International Student Information

Entry into Qatar: Student Visa

All incoming students who will require a visa to study at Carnegie Mellon University Qatar will be required to submit additional documentation in order to apply for a student visa, sponsored by Qatar Foundation.
In order to apply for a QF-sponsored student visa and Qatar Residence Permit, all international students will need to submit additional information and documentation by July 1 (for fall students) or December 1 (for spring students) : International Student Portal.

• We will use the information submitted in the form to work with Qatar Foundation and the Qatar government to issue your visa. We will email you a PDF copy of your visa when it is ready. Please print a copy of this visa to present to immigration at Hamad International Airport prior to your travel to Qatar.

• Documents required:
  1. Passport:
     • Please check your passport expiration date: it needs to be valid for at least 6 months
     • For Indian Passport Holders: Both front and last passport pages are required
     • For Palestinian Passport Holders: Copy of Bataqa Lam Alshamel is required
     • For previous Qatar residents: Copy of cancelled Qatari ID
  2. CMU-Q Admission Letter
  3. Acknowledgement of State of Qatar Immigration Medical Clearance Requirements: Please electronically sign the PDF document and upload a signed copy to the International Student Portal.

Apply for Student Housing

The residence halls in Education City are managed by Qatar Foundation Student Housing. If you plan to live in Qatar Foundation housing, please fill out the Student Housing Enrollment Verification Form. You must use your CMU-Q email address.

Please click here to access the CMUQ Student Housing Enrollment Verification Form.

After you submit your Student Housing Enrollment verification Form, CMU-Q will verify your enrollment status and submit your contact information to Qatar Foundation Student Housing. Qatar Foundation Student Housing will then contact you directly via your CMU-Q email with further instructions on how to submit your housing application and pay your housing deposit.

More information:

After submitting your Student Housing application, all further inquiries about housing fees and policies can be directed to Qatar Foundation Student Housing at studenthousing@qf.org.qa

To learn more about the housing facilities and features, please visit the Student Housing page.

Submit Required Health & Wellness Information

Please visit the Health Information page to learn more about the requirements and how to submit them.

Prior to Departure…

• Attend Pre-Departure Orientation: Date & time TBD by CMUQ OIE.
• Inform OIE in Doha of Travel Plans: Please provide your flight information to OIE in Doha. We will provide transportation from the airport to Education City Student Housing. We recommend arriving the Thursday before orientation starts to settle in.
• Make Copy of Passport: In order to apply for your Residency Permit, you’ll submit your passport upon arrival. The immigration office will have your passport for several days so please make a copy to carry with you.
• Print Qatar Visa: Print your visa and present it, along with your passport, to the immigration officer upon arrival.

Upon Arrival in Doha…

• Purchase a SIM Card and Change Money: We recommend you complete both tasks at the airport itself, as both of these tasks require you to present your passport. After arrival, students submit their passport to OIE and they will have it for a few days until the process is complete.
• International Student Orientation: Students are required to attend an international student orientation. Date and time to be announced. Please bring the original copy of your passport photo (2 photos) to orientation.

After Arrival: Qatar Residence Permit Application

After arrival, we first assist students with issuing their Qatar ID, which acts as your Qatar Residence Permit (RP). This is not the same as the visa, as the visa is primarily used just for entry into the country. The visa is required to then apply for the Residence Permit after you arrive.

This RP process has three steps:

• • • Step 1: Medical checkup
    • Step 2: Fingerprint registration
    • Step 3: Submission of all documents to CMUQ Office of International Education

CMU-Q will organize the appointments and necessary transportation for each step and provide instructions for each step once you arrive.

Documents required:

• Original Passport
• Visa copy
• 2 passport-size photos (preferably, photos should have color backgrounds – blue is recommended)

Bank Accounts

After receiving your QID, we help students with setting up their bank accounts at Qatar National Bank (QNB).
Note: If you are below 18 at the time of arrival, please let us know in advance as the process will be different for you.

Documents required:

1. 1. 1. 1. Passport
         2. Enrollment Verification
         3. University letter (provided by us)
         4. Proof of Qatar address

Financial Aid refund

If you are receiving a financial aid package, you will receive each semester’s award at the start of the semester. This will only be possible after you open your Qatar bank account, which can take up to 4 weeks after your arrival to Qatar. Please prepare to have some cash with you during this period.

