The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies is a graduate school in Qatar, founded in 2015, that teaches social sciences, humanities, economics and public policy in Arabic. Its Tamim Scholarship is awarded to outstanding students admitted to its master’s programmes.
What it covers: full funding is for international students only. They receive a full tuition waiver, student housing, a monthly stipend and health insurance. The institute does not publish the stipend amount. Residents of Qatar, including Arab expatriates living there, receive a partial tuition waiver of 10% to 100% based on financial need, and Qatari students who are not sponsored by a government entity or employer receive a full tuition waiver.
Who can apply: anyone admitted to a master’s programme, from Qatar or abroad. You need a full-time bachelor’s degree with the minimum grade in the institute’s table; final-year students can apply if they graduate by 1 July. You must be able to study and research in Arabic and have some English. Speakers of other languages sit an Arabic oral and written test. The scholarship does not cover executive master’s programmes, diplomas or certificates, cannot be combined with another scholarship, and is not open to anyone who already held a Doha Institute master’s scholarship. It continues only while you keep the required academic standing.
Programmes include public policy, development economics, public administration, political science and international relations, media studies, journalism, history, philosophy, linguistics and Arabic lexicography, comparative literature, sociology and anthropology, social work, clinical and social psychology, human rights, critical security studies, and conflict management and humanitarian action.
When to apply: the admission application for 2027-2028 opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 15 January 2027. There is no separate scholarship deadline: after admission decisions, the institute invites admitted students to apply.
What to prepare:
1. The online admission form; only one application per person is accepted.
2. Passport copy, certified degree and transcripts, translated into Arabic or English if needed.
3. Two academic references, requested through the form.
4. An accepted English test result.
5. A personal statement and an updated CV.
Practical notes for applicants from our region: teaching and research are in Arabic, while an English test is still required for admission. The institute’s alumni come from more than 50 countries; after Qatar, the largest groups are from Palestine and Morocco. Doctoral scholarships also exist, in three stages linked to grades and the comprehensive exam; full scholarship holders work for the institute at least ten hours a week. Check the doctoral pages separately.