Honors Student Experience

PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Priority Registration that allows all Honors students, regardless of their year, to be among the first students to register for the following semester’s classes.

• Innovative courses and modules created especially for the Honors Program by outstanding scholars and professors.

• A number of annual awards for top Honors students.

• Wide opportunities for participating in local and international conferences, trips and events.

• Full and partial waiver of membership fees for QU clubs.

• Recognition at graduation and on student transcript of successful participation in a challenging, high-quality honors program.

PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The Honors Program is a unique program designed exclusively for exceptional students. The honors study plan encompasses 6 credit hours and 8 zero credit co-curricular modules. Students can join the program directly once admitted either to the university with a minimum 90% in the secondary school or after achieving a GPA of 3.3 or above. The Honors Program is intended for highly ambitious and academically accomplished students who seek to undergo an outstanding college experience by developing critical thinking skills and engrossing in various academic activities.

For newly admitted undergraduate students:

• Minimum of 90% or higher score on high school certificate or an equivalent certificate.

• Successfully pass an interview.

• Recommendation letters

• Written essay

For regular undergraduate students can apply to enroll in the Honors Program if they satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete or about at least 15 credit hours in undergraduate level courses with a 3.3 GPA or above

• Have no record of academic probation, disciplinary misconduct, or violation.

• Recommendation letters from current or previous instructors, counselors, or academic advisors.

• Submit a written essay.

• Successfully pass an interview.

• Still having 6 semesters to complete the Honors modules.

The current students can also benefit and may opt to switch to the new plan where applicable.

CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM

All undergraduate students admitted to the Honors Program have to satisfy the following requirement in order to maintain their enrollment in the Honors Program.

• A minimum cumulative Qatar University GPA of 3.30.

• Progress towards completion of his/her degree requirements.

• Complete the Introduction to Honors Course within the following semester of joining the Program.

• Never going more than two consecutive semesters without Honors Modules or failing in Honors Modules

• Having no violations, probation, or record of any misconduct.

GRADUATION FORM THE PROGRAM

Regular undergraduate students must complete the following requirements in order to graduate from the Honors Program:

• Earn a minimum cumulative Qatar University undergraduate GPA of 3.50 at graduation.

• Complete a minimum of 6 credit hours of Honors Program courses.

• Complete 8 non-credit co-curricular modules

• Complete all Honors Program courses with a minimum grade of C.

• Pass all Honors modules

• Have never been placed on academic probation, nor be subjected to disciplinary action while studying at QU.

For students who complete all the honors requirement but have a GPA of less than 3.5 and no lower than 3.3, they will be issued with a certificate of honors course and modules completion (for students who have successfully completed all required courses and modules in the honors study plan, course listing and grades will be identical to what is officially stated on the students’ official academic records.)

DISMISSAL AND WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM

An Honors student will be dismissed from the Honors Program when:

• GPA drops below 3.3.

• A student is found by the university to have committed or participated in an incident of academic dishonesty or any other violation.

• Failure to successfully complete the Introduction to Honors Course within the following semester of joining the Program.

• Failure to successfully complete an Honors module in two consecutive semesters.

• Students wishing to withdraw from the program should fill in the required “withdrawal form” and submit it to the Honors office for evaluation.

REINSTATEMENT TO THE PROGRAM

Any student dismissed or who has withdrawn from the Honors Program may apply for reinstatement to the program. A student who has been dismissed or has withdrawn from the Honors Program may submit a formal petition in the form of a letter requesting re- instatement to the program. The typed letter must be submitted to the Director of the Honors Program, explaining the circumstances of dismissal/withdrawal and reasons for re-instatement. After considering the circumstances and the student’s academic history, current GPA and academic progress, and the number of semesters to complete the modules, the Honors Director will consult with the Hon ors council and decide whether the student is to be reinstated.