Hamad Health Cards

After receiving your QID, you must apply for the Government Health Insurance known as a Hamad Health Card. You can learn more about the process in the Health Information page.

Students interested in Doha Campus Exchange first need to meet with the Office of International Education in Pittsburgh to discuss the application requirements and next steps. Students also have the option to set up a Zoom meeting with the Office of International Education in Doha to ask any additional questions about Campus Exchange and life in Qatar.

Submit Completed Doha Campus Exchange Application to OIE in Pittsburgh.
(Due October 15 for Spring Campus Exchange or March 15 for Fall Campus Exchange)

A complete application for Doha Campus Exchange includes:

Completed Carnegie Mellon University Exchange Program Registration Form, including the following:

• Personal statement that articulates your interest in studying in Qatar
• Academic Advisor & Faculty Recommendations

Completed CMUQ Campus Exchange Application Form, including the following:

• List of courses you plan to take at CMUQ
  • Please click here for the CMUQ Schedule of Classes.
• Courses you plan to take within Education City as a cross registered student
  • Click here for information on Spring 2024 Cross Registration
• Copy of your passport

How do I cross-register?

1. After you have selected the course you wish to take, download the Education City Cross Registration Form
2. Fill out the form online – handwritten forms will not be accepted.
3. Print it, sign it, and collect signatures from Sheila Rian (Enrollment Services Manager) and your advisor.
4. Email the completed cross registration form with a copy of your passport to the host school’s registrar’s email.

Basic cross-registration guidelines to keep in mind:

• Cross-registration is open to full-time students.
• Students may cross-register for one course per semester
• If there is an essential reason for a student to cross register for more than 1 course, it needs to be approved by the academic advisor
• When cross-registered, students need to adhere to the host school’s academic calendar (start date, drop/withdrawal deadlines, final exam, etc.). If you choose to drop the class, you must drop it on SIO as well as with the host school. The status/grade that the host school reports on its transcript will be posted to your CMU transcript after the end of the semester. The grade you receive for your cross-registered course factors in your QPA.

Once your application has been received…

Once your Doha Campus Exchange application is complete, OIE in Pittsburgh will forward your application materials to OIE in Doha. Your application will then be forwarded to the Program Director of your academic program at CMUQ. The Program Director may reach out to you with additional questions about your academic plans in Qatar. The Associate Dean of Education and the Program Director make the final decision about all Doha Campus Exchange applications.

Once your application has been approved…

• Review Welcome Email: You will receive a welcome email from the Office of International Education in Doha with further instructions on how to submit the documentation needed your visa, how to apply for Education City Student Housing, and how to submit the documentation for your immunizations and health & wellness records. Please see the New Student Information webpage for additional information.
• Request to Change Program Code in S3: The Office of International Education in Pittsburgh will submit a request to the University Registrar’s Office to change your academic program code in S3. Once your program code has been changed, you will be able register for courses directly at CMUQ; upload the required health & wellness documentation to CMUQ’s Health Connect portal; and access Scotty, CMUQ’s student resource portal.
• Enroll in Qatar Student Health Insurance: Health insurance is mandatory for enrollment at CMUQ. The CMUP student health insurance typically does not meet the health insurance requirement in Qatar. If you have private health insurance and it meets the minimum requirements, you can request to waive the insurance.  If not, you will be automatically enrolled in Doha campus health insurance for the duration of your semester abroad.

Register for Class at Carnegie Mellon University Qatar

Once your program code in S3 has been updated, you can register for courses in Doha directly. Please review the Academic Calendar for course registration dates. Please note that CMUP and CMUQ have the same dates for course registration.

Apply for Student Housing in Education City

Student Housing in Education City is managed by Qatar Foundation Student Housing and not by CMUQ. Please fill out the Student Housing Enrollment Verification Form using your CMU email address. Qatar Foundation Student Housing will then contact you directly via your CMU email with further instructions on how to submit your housing application and pay your housing deposit. All further questions about housing can be directed to studenthousing@qf.org.qa.

