At a glance
What a student from Maharashtra needs to know before deciding — clearly and honestly.
The education
Education City gathers branch campuses of Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Cornell (Weill), Texas A&M and Northwestern on a single campus.
The true cost
Branch-campus fees are high, but financial aid is common and salaries are tax-free.
Safety & visa
Check the latest MEA advisory before you travel. Qatar has a large Indian community.
Top universities
A selection of universities popular with Maharashtra students. Fees vary by university and programme — check each university’s current fee schedule.
After you graduate
Post-study work rights are the most important factor — and the most likely to change. Here is the position as of today.
Qatar has no general graduate job-search visa. To work after you graduate, you need an employer-sponsored work residence permit. Any Qatar Foundation or Education City graduate arrangements are specific to each institution — they are not a national entitlement.
Immigration rules, eligibility and salary thresholds change frequently and without notice. Always verify the latest official guidance before you apply, and never treat any figure here as a guarantee of future entitlement.
- No general graduate job-search visa
- A job needs an employer-sponsored work residence permit
- Education City graduate arrangements are institution-specific
Visa, work & money rules
The official rules behind your visa, work, family and budget planning — last audited 17 September 2026. Rules change often, so confirm each point on the official government or university website before you apply.
Student visa
If you do not already hold valid Qatar residence, you normally get student residence under sponsorship arranged by the university that admits you. At Qatar University, the Scholarships and International Admissions Section helps eligible admitted international students with the student visa and residence process.
Visa & permit fees
The Ministry of Interior currently lists its non-work educational-entry approval service as free of charge. It needs a letter from an accredited educational authority. The residence permit (Qatar ID), medical and university administrative costs can be separate. Confirm the full current cost with your sponsoring university.
Work while studying
A student residence permit does not by itself give you the right to paid work in Qatar. Any work generally needs your sponsor’s approval and Ministry of Labour approval. Some universities allow on-campus work or internships with approval. Do not assume a Western-style weekly student-work allowance.
Family & dependants
A Qatar University student visa is issued to the student only. It does not let you sponsor family members under your student status. Qatar’s ordinary family-residence sponsorship route generally applies to qualifying working residents who meet employment, salary, housing and other Ministry of Interior conditions.
Proof of funds
Qatar does not publish one simple national proof-of-funds amount for students that applies to every university; each institution may set its own requirements. Example (Qatar University only, not national law): if you apply under QU sponsorship, you must have a third-party financial sponsor. If your sponsor is resident in Qatar, QU currently requires a QAR 20,000 bank guarantee. If your sponsor is outside Qatar, you need six months of bank statements showing stable financial capacity.
Health insurance
Student residence procedures may require medical-fitness documents. Confirm the required health-insurance arrangements with your university. Do not assume that a Qatar residence permit or Qatar ID automatically provides all healthcare coverage.
MBBS — NMC rules
If you plan to study medicine — for example at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar — you must meet the NMC/FMGL requirements for Indian students: a qualifying NEET score; the course and clinical-training duration and a same-institution internship required by FMGL 2021; and eligibility for registration or licensure in the country where the degree is awarded. A WDOMS listing is not NMC approval. Verify the specific programme against current NMC rules.
ROI calculator
Enter your own numbers to see total investment and an indicative payback period. This is a guide only — not financial advice.
With the default assumptions (₹15L tuition and ₹8L living costs a year for 2 years, a 10% scholarship and a ₹42L starting salary), total investment is ₹43L and the indicative payback period is 1.3 years.
Qatar — Master's ROI
Indicative · based on today's assumptions
Figures are indicative only and vary with fees, salaries, exchange rates and visa rules. Treat this as one data point — not conclusive evidence or financial advice.
Safety snapshot
Based on Ministry of External Affairs guidance — always check the latest official advisory before you travel.
Check the latest MEA advisory
Check the latest guidance from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in Doha before you travel and during your stay. Register on MADAD (madad.gov.in).
Emergency contacts
Dial 999. MEA helpline: 1800 11 3090.
Register with the embassy
Register at madad.gov.in on arrival so the nearest Indian Mission can reach you in an emergency.
Food, culture & community
What to expect day-to-day — and how to feel at home far from home, as a student from Maharashtra.
Food & groceries
Excellent Indian food across Doha; vegetarian and halal options are universal.
The Maharashtra community
A very large Indian expat community, with growing cultural and student associations.
Maha-Alumni Connect lets you speak with students from your own district who studied at these very universities.
Compare Qatar with other destinations.
See the same degree across countries, or check the latest safety guidance before you commit.