hbku.edu.qa
HBKU Financial Aid
Student Need Based Loan FAQs
www.hbku.edu.qa
Fax: +974 44540282 P.O. Box 5825, Doha – Qatar, Website: www.hbku.edu.qa
hbku.edu.qa
HBKU Financial Aid FAQs
1. What does tuition amount to?
The amount of tuition varies based on which
university the applicant is admitted into, and
the courses there offered. Please consult the
admissions office of the respective university
for relevant information.
2. I am unable to pay the full tuition cost for
my university. What scholarship or financial
aid options are available?
Hamad bin Khalifa University Financial Aid
offers need-based loans that are paid back
after graduation, either directly or through
a paid service plan. Interested students must
submit an online application to HBKU Student
Financial Services. This application can be
found at: https://fas.qf.org.qa
3. What is financial aid?
Financial Aid/ Student need based loan
is a loan that is given to undergraduate
students pursuing their studies at universities
throughout Education City, in order to provide
them with an equitable opportunity to receive
quality higher education. Financial aid takes
the form of an interest free loan, which is paid
back after graduation through a repayment
program or a paid service plan.
4. Who is eligible for HBKU Financial Aid/
Student need based loan?
Eligible are
• International undergraduate students (whether from the GCC or elsewhere)
• Students admitted into undergraduate programs at: Virginia Commonwealth
University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, or Northwestern
University in Qatar
• Students demonstrating financial need
• Full-time students
• Those adhering to a good standard of
conduct within the Education City community
• Students with a credible financial guarantor
5. What is the deadline for my HBKU Financial
Aid/ Student need based loan application?
• New students can submit their application from April 1st until May 31st of any year.
• Returning students, who would like to be considered for financial aid, must submit their applications between February 1st and March 2nd of every year.
6. When is the best time to apply for HBKU
Financial Aid/ Student need based loan?
Prospective and returning students should
apply after receiving the university letter
of admission within the financial aid cycle .
Please refer to question (5) for the respective
deadlines.
• Tuition/ a percentage of tuition, housing and miscellaneous fees for non-resident students
Financial aid may additionally cover other
expenses, as approved by HBKU. These may
include:
• Summer courses: to be eligible for funding, students are required to submit a university letter of admittance
• Study abroad: in their application, students
must indicate the semester they intend to study abroad. Additionally, students must submit a letter of approval from the branch campus, which states all costs and tuition.
In case of questions, students are advised to
contact HBKU Student Financial Services.
14. How can I learn about the status of my
HBKU Financial Aid/ student need based
loan?
Students who qualify for HBKU Financial Aid
are notified through the HBKU financial aid
System. Students must sign into their account
in order to view the status of their award
package. Students who do not qualify for
HBKU Financial Aid will be also notified via
email.
As a new student, you have the advantage of
receiving notification emails that inform you of
any required documents that are still missing
from your application. You will also be given a
deadline to submit these documents.
In the case of returning students, incomplete
applications for financial aid will be rejected.
Thus, returning students must have all
documents submitted, in order to avoid
rejection.
15. How do I proceed upon receipt of my
award?
a. If you are a non-resident student:
1)Print your financial aid contract though your financial aid system account
2)Follow the notarization requirements as
mentioned on the first page of your contract
3)Prior to the end of the first week of the academic year, please submit your contract to HBKU Student Financial Services
4)Upload a scanned copy into the financial aid system via your account
5)After uploading the copy, please accept the award before the end of first week of
the academic year
b. If you are a resident student:
1)Print your financial aid contract through your financial aid system account
2)Visit us in person, with your guarantor, prior to the end of the first week of the academic year to sign the contract in presence of a financial aid officer
3)Through your account, please upload a scanned copy into the financial aid system
4)Prior to the end of the first week of the academic year, please accept the award
hbku.edu.qa
7. How do I access the financial aid system?
In order to access the financial aid system, and
apply online, please visit: https://fas.qf.org.qa
package also depends on making satisfactory
academic progress towards a degree, and
achieving a minimum GPA of 2.00.
8. How do I apply for HBKU Financial Aid/
Student need based loan?
You can apply for HBKU Financial Aid online
at https://fas.qf.org.qa by completing the
following steps:
a. Register an account on the financial aid system.
b. Thereafter, you will receive an automated email with the username and password of your financial aid account.
c. Upon acceptance, the University will “activate” your account. You may then upload your documents and submit your financial aid application. Expect to receive an email notification upon activation of your account.
d. Login using the username and password received through the activation email.
e. Collect and scan soft copies of all the
documents required as part of the application. Please refer to Question (11)
f. Lastly, please upload your documents and submit your application.
