The HBKU Scholarship 2027 is one of the few graduate funding packages in the Gulf that a student from India can hold without a sponsor. Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha, Qatar offers tuition waivers of up to 100% along with a monthly stipend of up to QAR 9,000 – about QAR 108,000 a year for an international PhD student – and the application window for international applicants closes on 1 February 2027.
HBKU is a research university built inside Qatar Foundation’s Education City, and its graduate programmes in computing, data science, cybersecurity, sustainable energy, Islamic finance, public policy and law are all taught in English. Applications open on 1 October 2026.
HBKU Scholarship 2027 (graduate tuition waiver and stipend)
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar – a Qatar Foundation university. The funding is awarded through the Scholarship Guidelines for HBKU Graduate Programs and college scholarships. |
| Study level | Master’s (MS/MA), PhD and Juris Doctor / LL.M. programmes across six colleges and the School of Economics and Management. Undergraduate funding is not covered by these guidelines. |
| Who can apply | International students, including Indian students, admitted to a full-time graduate programme. A bachelor’s degree is needed for master’s admission and a master’s degree for PhD admission, with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79 (the College of Science and Engineering wording; check your college’s requirements page). |
| What is covered | A tuition waiver of up to 100% depending on the programme, plus a monthly stipend of up to QAR 9,000 for international PhD students and QAR 7,000 for international master’s students, in return for research or teaching assistant work. |
| Last date to apply | 1 February 2027 for international graduate applicants. Applications open on 1 October 2026. Qatari and resident applicants who wish to apply for funding have until 15 March 2027. |
| Official website | https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/admissions |
What HBKU graduate scholarships cover
HBKU publishes a standard table of tuition waivers for its graduate programmes. The waiver depends on the college and the programme:
| PhD in STEM (CSE, CHLS) | 100% tuition waiver (QAR 4,000 per credit hour) |
| PhD in SHAPE / S.J.D. (CIS, CHSS, CL) | 100% tuition waiver (QAR 2,500 per credit hour) |
| Master’s in STEM (CSE, CHLS) | 75% tuition waiver (QAR 4,000 per credit hour) |
| Master’s / MA in SHAPE (CIS, CHSS, CPP) | 60% tuition waiver (QAR 2,500 per credit hour) |
| J.D. (College of Law) | 60% tuition waiver (QAR 2,500 per credit hour) |
| LL.M. and MS Economics | No tuition waiver (QAR 2,000 – 2,500 per credit hour) |
On top of the waiver, selected full-time graduate students receive a monthly stipend while working as a research assistant and/or teaching assistant:
| International PhD | QAR 9,000 per month (QAR 108,000 a year, up to 45 months) |
| International Master’s | QAR 7,000 per month (QAR 84,000 a year, up to 21 months) |
| Qatari PhD / Master’s | QAR 11,000 / QAR 9,000 per month |
| Local PhD / Master’s | QAR 5,000 / QAR 4,000 per month |
- Stipends are given to full-time graduate students who work as research assistants (RA) and/or teaching assistants (TA), depending on the availability of funds.
- A stipend holder works as an RA for 10 hours per week with their primary supervisor and can work a maximum of 20 hours per week in total.
- Students with a stipend can also serve as teaching assistants for 10 hours per week at QAR 50 per hour, or take paid work under the Student Employment Program.
- Full-time working professionals and part-time workers who exceed 40% of full-time hours are not eligible for a stipend.
- Students are responsible for their own housing costs, and self-sponsored students who do not receive an HBKU sponsorship pay a discounted rate of QAR 2,000 per credit hour based on financial need.
HBKU eligibility for Indian students
The College of Science and Engineering sets out the entry bar on its admission requirements page:
- A strong academic record with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 from a recognised university.
- A bachelor’s degree for master’s programmes and a master’s degree for PhD programmes, in a field relevant to the programme (for example computer science, computer engineering or electrical and electronic engineering for the computing programmes).
- A valid IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 79 to prove English proficiency.
- A GRE or GMAT score is required for some PhD programmes (including PhD in Sustainable Energy and PhD in Sustainable Environment, and optional for Logistics and Supply Chain Management). The GRE is not required for master’s admission but a strong score helps.
- You can submit up to two applications in one academic year.
Documents required for the HBKU application
- Completed online application form on the HBKU application portal.
- Official electronic copies of transcripts of your bachelor’s and, for PhD, master’s degree. Transcripts in a language other than English or Arabic need an official translation.
- Valid IELTS or TOEFL score, and GRE or GMAT where the programme asks for it.
- A statement of purpose or research proposal, a CV and contact details of your referees.
- Passport or national ID copy, and the non-refundable graduate application fee of QAR 250.
How to apply for the HBKU Scholarship 2027
- Create a user account on the HBKU application portal using the Apply Now link and log in.
- Choose your college and programme in the application. You can submit up to two applications in one academic year.
- After submitting, upload your supplementary documents and enter the contact details of your references as instructed in the confirmation email.
- The HBKU admissions team first checks the application for completeness and eligibility, then forwards it to the college for assessment.
- If the college selects you, you receive an offer letter. Tuition waiver and stipend decisions are confirmed with that offer.
Important dates for HBKU 2027 admission
- 1 October 2026: online graduate admission application opens to the public.
- 1 February 2027: admission application deadline for international graduate applicants, including students from India.
- 15 March 2027: application deadline for Qatari and resident applicants who wish to apply for funding.
- 2 May 2027: late admission application deadline for Qatari and resident applicants.
- 1 March 2027: admission application deadline for undergraduate applicants.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the programme. HBKU gives a 100% tuition waiver for STEM PhD and SHAPE PhD programmes, 75% for STEM master’s and 60% for SHAPE master’s, MA, J.D., with no waiver for LL.M. and MS Economics. Selected full-time students also get a stipend of up to QAR 9,000 a month for an international PhD and QAR 7,000 a month for an international master’s.
International graduate applicants, including Indian students, must apply by 1 February 2027. The application portal opens on 1 October 2026. Qatari and resident applicants who want funding have until 15 March 2027.
No. You apply for admission to an HBKU graduate programme, and tuition waiver and stipend decisions are made by the college with the admission decision. HBKU also states that a student who does not submit the signed scholarship agreement within the given time is treated as having rejected the offer and is billed full tuition.
The College of Science and Engineering asks for a valid IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 79. GRE or GMAT is required for some PhD programmes such as PhD in Sustainable Energy and PhD in Sustainable Environment.
A stipend holder works as a research assistant for 10 hours per week and may work up to 20 hours per week in total, including teaching assistant duties paid at QAR 50 per hour. Housing is not included and must be paid by the student.
Yes. The graduate admission process allows up to two applications in one academic year, so you can apply to two colleges or programmes and be assessed for funding in both.
Official links
Related reading: HBKU graduate admissions and important dates
HBKU scholarship guidelines for graduate programs
HBKU tuition fees by programme
HBKU student financial information
HBKU College of Science and Engineering admission requirements
HBKU graduate admission process
For other fully funded options in Asia and the Gulf, see study abroad scholarships, international scholarships and post graduation scholarships.
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