Admissions - FAQ

Key Facts

General

QAR 300Application feenon-refundable

3 / 1Program choicesBachelor's and Diploma: 3
Master's: 1

2 yearsPlacement test scoresstay valid

30 daysWaiting timebefore retaking a test

Bachelor's and Diploma

65 / 60Placement testEnglish / Math
for direct entry

5.0IELTSoverall
no band below 5.0

49TOEFL iBToverall
no section below 12

480SATeach section
English and Math

19ACTMathematics

Master's

70English placement testminimum score

6.0IELTS Academicno band below 6.0
valid within 2 years

72TOEFL iBTListening 17 · Reading 18
Speaking 20 · Writing 17
valid within 2 years

Contents

01Application & Submission
02Early / Conditional Applicants
03Placement Tests
04Approved International Test Scores
05Foundation Program
06Admission Review & Decisions
07After Acceptance
08Transfer / Returning Students
09International Applicants
10Scholarships
11Key Contacts & Web Pages

01Application & Submission

Topic	Quick Answer
Application portal	Apply through the UDST Applicant Self-Service Portal.
New applicant	Create an account → complete the application → upload documents → book any required tests → pay the application fee → select Submit.
Previous applicant	Log in with the existing account. Do not create a new account; use the password reset option if needed.
Login ID	Use the Temporary ID (TID) until the Student ID (60xxxxxx) is issued, then use the Student ID.
Program choices	Bachelor's, Advanced Diploma and Diploma: up to 3 choices, in order of preference. Master's: 1 program per admission cycle.
Portfolio	Required only for Digital Communication and Media Production programs; uploaded through Applicant Self-Service.
Late applications	Not accepted after the published application deadline.
Application fee	QAR 300, non-refundable.
Payment vs. submission	Payment does not submit the application. The applicant must complete all remaining sections and select Submit.
Paid but not submitted	Log in, complete and validate the application, then select Submit.
Submission confirmation	The status is updated in Applicant Self-Service and a confirmation email is sent. Advise the applicant to check the spam/junk folder.
Submission error	Select Validate Application and correct the flagged fields. For ongoing technical issues, contact [email protected].
Document upload problems	Upload clear PDF, JPEG or PNG files with short, simple file names (e.g., Passport.pdf).
Additional documents	Applicant Self-Service → Tasks / To-Do List → Online Application: Additional Documents.
Missing documents	Only required admission documents count as missing documents. Depending on the applicant's case, these may include: First-semester high school results Final high school transcript or certificate Passport copy and Qatar ID or national ID copy Birth certificate (where applicable) MoEHE equivalency letter (where applicable) Any other required supporting documents IELTS, TOEFL, SAT and ACT scores are not missing documents. Applicants without qualifying approved international test scores must take the applicable UDST English and/or Mathematics placement test(s).
MoEHE equivalency letter	Who needs it: graduates of private or international schools in Qatar, and applicants who completed high school outside Qatar. Where to request it: from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), through its online services at www.edu.gov.qa. Then: upload the letter in Applicant Self-Service → Tasks / To-Do List.
Updating the email address	To update the email address on the account, the applicant should email [email protected] with their TID, a copy of their national ID or passport, and the new email address.

02Early / Conditional Applicants

Topic	Quick Answer
Apply before final results?	Yes, where permitted, based on first-semester results and/or predicted grades.
Conditional offer	Where permitted, based on first-semester results and/or predicted grades.
Final documents deadline	Documents must be submitted by the published UDST deadline, as shown in the portal Tasks / To-Do List.
Missing final documents	May result in withdrawal of the application or cancellation of the conditional offer.
Placement tests	Required unless valid, approved international test scores are submitted.

03Placement Tests

Placement test	Bachelor's and Diploma programs	Master's programs
English	65 or above: direct entry 35–64: Foundation English	70 or above required
Mathematics	60 or above: direct entry Below 60: Foundation Mathematics, where applicable	Not required

Placement test

Bachelor's and Diploma programs

Master's programs

English

65 or above: direct entry

35–64: Foundation English

70 or above required

Mathematics

60 or above: direct entry

Below 60: Foundation Mathematics, where applicable

Not required

Topic	Quick Answer
Test validity and previous scores	UDST placement test scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. Scores from a previous application may be reused if they are still valid at the time of applying. Applicants with expired scores must retake the relevant test.
Retaking a test	A 30-day waiting period applies between attempts, subject to Testing Centre rules and applicable fees.
Exemption through international test scores	Valid, approved international test scores meeting UDST minimum requirements may exempt applicants from the corresponding English or Mathematics placement test.
Booking a test	Applicants book a test through the Book Placement Test section of the online application.

Important

The Foundation Program is not available for Master's applicants. Meeting the placement test requirements does not guarantee admission; applicants must also meet the applicable program requirements.

04Approved International Test Scores

Test	Bachelor's and Diploma programs	Master's programs
IELTS	Overall 5.0; no band below 5.0	IELTS Academic: overall 6.0; no band (reading, writing, speaking or listening) below 6.0 Must be valid (within 2 years)
TOEFL iBT	Overall 49; no section below 12	Overall 72, with minimums of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing Must be valid (within 2 years)
SAT	Minimum 480 in each applicable section (English and Math)	—
ACT Math	Minimum 19	—

SAT and ACT Mathematics do not replace Grade 12 Mathematics

SAT Mathematics and ACT Mathematics scores can be used in place of the UDST Mathematics Placement Test only. They do not replace the Grade 12 Mathematics requirement. Applicants to programs that require Grade 12 Mathematics must show it on their final high school transcript with a minimum grade of 60%.

