Spring 2027 | From Fall 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Sharia and Islamic Studies, Sport Sciences | 70% | 75% |
| Health Sciences and Nursing | 70% | 75% |
| Pharmacy | 80% | 80% |
| Medicine and Dental Medicine | 85% | 90% |
Non-Qatari applicants to health sciences, nursing and pharmacy must also show IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 61 and SAT Math 530, ACT 21 or QU’s placer maths score of 200. Medicine and dental medicine ask everyone for IELTS 6 or TOEFL iBT 68 with the same maths scores. Other colleges place weaker students in a Foundation Program; our guide to Qatar universities without IELTS explains when you can skip the English test.
For other systems, QU’s general minimums are a 2.00 GPA on a US-style diploma, 24 points on the IB Diploma, or five IGCSE passes plus two A or AS levels at grade E or above. Your college may ask for more.
Conditions to keep a Qatar University scholarship
- Keep a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 (2.5 for the Talent Scholarship).
- Register for at least 12 credit hours every semester.
- Do not hold another scholarship at the same time. The Talent Scholarship allows exceptions for international students under set terms.
- If you need the Foundation Program, finish it within two semesters. International students who do not must withdraw, cancel their residence permit and leave Qatar.
Qatar University scholarships for master’s and PhD students
QU has no graduate version of the International Students Scholarship. Graduate funding comes through two competitive routes, and both are open to applicants from outside Qatar.
- Graduate Assistantship (GA): QU considers newly admitted graduate students, from Qatar and abroad, who meet the admission and assistantship criteria. At the College of Pharmacy, for example, there is no separate form, the post is linked to faculty research and you must study full time without a job.
- Graduate Sponsorship Research Award (GSRA): a competitive award for research-based graduate study, with its own application.
QU’s college pages I checked do not publish the stipend amounts for either route, so ask the graduate studies office of your college before you accept an offer. For HBKU’s published graduate stipends, see our Qatar scholarships for international students guide.
Qatar University scholarship dates
| Applicant group | Window | Status on 24 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| International undergraduates, Fall 2026 | 1 to 25 March 2026; documents by 26 March; final decisions 4 August 2026 | Closed |
| International undergraduates, Fall 2027 | 1 to 25 March 2027; documents by 26 March 2027 | Upcoming |
| Graduate applicants, Fall 2026 | 1 December 2025 to 25 February 2026 (documents by 25 May 2026) | Closed |
| Graduate applicants, Fall 2027 | 1 December 2026 to 25 February 2027 | Upcoming |
| Qatar residents and GCC, Spring 2027 (recruitment and GCC scholarships) | 11 October to 11 November 2026 | Open now |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens)
How to apply for the Qatar University scholarship
- Check your average: 95% for the International Students Scholarship, 80% for Talent, and your college’s minimum for admission.
- Sit the tests you need: IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT, and SAT or ACT maths if your college requires them. QU accepts only the IELTS Academic version from international graduate applicants.
- Apply online for admission: pay the QAR 200 non-refundable fee and upload your passport and photo.
- Choose the scholarship request: international applicants must either select a scholarship or submit a student visa application. QU does not consider applications with neither.
- Post your original transcript: send the certified original to the Admission Department, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar, before the deadline.
- Track your application: log in to the QU admission portal for decisions and requests for documents.
Questions about international admission and scholarships go to internationalstudents@qu.edu.qa. QU also lists scholarships@qu.edu.qa for scholarship queries.
FAQ on the Qatar University scholarship
Is the Qatar University scholarship fully funded?
The International Students Scholarship covers tuition, books, shared housing, a yearly ticket and QAR 500 a month. That covers most costs, but QU does not list health insurance or a full living allowance.
What percentage do I need for the Qatar University scholarship?
95% for the International Students Scholarship and 80% for the Talent Scholarship. You must also meet your college’s admission minimum, which rises for most colleges from Fall 2027.
Can international students get a Qatar University scholarship for a master’s degree?
Yes, through the Graduate Assistantship or the Graduate Sponsorship Research Award. Both are competitive and QU does not publish the stipend amounts on the pages I checked.
When does the Qatar University scholarship open for international students?
The Fall 2027 window for international undergraduates runs from 1 to 25 March 2027, with documents due by 26 March 2027. Graduate applicants apply between 1 December 2026 and 25 February 2027.
Sources and updates
Scholarship types, benefits and conditions come from Qatar University’s scholarship types page and its scholarship timeline. College minimums come from QU’s college requirements page, and general averages and documents from its high school applicants page. Foundation Program rules come from QU’s competency requirements page. Admission dates come from QU’s undergraduate and graduate application timelines. Graduate funding comes from the College of Pharmacy graduate scholarships pages, and contacts from QU’s international students contact page and College of Medicine scholarship page. Information checked on 24 October 2026. I will replace the Fall 2027 dates with QU’s official ones when it publishes them.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
