Carnegie Mellon University is now offering full-time, co-educational, undergraduate degrees in business administration and computer science in Qatar

The American university Carnegie Mellon opened a branch campus in Doha Education City last week.

The Carnegie Mellon University Qatar (CMUQ), a branch of the university based in Pittsburgh, USA, will offer undergraduate programmes in business administration and computer science to Qatari nationals and expatriate students in the Gulf.

CMUQ is part of the Education City’s university network, which already counts branch campuses of some of the world’s leading universities, such as Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Jared Cohon, president of Carnegie Mellon University, expressed the university’s pride in being part of the Education City project.

He said: “Carnegie Mellon is deeply committed to the ideals that have shaped Education City … like democracy, freedom, increased opportunities for both men and women and, most importantly, the power of education to turn these ideals into reality.”

Located in the heart of Education City, CMUQ is open to all students regardless of their nationality or ability to pay. The university selects students on merit only, a process known as “need-blind” admissions.

Students are offered programmes identical to those taught at Carnegie Mellon’s main campus in Pittsburgh and upon completion they receive a Carnegie Mellon diploma, as given in the US.

The university is working to offer students from the Qatar campus the opportunity to transfer to the US campus if they wish.

A statement issued by the university said: “A Carnegie Mellon education system is characterised by practical problem solving, multidisciplinary collaboration, innovation and creativity.

“Carnegie Mellon Qatar Campus will serve its students by teaching leadership and teamwork skills, and the value of commitment to quality, ethical behaviour, society and respect for one another.”

The university started operations last August, enrolling the first 42 students, but the grand opening marked its official launch at the global level.

For the next academic year the university plans to increase its available seats from 25 to 50 for business administration and computer science.

Currently, the campus shares facilities in the Weill Cornell Medical College building, but construction is underway on a 400,000 square foot independent facility complete with state-of-the-art classrooms and computer laboratories. The facility is slated to open in 2007.

Carnegie Mellon is recognised internationally as a pioneer in the use of computing in education.

Admission requirements

  • Applicants must have completed four years of mathematics, three years of laboratory science, and have taken English language proficiency exams.
  • SAT I and SAT II (writing, math and science) or ACT are required. If the applicant’s native language is not English and his/her verbal SAT score is less than 600, the TOEFL or the IELTS is required.

Scholarships
The Qatar Foundation uses a financial aid procedure providing need-based loans of up to 100 per cent of the fees to all qualified international students without discriminating on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age or gender.

Special grants of up to 100 per cent are available. Qatari citizens who enrol are fully funded by their government.

A brief history

  • The institution was founded in 1900 in Pittsburgh by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
  • Carnegie’s vision was to open a vocational training school for the sons and daughters of working-class Pittsburghers.
  • Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1967 merged with the Mellon Institute to form Carnegie Mellon University.