Submit Required Documentation for Qatar Student Visa Application

All Campus Exchange students require a visa to study at CMUQ and will be required to submit additional information in order to apply for a Permanent Entry Visa. After arrival, students will be required to complete a physical exam, including a blood draw and chest x-ray, in order to complete the process for their Qatar Residency Permit, which serves as the students’ government ID card and student visa. OIE in Qatar will liaise with Qatar Foundation immigration to apply for a visa on the student’s behalf.

In order to apply for a student visa and Qatar Residency Permit, all Campus Exchange students need to submit the following information and documentation via the International Student Portal:  

• Passport: Please check your passport’s expiration date to ensure it is valid through the end of the semester.
• Passport sized photo
• Acknowledgement of State of Qatar Immigration Medical Clearance Requirements: Please electronically sign the PDF document and upload a signed copy to the International Student Portal.

It typically takes several weeks in order to process the visa request. OIE in Qatar will email you a PDF copy of your visa when it is ready. Please print a copy of this visa to present to immigration at Hamad International Airport prior to your travel to Qatar.

Upload Required Health & Wellness Records via Health Connect

Doha Campus Exchange students need to submit additional health and wellness documentation to the Office of Health & Wellness at CMUQ, as the State of Qatar has different requirements than the United States. Health & wellness and immunization records submitted to University Health Services in Pittsburgh are not accessible to CMUQ Health & Wellness Staff.

The following documents need to be submitted via Health Connect, CMUQ’s online health & wellness records portal. Once your academic program code has been changed in S3, log into Health Connect using your Andrew ID and password and submit the following documentation:

• Health History Form: This information will be used if you become ill during your stay on campus and will help us provide care that meets your individual needs.  This information is confidential and will not be released without your consent.
• Immunization Form:  Ensure that you receive all the required immunizations and upload the appropriate evidence as outlined on the Required Immunizations. This information helps us to protect you and the community against immunizations-preventable diseases.
• Notice of Privacy Form: This form pledges that all information shared with the office of Health & Wellness staff is confidential. In addition, by signing this form, students accept the responsibility of respecting the rights of others, as well as the rights that they themselves possess. Additional information can be found on the form itself.

Please review the New Student Information website for further instructions and email the Director of Health & Wellness at CMUQ with any questions. Without a complete medical file, you will not be able to register for classes, have access to your housing assignment, or receive your visa to Qatar.

Prior to Departure…

• Attend Pre-Departure Orientation: Attend the mandatory PDO with OIE in Pittsburgh. Date & time TBD by CMUP OIE.
• Inform OIE in Doha of Travel Plans: Please provide your flight information to OIE in Doha. We will provide transportation from the airport to Education City Student Housing. We recommend arriving the Thursday before classes start to settle in.
• Make Copy of Passport: In order to apply for your Residency Permit, you’ll submit your passport upon arrival. The immigration office will have your passport for several days so please make a copy to carry with you.
• Print Qatar Visa: Print your visa and present it, along with your passport, to the immigration officer upon arrival.

Upon Arrival in Doha…

• Purchase a SIM Card and Change Money: We recommend you complete both tasks at the airport itself, as both of these tasks require you to present your passport. After arrival, students submit their passport to OIE and they will have it for a few days until the process is complete.
• International Student Orientation: Students are required to attend an international student orientation. Date and time to be announced. Please bring the original copy of your passport photo (2 photos) to orientation.

After Arrival: Qatar Residence Permit Application

After arrival, we first assist students with issuing their Qatar ID, which acts as your Qatar Residence Permit (RP). This is not the same as the visa, as the visa is primarily used just for entry into the country. The visa is required to then apply for the Residence Permit after you arrive.

This RP process has three steps:

• • • Step 1: Medical checkup
    • Step 2: Fingerprint registration
    • Step 3: Submission of all documents to CMUQ Office of International Education

CMU-Q will organize the appointments and necessary transportation for each step and provide instructions for each step once you arrive.

Documents required:

• Original Passport
• Visa copy
• 2 passport-size photos (preferably, photos should have color backgrounds – blue is recommended)

Questions? Email cmuq-international-education@qatar.cmu.edu.