CREDIT HOUR POLICY
1 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Calendar: A representation of the periods associated with the University’s operations, containing the teaching periods, exam and holiday dates, and key deadlines, approved by the University's Board of Trustees.
1.1.2 Academic Council: The academic governance advisory body at the University which plays a substantial and critical role in setting the academic direction of the University.
1.1.3 Academic Members: Faculty Members and Instructional Members.
1.1.4 Academic Programs Development Framework: The structured process that guides the design, approval, implementation, and continuous improvement of academic Programs to ensure alignment with University’s Strategic Priorities, Accreditation standards, labor market needs, and Student Learning Outcomes.
1.1.5 Academic Unit: An entity within the University that delivers Courses for Programs or for entry into Programs.
1.1.6 Academic Year: The 12-month period defined in the University’s Academic Calendar, as approved by the Board.
1.1.7 Accreditation: Official recognition that an Academic Unit, Program or Course has met the established standards of quality set by an Accrediting Body.
1.1.8 Clinical Practice: Mandatory training undertaken by Students under supervision, conducted in a learning environment outside the University, at the University, or online, focused on “real world” activities or simulated environments.
1.1.9 Contact Hour: An hour of scheduled instruction given to Students, normally based on 50 minutes of delivery time, whether through Lecture, Laboratory sessions, clinical/workshop delivery, or other approved formats.
1.1.10 Course: A set of Learning Sessions in a particular subject, with defined scope, duration, and specific Learning Outcomes.
1.1.11 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs): The knowledge, skills, and competencies a Student can demonstrate immediately upon completion of a Course.
1.1.12 Credit: A unit of measurement assigned to a Course based on total learning time that counts toward a Program or credential completion at a particular QNQF level.
1.1.13 Credit Hour: The assigned value of a Learning Session’s hours, granted upon a Student's completion of a Course, maintained in the University’s official records, per QNQF standards.
1.1.14 Faculty Members: Members of the Teaching and/or Research staff, full or part-time, holding ranks of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer/Senior Technical Instructor, or Lecturer/Technical Instructor.
1.1.15 Field Work: Practical work carried out by Students in the field to apply theory learned in class.
1.1.16 Internship/Work Term: Structured employment directly related to the Student’s Program for skill development.
1.1.17 Instructional Members: Members of the teaching staff, part- or full-time, holding titles such as Assistant Lecturer, Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, or Teaching Assistant.
1.1.18 Laboratory: Instruction focusing on experimentation under the supervision of an Academic Member.
1.1.19 Lecture: Classroom instruction focusing on theory under Faculty supervision.
1.1.20 Learning Outcomes: Knowledge, skills, and competencies demonstrated upon completion of a learning activity, Course, or Program.
1.1.21 Learning Session: Classes, labs, placements, or work terms prescribed by a Course.
1.1.22 Parchment: The official certificate awarded to graduates upon completion of their Program.
1.1.23 Program: A prescribed set of Courses leading to a qualification (Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma, Master, Doctorate) per QNQF.
1.1.24 Placement: Period of work training in an employer’s organization for Clinical Practice, Internship, or Work Term.
1.1.25 Qatar National Qualifications Framework (QNQF): Structured system classifying qualifications in Qatar by knowledge, skill, and competency levels.
1.1.26 Semester: Division of an Academic Year with Course enrollment followed by an examination period.
1.1.27 Seminar: Structured Course session supervised by an Academic Member covering advanced topics.
1.1.28 Student: A person enrolled at the University in a Credit Course or designated as a Student.
1.1.29 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): Knowledge, skills, and competencies a graduate demonstrates upon graduation.
1.1.30 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology, established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 Where context requires, words importing the singular include the plural and vice-versa.
1.3 Other grammatical forms of a word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
2 Policy Purpose
2.1 The purpose of this policy is to:
2.1.1 Assign Credit Hours to Learning Sessions;
2.1.2 Ensure assignment of Credit Hours conforms to QNQF standards and University policies.
3 Policy Scope
3.1 Applies to all Courses awarding Credit regardless of qualification or delivery mode.
3.2 Applicable to:
3.2.1 Academic Units;
3.2.2 Academic Members and related Committees;
3.2.3 Admissions and Registration Directorate;
3.2.4 Program Development and Accreditation Department;
3.2.5 Students.
4 Policy Statements
4.1 Work expected of a Student is measured via Credit Hours.
4.2 Credit Hour assignment depends on Contact Hours required to meet Course Learning Outcomes.
4.3 One Credit Hour requires minimum inside/outside classroom time per week per QNQF.
4.4 Credit Hours follow QNQF assignment standards (PRAC-26).
4.5 Credit Hours cannot be less than one.
4.6 Academic Year has three Semesters:
4.6.1 Fall/Winter: 15 weeks including instruction and exams.
4.6.2 Spring: 8 weeks including instruction and exams.
4.6.3 Some Courses may run differently per procedure.
4.7 Spring Semester doubles Contact Hours to meet required weekly workload.
4.8 Academic Unit proposes Credit Hours for new/revised Courses; approved per Program/Curriculum policies.
4.9 Curriculum committees ensure Credit Hour compliance and alignment with Learning Outcomes.
5 Procedures
5.1 VP Academics ensures procedures are developed and implemented per this policy.
6 Related Documents
6.1 PL-AC-16: Program Accreditation and Certification Policy.
6.2 PL-AC-17: New Program Development and Approval Policy.
6.3 PL-AC-18: Program Review Policy.
6.4 PL-AC-19: Curriculum Enhancement Policy.
6.5 PR-AC-26: Credit Hour Procedure.
6.6 Qatar National Qualifications Framework.