International Universities are Making Themselves at Home in Qatar

In recent years, several Western universities have opened branches in Qatar. These campuses are accredited by the same bodies as their home universities, and offer degrees from their home university - thus, for example, the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar offers a Cornell MD degree. Admission standards are high, and reflect those of the home institution. English is the language of instruction.

In Qatar you'll find the following at the Education City (see our articles on Education City and the Qatar Foundation):

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCU-Qatar)

VCU-Qatar was opened in 2001, and is a branch of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts located in Richmond, Virginia. At VCU-Qatar, students can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design, Fashion Design, or Interior Design. VCU-Qatar has the only fully accredited design program in the Middle East. VCU-Qatar uses the curriculum and faculty resources of Virginia Commonwealth University and its School of the Arts. Not surprisingly, the majority of students are Qatari (61%) and most others are from the Middle East; however, other students include Americans (4%), Canadians (3%), Australian (1%), British (2%) and those from other European countries (4%), as well as a few from South America.

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Qatar)

WCMC-Qatar opened in 2002, and is a part of Cornell University (CU) and Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) in New York. WCMC-Qatar collaborates with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), with the National Health Authority, and with Qatar University in medical education, health care, and research in Qatar. WCMC-Qatar will be part of the Sidra Medical and Research Center (a 300-bed specialty women's and children's hospital that is scheduled to opening in 2010/2011). In order to become a faculty member at WCMC-Qatar, applicants must qualify for and secure a faculty appointment at Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell University.

Dean Daniel R. Alonso writes, "Our integrated program of study has been specially designed for students in the region, and represents a departure from the more normal eight-year program offered in the US. It comprises a two- year Pre-medical Program that focuses on the sciences basic to medicine, followed by the four-year Medical Program in which students follow the highly successful curriculum taught at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, which is situated in New York City." The school has provision for up to 70% of students to be Qatari, otherwise, they welcome applications from elsewhere in the world. (Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of at least the equivalent of an American undergraduate degree.)

In May 2008, WCMC-Qatar graduated its first class of "home- grown doctors" — 15 new doctors who received Cornell University MD degrees and are moving on to residency training.

Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMU-Qatar)

TAMU-Qatar opened in 2003, and is part of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M's Dwight Look College of Engineering is considered one of the world's premier programs. TAMU-Qatar offers four full-time undergraduate engineering programs in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering. Faculty and staff at TAMU-Qatar come from more than 15 countries.

TAMU-Qatar "seeks candidates who are committed to meeting the academic rigors of the program, who are global in their personal perspective, and who will thrive in a diverse and culturally rich environment." Students are from Qatar, the surrounding region, and throughout the world.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Qatar)

CMU-Qatar opened in 2004, and is a campus of Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University. CMU-Qatar offers full-time undergraduate degrees in business administration, information systems, and computer science. Applications are welcome from Qatar and throughout the world.

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar)

The SFS-Qatar opened in 2005, and is a branch of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service on the main campus of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. SFS-Qatar offers the same undergraduate degree program, leading to the same degree, as that earned at the Washington campus, i.e., a four-year liberal arts curriculum, with a major in International Politics, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree. The first graduating class will have its convocation in spring 2009. Applications are welcome from Qatar and throughout the world.

Outside of Education City, you will also find these schools:

University of Calgary Faculty of Nursing in Qatar (UC-Qatar)

UC-Qatar which opened in fall 2007, is a branch campus of the University of Calgary, in Alberta. The school offers a regular Bachelor of Nursing program, as well as an accelerated program and a post-RN-diploma program. The school has future plans for graduate-level nursing programs. Bachelor's-level enrolment is anticipated to grow to 100 students per year. Applications are welcome from Qatar and throughout the world.

In a 2007 news release, University of Calgary President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Harvey Weingarten, said, "The University of Calgary is excited to be playing a lead role in delivering world class health care in Qatar. It's an opportunity to broaden our international exposure while assisting the Qatari government in its efforts to redefine health care in Qatar and the Gulf region. … Calgary students and professors will also have an unprecedented opportunity to gain international experience teaching and learning overseas. They will bring new skills and insights to their health care practices when they return to Canada." Students from both the Calgary campus and the Qatar campus will be able to do practicum placements with Hamad Medical Corporation (a 900-bed multi-site hospital system in Doha, Qatar).

College of the North Atlantic, Qatar Campus (CNA-Qatar)

CNA-Qatar opened in 2002, and is a branch of the College of the North Atlantic, which has several campuses in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. CNA- Qatar has students from more than 40 countries.

CNA-Qatar is considered Qatar's premier comprehensive technical college, and is one of One of Qatar's largest post-secondary institutions, with 2,300+ students. CNA-Qatar combines a Canadian curriculum and industry expertise in four program areas: health sciences (i.e., dental assisting, environmental health technology - public health, environmental health technology - food safety and inspection, medical radiography, paramedicine, pharmacy, pre-nursing, respiratory therapy); information technology; engineering technology; business studies. CNA-Qatar also has a Security Academy and Centre for Banking and Financial Studies.

NOTE:

Information is subject to change. Always contact the school directly for specific program information.