Manama: Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development has launched the Promising Students Programme to help prepare students for admission into Education City universities.

The programme is expected to support prospective Qatari students interested in studying at the universities in Education City, in areas like standardized testing and college admission.

Around 300 students have applied for the programme, but only 100 were selected, an official has said.

"The goal of the Promising Students Programme is to build a strong pool of applications," Maha Al Thani, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, Education Division at Qatar Foundation, said. "It will feature extremely talented and bright Qatari students who are expected to go on and apply to some of the best education programs Education City has to offer," she said.

To be selected, Qatari students of independent schools across the country with a class average of at least 85% took an English-language proficiency test as well as submitted an application of intent.

The selection process started during the winter of their Grade 11, after which the Promising Students Programme coordinators worked with the students through the academic year until the following March.

Test preparation was covered during the Grade 11 year. In the spring, the students then took the IELTS and ACT examinations.

With the students now in Grade 12, the Promising Students Programme will be working with them in a number of other areas related to college admission and workshops will range from expertise on how to write a college admission personal statement to developing a CV and interviewing skills.

"This programme is important because it is about providing additional opportunities for students to prepare themselves for college admission," Asmaa Al Hajaji, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, Education Division at Qatar Foundation, said.