All Disciplines
Qatar
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Host institutions welcome scholars to teach or carry out a combination of teaching and/or research activities. Teaching activities will include undergraduate courses, student advising, faculty training and curriculum development.
Teaching components must correspond with the length of the academic semester. The academic year starts in mid-August or beginning September and ends by May or mid-June. One-semester proposals start in mid-August/September or mid-January. The calendar may be adjusted around Islamic holidays.
U.S. scholars visiting Qatar for more than two months must have either a multi-entry official visa or a residency visa.
The residency visa is the best option because it allows the grantee to obtain a Qatari ID, which is required to sign a rental lease or phone/internet contracts, and is valid for one year. The multi-entry official visa allows the grantee to spend up to ten months in country, but does not enable the grantee to obtain a Qatari ID. To obtain either visa the grantee must provide attested copies of their PhD/highest degrees and transcripts to the Qatari Ministry of Interior. If the grantee wishes to bring their family members to stay for more than two consecutive months in Qatar, then the grantee will also need to submit attested copies of the marriage certificate, child’s birth certificate, and sometimes an FBI clearance letter and a blood test to obtain visas for their family members. These documents are required by the Qatari Ministry of Interior for issuance of multi-entry official and residency visas. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar cannot assist the grantee in obtaining Qatari visas.
To avoid delays, the grantee should start working on document attestation and begin the visa application process immediately upon their placement with the host institution. In most cases, once the attested documents are submitted, the host institution’s human resources department will assist with the remainder of the visa application process.
In addition, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will request the grantee sign an agreement including terms about data protection, intellectual property, and benefits from the host institution.
During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant (5 to 14 days) for participation in a variety of activities including faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, conferences, or some combination thereof.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) requires grantees to sign an agreement regarding data protection, intellectual property, host institution benefits, and other terms/conditions.
For research components without Arabic language proficiency, feasibility of conducting research in English must be demonstrated in the proposal.
If Arabic is needed to conduct the research, the language proficiency evaluation must be completed.
For teaching, English proficiency is a requirement. Additional proficiency in Arabic is preferred and recommended for teaching in certain disciplines, like social sciences and humanities.
Ph.D. and at least three years of postdoctoral teaching and research experience are required. Practicing professionals holding a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree with higher education teaching experience will be considered. Experience in teaching first year students and with initiatives for improving students’ attrition is preferred. Experience with embedding technologies in the classroom is also preferred.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Qatar University (QU) Contacts:
For Qatar University departmental contact information, please email the Academic Vice President's office at Academic Faculty Recruiting (academicrecruiting@qu.edu.qa), and Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAcademic@qu.edu.qa).
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Contacts
- The Office of the Vice President for Research
- researchsupport@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute
- +974 4454 8143
- qbriinfo@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O Box 34110 Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Computing Research Institute
- +974 4454 0629
- qcriinfo@qf.org.qa
- P.O Box 5825 Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute
- qeeri-communication@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O Box 34110 Doha, Qatar
- College of Science and Engineering
- cse@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences
- chls@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
- College of Law
- cl@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
- College of Islamic Studies
- cis@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- chss@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
- College of Public Policy
- cpp@hbku.edu.qa
- P.O. Box: 34110, Doha – Qatar
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR HBKU:
- HBKU Website: https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en
- Research at HBKU: https://research.hbku.edu.qa/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR QU:
- QU Website: http://www.qu.edu.qa/
- Research at QU: http://www.qu.edu.qa/research
- Research Centers: http://www.qu.edu.qa/research/facilities/research-centers
- List of Research Offices in Colleges: http://www.qu.edu.qa/research/colleges-research
Relocation, in-transit, excess baggage, and visa fees:
- Single or no accompanying dependents: $2250
- One accompanying dependent: $2550
- Two or more accompanying dependents: $2850
Plus, a round-trip, economy-class, international travel arranged by travel agent selected by IIE.
$750 books and educational materials allowance for teaching or teaching/research grants; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.
$2000 research allowance for research-only grants.
Additional living and housing (monthly) allowances are provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $875/month to $2500/month.
