Prospective & Admitted Students
Northwestern University in Qatar
Education City, Qatar +974 4454 5100
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Our commitment to academic excellence is matched by a longstanding dedication to college access and affordability. We aim to make Northwestern affordable for all, creating a community that is as diverse, supportive, and inclusive as possible. Northwestern Qatar has a need-blind admission policy for all first-year, transfer, domestic, and international students from around the globe. Need-blind admissions means that your family’s financial situation is not considered when reviewing your application for undergraduate admission.
At Northwestern Qatar, we believe in a need-blind admissions process where all students have the ability to apply for financial aid regardless of their nationality or origin. We understand that a university education also involves a significant financial decision for many students and their families. As such we are committed to ensuring that this rigorous process is both accessible and affordable. We actively work to provide a comprehensive evaluation of financial assistance for all applicants and to provide support that meets the need of every student. Financial aid packages meet demonstrated need through a combination of grants, scholarships, and interest-free education loans. Financial aid can cover a percentage of tuition cost, housing, study abroad, residency expenses, and other miscellaneous university fees.
Your financial aid award from Northwestern is an estimate based on the information that you have provided. The award letter is typically sent within a couple of weeks of recieving your offer of admission. The exact composition of the award will not be available until after you receive your financial aid decision from Qatar Foundation Student Financial Services Office. This typically occurs in early summer.
Northwestern charges the same tuition in Doha, Qatar as the home campus in Evanston, Illinois. The total tuition and fees for the 2020-21 academic year are $59,414.
For a complete list of expenses, please visit: https://my.qatar.northwestern.edu/finance/tuition.html.
Northwestern will meet demonstrated financial need dependent on the submission of the College Board’s CSS Profile, supporting documentation, and Qatar Foundation Financial Aid application. Students who do not submit all necessary materials or are awarded zero aid by the Qatar Foundation Student Financial Services Office are ineligible to receive financial assistance from Northwestern.
Your application deadline will not vary depending on admission application group. Please be sure to follow the preferred deadline of January 1 to ensure you receive your financial aid award in a timely manner. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you need assistance.
Northwestern Qatar recommends that your CSS PROFILE or FAFSA (United States citizens and residents only) be recieved by January 1 to recieve maximum consideration for all types of student aid. If you completed your application late or very recently, please note that applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received. Our office is typically unable to extend the tuition deposit deadline for admitted students who apply late for financial aid.
The Financial Aid application for Qatar Foundation Student Financial Services Office opens on April 1 and must be submitted by May 31. This deadline is fixed and exceptions are rare.
You can apply for financial aid in three simple steps:
In addition to the College Board CSS PROFILE or FAFSA (United States citizens and residents only), you will be asked to upload the following types of documents to your online applicant portal:
We realize that every family financial situation is different and that you may not have one or more of these documents. Please do your best to disclose what you do have access to.
Your financial aid award will likely include interest-free education loans which will be paid after graduation through one of the following formats:
1. Repayment Plan: Traditional monthly payment of no more than 15% of your monthly salary.
2. Service: In this case, you could attend graduate school and/or work in one of over 300 approved institutions in The State of Qatar and the loan would be forgiven after a pre-determined amount of time (not to exceed 6 years). While enrolled in the service payment, you receive your full salary and benefits. No amount is deducted from your paycheck.
For the CSS Profile application, the College Board will automatically offer fee waivers to first-time applicants who meet their requirements, based on the financial information entered into the Profile.
Here’s how to contact us:
Northwestern Qatar