10. Can I apply by submitting online bank
statements/ documents?
No, all financial documents uploaded (which
may include a bank letter/ annual bank
statements/ income certificates) should be
originals with an official stamp.
9. Do I have to reapply for HBKU Financial
Aid/ Student need based loan every year?
Yes, you are required to apply for financial aid
every year. In case your financial circumstances
change, your eligibility or award amount may
also change. Renewal of your financial aid
11. Which languages are acceptable for scanned
documents submitted as part of an online
application?
As part of the application, only Arabic and
English documents are accepted. If your
official documents are in a different language,
please ensure that these are translated by a
certified translator.
12. How is financial need determined?
HBKU Financial Aid strives to fill the gap
between what a student has and what a student
needs. The HBKU Financial Aid Committee
reviews all financial aid recommendations and
appeals accordingly.
13. What does financial aid cover?
Financial aid covers:
• Tuition/ a percentage of tuition for resident students
• Tuition/ a percentage of tuition and housing fees for resident students who live outside Doha
23. How do I repay my HBKU Financial Aid /
Student need based loan?
You may choose the repayment option:,
• You may repay the total loan amount received in monthly instalments, representing 15 % of your monthly net income.
• Or you may choose to pursue the paid service option: thereby, you work for HBKU’s financial aid approved employers for a pre-determined period in exchange for repayment.
This period must not be less than one (1) year,
but not more than six (6) years, according to
the amount of financial aid received by the
student. The terms of the Obligated Service
will be computed as outlined in the contract
signed every year.
24. When is the repayment of a HBKU Financial
Aid / Student need based loan due?
Repayment of the financial aid loan is due:
(a) Prior to graduation:
◦ If the student withdraws or is dismissed from HBKU or one of its partner universities
(b) Commencing six-months after your graduation date:
◦ A repayment plan will be agreed upon
by the student and HBKU Student Financial Services
◦ A paid service plan will be drafted, if the student becomes employed by one of
HBKU’s financial aid approved employers
For any further inquiry into the repayment
options available please direct your questions
to fao-repayment@qf.org.qa
25. Can I switch between a paid service option
and a repayment option?
Yes, your mode of repayment is flexible. To
switch to an alternate repayment option, you
will need to send an email to fao-repayment@
qf.org.qa and provideany justifying documents.
Upon approval. you may alter your repayment
option.
26. What if I am employed internationally? How
will my repayment options be effected?
Should you decide to accept employment
internationally, you automatically forgo a
repayment option for your financial aid loan.
If you have any queries, please send an email
to fao-repayment@qf.org.qa
27. Can I apply for summer financial aid? If so,
how?
Yes you can apply for summer financial aid.
You are required to submit a letter from the
university that includes the cost and name of
the course.
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16. How can I know the breakdown of the
award?
You may view the breakdown of the award by
clicking on the offer letter link displayed in
your FA account. This letter will be emailed
to you, and will provide insight into the
breakdown of your award.
17. What is the deadline for submitting the
original financial aid contract?
Students have to submit the original Financial
Aid contract to HBKU Student Financial
Services before end of first week of the
academic year.
18. If I am an international student how/ where
do I get my contract notarized?
• You may approach any public notary in your home country or a legal firm or institute that can notarize the signature of your guarantor with an official stamp. Make sure that all pages are stamped, as there are signatures required on each page
of the application.
• In lieu of stamped documents, we also accept a letter from any governmental entity, authenticating the guarantor’s signature.
19. Can I be awarded both financial aid
scholarship ?
Yes, you may have financial aid and the
scholarship simultaneously; as the scholarship
exclusively covers tuition fees.
20. Do I need to inform HBKU Student Financial
Services if I am receiving additional aid, such
as scholarships, FAFSA, a Pell Grant or other
funds?
Yes, you are required to inform HBKU Student
Financial Services about any additional
financial aid or scholarships in the appropriate
field on Page 4 of your application.
Alternatively, please send an email to
fao@qf.org.qa.
21. Do I need to inform HBKU Student Financial
Services if my residency or contact details
have changed?
Yes, please ensure to provide HBKU Student
Financial Services with your most up-to-date
email address and passport information. This
will enable HBKU Student Financial Services to
contact you directly, if and when needed.
22. Can financial aid decisions be appealed?
Yes, you may appeal a decision made by HBKU
Student Financial Services. You are required
to fill an appeal request form which can be
found on our website, and send it to this email
address fao@qf.org.qa.
If you want to inquire into the decision, please
stop by HBKU Student Financial Services, and
directly speak to any of the officers. You may
also send an email to fao@qf.org.qa.