Round-trip, economy-class, international travel is arranged by travel agent selected by IIE, for up to two dependents.
Dependent tuition allowance for dependents in grades K-12 is provided on a reimbursement basis upon submission of receipts and based on the availability of funds. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only.
- One semester grants: up to $5,000 per child, or $10,000 per two children.
- Two semester grants: up to $10,000 per child, or $20,000 per two children.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Qatar
The Fulbright Program in Qatar began in 1995 and supports both U.S. and Qatari scholars. The traditional U.S. Scholar Program is small but impactful, placing U.S. scholars primarily at Qatar University and more recently, Hamad bin Khalifa University. Qatar has positioned itself as a regional epicenter for research and teaching, which offers a unique opportunity for U.S. scholars interested in the Middle East region. Qatar has focused on developing its reputation for world-class education, research institutions, centers of cultural and artistic excellence, and global philanthropy.
Qatar is considered as one of the safest countries in the world and both visitors and residents can experience the courteous and hospitable nature of Arab culture.
The official language of the country is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and understood. Islam is the official religion of the country.
The work week in Qatar is Sunday to Thursday.
Academic terms in Qatar are September through January and February through June. Full-year awards are preferred, but one-semester awards will be considered. The Academic calendar is usually published at the Qatari official e-Government portal https://hukoomi.gov.qa/. Most of the portal’s pages and the websites of the ministries and other governmental websites are available in Arabic and English.
Qatar’s population in December 2023 was 2,965,952, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA). The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR). The exchange parity has been set at the fixed rate of USD1 = QAR3.64. Qatar has one of the fastest growing economies and the highest per capita income in the world.
The country has a moderate desert climate with mild winters and hot summers. Humidity levels can be very high on the coast during the summer months. Most places such as shopping malls, restaurants, and cinemas are air‐conditioned.
Qatar has a good healthcare system that was ranked among the top 20 countries in the Numbeo Healthcare Index 2024, scoring 72.7 points. All residents with a valid ID and residence permit, including expats, can access public healthcare in Qatar. Healthcare in Qatar is overseen by the Ministry of Public Health.
The telecommunications system is currently being upgraded to an entirely fibre-optic network. Qatar was ranked second in the world in terms of mobile internet speed in 2023, with an average download speed of 243 Mbps and an average upload speed of 28 Mbps. Learn more here.
The country is served by Hamad International Airport (HIA). HIA is Qatar’s gateway to the world, and the home and hub of Qatar Airways, Qatar’s five-star airline. HIA serves over 360,000 flights and 30 million passengers every year.
Metered taxis and limousines are easy to find and there is a comprehensive public transport system. Rideshare is also available using Uber and other local applications. The Doha Metro is fully operational and has three lines (Red, Gold, and Green) and 37 stations.
Qatar University (QU) hosts ten colleges and offers the widest range of academic programs -- 48 Bachelors, 32 Masters, nine Ph.D. programs, four Diplomas, and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Research is an integral part of the academic environment at QU and is bolstered by the Research Complex, and 17 research centers of excellence.
Learn more about QU at http://www.qu.edu.qa/
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) is a member of Qatar Foundation and is located within Education City. The university boasts three national research institutes, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), and Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), which were established in 2011 in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to seek novel solutions to grand challenges facing Qatar and the region.
Learn more about HBKU: https://www.hbku.edu.qa/
University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) is a national applied university offering bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, certificates, and diplomas in various fields. UDST offers academic and co-curricular programming to more than 5,000 full-time students enrolled in over 50 programs in the areas of Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, Health Sciences, Business Management and Information Technology, and Academic Education. UDST’s Applied Research Center is a home to three labs: Artificial Intelligence Lab, Cyber Security Lab, and Multidisciplinary Labs.
Learn more about UDST at https://www.udst.edu.qa/
Mustafa Mashal
Associate Professor & Director at Idaho State University
U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Qatar University (2022-23)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmashal/
Elizabeth M. Palmer
Earth & Planetary Radar Geophysics
U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (2021-22)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empalmer1/
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars will be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.