Admissions

Financing Opportunities

Northwestern University and Qatar Foundation offer a variety of tuition financing opportunities. Read about all financing options below and review the Eligibility Quick Reference Guide to see what option may be right for you:

• Merit Scholarships
  Incoming Students
  Qatar Foundation and Northwestern University offer a limited number of highly competitive scholarships for students of exceptional scholastic achievement. These award typically cover up to 50% of NU-Q tuition costs. Students are automatically evaluated during the admissions process and no application is reguired. Grantees will be informed of any awards in their acceptance letter from the University.
  
  Current/Continuing Students
  Upon completion of two semesters at Northwestern, current/continuing students who earn and maintain a GPA of 3.6 or higher are eligible to apply to QF for additional scholarship opportunities. Qatar Foundation awards a 100% tuition scholarship to the highest performing students in Education City. For more information on applying, contact NU-Q Student Financial Services.
  
  
• U.S. Federal Aid
  U.S. citizens may be eligible for the following U.S. federal aid:
  
  • Federal Direct Stafford Loan
  • ParentPLUS Loan
  Interested students should complete the FAFSA application online after January 1st using Northwestern’s federal school code of 001739. More details on the above funds and their application processes can be found on Northwestern's financial aid webpage. Once you have completed the FAFSA, please notify Student Financial Services to ensure timely review and packaging of awarded aid.
  
  
• HEI Sponsorship
  Qatari nationals may be eligible for sponsorship under the Higher Education Institute (HEI), which may fund a significant portion of tuition and certain fees.  Northwestern is one of only two institutions in Education City that are internationally recognized as a “Tamim bin Hamad” university.  This qualifies Northwestern students for additional HEI incentives and opportunities.  For more information, visit the HEI Advising and Career Development Office (ACC) in person or online at www.english.education.gov.qa.
  
  
• Government and Corporate Sponsorships
  Qatari nationals also may seek sponsorship from government agencies such as Qatar Petroleum, the Ministry of the Interior, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or their corporate partners such as Shell Oil, Al Jazeera or Mersk.  Eligibility criteria and sponsorship terms are set by the individual organizations. Students and their families are responsible for identifying and arranging this type of sponsorship.  A good starting point: review the programs or benefits offered by the employer of a parent or other family member.
  
  
• Qatar Foundation Need-Based Financial Aid
  Through the Hamad Bin Khalifa Financial Aid Program, Qatar Foundation offers interest free, need-based loans to assist students in financing their education. Students are responsible for repayment, and upon graduation they may pay a percentage of their salary until the loan is repaid or, alternatively, repay the loan through service with a Qatar Foundation-approved employer for a maximum of six years. Graduates may toggle between the percentage salary payment and service repayment.
  
  
• Children of Qatari Mothers
  When other options have been exhausted, children of Qatari mothers may be eligible for specially designated HEI or other sponsorship opportunities.
  
  
• Inter-Governmental Agreements
  Qatar Foundation has bi-lateral agreements in place with countries that have agreed to offer financial aid to their citizens who attend an Education City institution.  Countries with bi-lateral agreements have included Oman, the Emirates and Bahrain.  Contact Qatar Foundation to inquire about current programs.
  
  
• Family Contributions
  Families may pay for tuition and fees directly before the beginning of each term.  In fact, this is by far the most common way that NU-Q students from Qatar and other countries finance their education. 
  
  
• Payment Plans
  Tuition payment plans also are available through Qatar Foundation and may be a good option for families that qualify for some need-based financial aid but may also require additional flexibility to pay the expected family contribution (EFC).
  
  
• Commercial Bank Loans
  Students of all nationalities may consider commercial bank loans when other options do not fully cover all tuition and other costs.  Visit your bank and inquire about student loan rates and repayment.
  
  
• Student Employment Program
  Full-time students may supplement other tuition financing with part-time work on campus. Students may work up to 20 hours per week and typically earn QR 25-40 per hour, which may cover small expenses such as transportation or fees. Visit the Qatar Foundation’s Student Employment website for more details about student employment. 

Eligibility Quick Reference Guide