Doha Institute Scholarships 2027

The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies is a graduate-level academic institution based in Doha, Qatar, with programmes concentrated in areas such as social sciences, humanities, public policy, public administration, development economics, psychology, media, security studies and related disciplines.

The Institute offers scholarships intended to attract academically qualified students from Qatar and abroad. For Master’s students, funding is primarily offered through merit- and need-based scholarship arrangements. The Tamim Scholarship is associated with academic merit, while the Sanad Scholarship is linked to financial need. Funding can differ according to whether the student is Qatari, resident in Qatar or an international student.

For international Master’s scholarship recipients from outside Qatar, official scholarship arrangements can include full tuition support, student accommodation, a monthly stipend and health insurance. The exact monetary value of the stipend is not published in the official material reviewed, so applicants should not assume a specific monthly amount.

Doctoral funding follows a separate scholarship policy. The Doha Institute divides doctoral study into phases, with continuation of scholarship support linked to academic progress. For example, progression to later funding stages requires satisfactory performance, including a GPA of at least 3.5 during the first phase and completion of required doctoral milestones.

Applicants should therefore distinguish between admission to a graduate programme and receipt or continuation of scholarship support. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not automatically guarantee either admission or scholarship funding.

• admission, the official policy requires a minimum Bachelor’s GPA of 3.2/4.0 and Master’s GPA of 3.5/4.0, or equivalent.
• Doctoral applicants must demonstrate the ability to use Arabic as an academic language for research and writing.
• Doctoral applicants must normally demonstrate English proficiency equivalent to at least IELTS Academic 6.5, unless an approved exemption applies.
• Scholarship recipients must maintain the academic standing required by the Institute.
• Institute scholarships cannot normally be combined with another scholarship.
• Scholarship arrangements do not apply universally to every executive, diploma or certificate programme; applicants should verify the funding status of their chosen programme before applying.

For eligible international Master’s scholarship recipients, support may include:

• Full tuition fee coverage.
• Accommodation in Institute student housing.
• Monthly living stipend.
• Health insurance.

For other applicant categories:

• Tuition support may range from partial to full coverage depending on scholarship type, student category and assessed need.
• Merit-based support may be awarded through the Tamim Scholarship.
• Need-based support may be available through the Sanad Scholarship.

For doctoral students:

• First-phase scholarship support may cover the initial coursework period.
• Second-phase funding is linked to successful completion of first-phase requirements and a minimum GPA of 3.5.
• Third-phase funding is linked to completion of the prospectus requirements and successful completion of the comprehensive examination.
• Dissertation-stage support may extend for up to two academic years, with possible extension subject to approval.

Master’s applicants should expect to provide documents requested through the official admissions portal. Requirements can vary by programme, but may include:

• Valid identification or passport.
• Bachelor’s degree certificate.
• Academic transcripts.
• CV/résumé.
• Personal statement or programme-specific written statement.
• Academic references.
• English-language proficiency evidence where required.
• Additional writing samples, essays or programme-specific documents where requested.

Doctoral applicants are officially required to provide:

• Completed admission application.
• Authenticated Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates.
• Authenticated Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts.
• Master’s thesis, capstone project or another research sample.
• IELTS or equivalent English-language evidence where applicable.
• Updated CV.
• Statement of Interest of approximately 750–1,000 words.
• Preliminary doctoral dissertation proposal of approximately 2,000 words.
• Three academic recommendation letters.

Selection is competitive and may consider:

• Academic transcripts and previous academic performance.
• Relevance of previous qualifications to the selected programme.
• Quality of the applicant’s CV.
• Strength of written statements and supporting academic material.
• Research potential where relevant.
• Academic references.
• Programme-specific requirements.
• Interview performance where an interview forms part of the process.

For doctoral applicants specifically, the official admission policy identifies factors including the CV, academic transcripts, initial research proposal, research contribution and interview outcome.

• Study at a specialist graduate institution focused on social sciences, humanities and public policy.
• Access significant financial support for eligible international students.
• Develop advanced research and analytical skills.
• Study in Doha within an international academic environment.
• Build networks with researchers, policymakers and graduate students from different backgrounds.
• Pursue specialised Master’s or doctoral research in fields with regional and international relevance.