Qatar has made digital transformation a national priority, making it a strong destination to study Computer Science. Additionally, international students will find several English-taught Computer Science and related technology programs in the country.
Besides its national public university, Qatar is also home to international branch campuses of leading universities. With access to high-quality education from universities in Qatar and abroad, you can build the skills needed to pursue a fulfilling career in the computer industry.
In this article, we will discuss some of the best universities for computer science in Qatar.
Top Schools Offering Computer Science in Qatar
1. Qatar University
Qatar University, located in Doha, was established in 1977. As Qatar’s primary national institution of higher education, it has 12 colleges providing education in various fields, such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering. The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including 51 bachelor’s and 53 master’s programs, and has a student body of more than 23,000 students. Students also benefit from an award-winning campus, a state-of-the-art library, and cutting-edge academic resources.
There are several universities in the country that offer Computer Science and related technology programs, and Qatar University is among the notable options in Qatar. The university is listed in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject for Computer Science and Information Systems. At the undergraduate level, students can study a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a 120-credit program taught in English that typically takes four years to complete.
As for the master’s program, Qatar University offers a Master of Science in Computing. The program stresses applications of computing while maintaining a research orientation, and students may choose a thesis option or a project option. It also offers two focus areas: Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Students looking to explore research work can proceed to the Ph.D. in Computer Science at the university. The Ph.D. program requires 60 credits and is typically completed in three years, with a maximum duration of six years.
2. Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
Another university that offers a four-year degree in Computer Science is Carnegie Mellon University Qatar. It is a branch campus of the Pennsylvania-based Carnegie Mellon University and focuses on undergraduate education. The university opened its doors in 2004 at Education City in Doha, Qatar. Education City houses a homegrown research university and international universities from around the world.
Carnegie Mellon University Qatar offers select programs in Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science, and Information Systems. These programs follow Carnegie Mellon’s academic standards, and students graduate with degrees conferred from the U.S. campus.
For the bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, students are required to complete at least 360 units. The curriculum includes mathematics and probability, programming, computer systems, computer science theory and algorithms, a minor or concentration, and general education coursework. Students can explore areas such as Software Engineering, Robust and Secure Systems, Theory and Logic, Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction, and Robotics. Overall, the degree program takes four years to complete.
3. Hamad Bin Khalifa University
One of the best universities for computer science in Qatar is Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). The university was founded in 2010 as a member of Qatar Foundation to continue fulfilling its vision of unlocking human potential. Located within Education City, HBKU is a homegrown research university with colleges and schools in areas such as Islamic Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, Law, Health and Life Sciences, Public Policy, and Economics and Management.
The university offers a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering through its College of Science and Engineering. This program provides broad, multidisciplinary, and research-intensive education at the boundary of computer science and engineering, with specialization areas that include systems and computer security, software engineering, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, big data and data analytics, computer vision, wireless and mobile computing, bioinformatics, and health informatics. The program is taught in English, requires a minimum of 60 credits, and typically takes three to four years to complete.
Qatar continues to invest in digital transformation, innovation, and knowledge-based development. As an international student, deciding to pursue or continue your Computer Science studies in Qatar could be a strong step toward a career in technology.
Hopefully, this article on the best computer science universities in Qatar was helpful. If you’re looking to study Computer Science abroad, make sure to check out the Study in Qatar and Available Programs for International Students pages for more informative articles.