05Foundation Program

Topic	Quick Answer
Can the applicant choose Foundation?	No. Applicants cannot apply directly to the Foundation Program.
How placement is determined	Based on the applicant's UDST English and/or Mathematics placement test results.
Duration	Depends on placement results, Foundation level and required courses.
International tests	Valid, approved international test scores may exempt the applicant from the corresponding Foundation requirement, where applicable.

06Admission Review & Decisions

Topic	Quick Answer
Competitive ranking	Applicants are ranked on their final high school average and their English/Math placement or approved test scores, subject to program capacity and institutional priorities.
Priority order	Qatari Qatari travel document holders Children of Qatari mothers (living in Qatar) / non-Qatari female spouses of Qatari citizens Children of diplomats Children of UDST employees Born in Qatar Residents of Qatar International Applicants are ranked competitively within each category.
Editing after submission	A submitted application cannot be edited, but additional documents can be uploaded. For corrections, the applicant should email [email protected].

Topic

Quick Answer

Competitive ranking

Applicants are ranked on their final high school average and their English/Math placement or approved test scores, subject to program capacity and institutional priorities.

Priority order

Qatari
Qatari travel document holders
Children of Qatari mothers (living in Qatar) / non-Qatari female spouses of Qatari citizens
Children of diplomats
Children of UDST employees
Born in Qatar
Residents of Qatar
International

Applicants are ranked competitively within each category.

Editing after submission

A submitted application cannot be edited, but additional documents can be uploaded. For corrections, the applicant should email [email protected].

07After Acceptance

Topic	Quick Answer
Accepting the offer	The applicant accepts through Applicant Self-Service by the deadline stated in the offer letter and pays the commitment fee: QAR 500 for local applicants QAR 1,800 for international applicants
Missed acceptance deadline	The offer may be withdrawn.
After accepting	Complete any outstanding portal requirements and follow the registration and onboarding instructions.
Program change	Program changes are not allowed, because applicants already select up to 3 program choices when they apply.
Deferral / gap year	Not permitted until the student has completed at least one semester at UDST, subject to University rules.

08Transfer / Returning Students

Topic	Quick Answer
Transfer applicant	Apply online and upload official post-secondary transcripts.
Credit transfer	Transfer credit is evaluated after acceptance. Contact [email protected].
Discontinued student	A new application is required, and current admission requirements apply.
Dismissed student	A new application is required. The student may not reapply to the program from which they were dismissed.
Returning Foundation student	If returning within 2 years, the student normally resumes at their previous Foundation status and plan, and may retake placement tests to improve their scores.
Away more than 2 years	May be required to retake the English placement test; additional testing may apply.

09International Applicants

Topic	Quick Answer
Definition	An applicant who is not a Qatari citizen, does not reside in Qatar, and must complete the international student admission and residency process.
Typical documents	Passport, official high school records, MoEHE equivalency (where applicable), attestations and translations, and international test scores (if used).
Translations	Documents not issued in English must be submitted with an official English translation, together with the original.
Visa	Eligible admitted students follow the visa process communicated by the UDST international student team.
Travel before visa	Students should not travel to Qatar for study until the required approval has been received.
Housing	Please refer to the International Students page on the UDST website.

10Scholarships

UDST offers scholarships for outstanding students, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. Being admitted to UDST does not guarantee a scholarship. For full details and deadlines, visit the UDST Scholarships page.

Scholarship	Summary	More information
Amiri Scholarship	UDST's most prestigious scholarship, for outstanding recent high school graduates in Qatar and from around the world. Benefits include full tuition for a Bachelor's degree, health insurance, a monthly stipend, textbooks, accommodation and transportation.	Amiri Scholarship page [email protected]
Varsity Sports Scholarship	For talented student-athletes, helping them continue their studies while competing for UDST.	UDST Scholarships page

Scholarship

Summary

More information

Amiri Scholarship

UDST's most prestigious scholarship, for outstanding recent high school graduates in Qatar and from around the world.

Benefits include full tuition for a Bachelor's degree, health insurance, a monthly stipend, textbooks, accommodation and transportation.

Amiri Scholarship page

[email protected]

Varsity Sports Scholarship

For talented student-athletes, helping them continue their studies while competing for UDST.

UDST Scholarships page

11Key Contacts & Web Pages

Office	Email
Admissions	[email protected]
Technical / Service Desk	[email protected]
Testing Centre	[email protected]
Transfer Credit	[email protected]
Finance Help Desk	[email protected]
Foundation Program	[email protected]
Amiri Scholarship	[email protected]
International Students	[email protected]

Web page	Link
How to Apply	www.udst.edu.qa/admissions/how-apply
Application Deadlines	www.udst.edu.qa/admissions/how-apply/application-deadlines
Admission Requirements	www.udst.edu.qa/admissions/admissions-information
Testing Centre	www.udst.edu.qa/testing-centre
Foundation Program	www.udst.edu.qa/academic/foundation-program-unit
Tuition and Fees	www.udst.edu.qa/admissions/admissions-information/tuition-and-fees
International Student Annual Fees	www.udst.edu.qa/international-student-annual-fees
International Students	www.udst.edu.qa/internationalstudents
Scholarships	www.udst.edu.qa/admissions/scholarships-financial-aid/scholarships
Amiri Scholarship	www.udst.edu.qa/amirischolarship
Transfer Policy	www.udst.edu.qa/about-udst/institutional-excellence-ie/policies-and-procedures/transfer-policy

Internal quick reference — verify policy and program-specific exceptions before advising an applicant.