FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page will help guide you through some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about orientation and your time here on campus as an international student. Just follow the links below to get your answers. If you find that there is a question that we haven’t addressed here, please don’t hesitate to contact us at .
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How soon can I arrive to Education City?
2) What will happen when I arrive?
3) How much cash should I bring for my first few days in Qatar to get started?
4) How do I open a bank account?
5) Where can I get a SIM card and/or mobile phone?
6) What will happen the day of orientation (August 21st)?
7) Which events am I required to attend?
8) Can I go home during Eid break?
9) What will happen during Eid break?
10) How can I get around in Qatar?
11) Where can I get groceries?
12) Where can I eat on campus during the year?
13) If I’m fasting during Ramadan, where can I eat on campus?
14) If I’m not fasting during Ramadan, is there a place I can get food?
15) What will be provided in my new apartment when I arrive?
1) How soon can I arrive to Education City?
New international students should arrive between August 21st and August 25th. As all new students are required to be at New Student Orientation beginning at 8:00AM on August 26th, it is to your advantage to plan appropriately and arrive in a timely manner. There may be many things you need to do before the morning of August 21st (such as opening a bank account or getting a SIM card and/or mobile phone), so please book your travels accordingly. Otherwise, you will have to wait until your passport is returned to complete these tasks, which may take several weeks. Additiionally, HBKU has planned several daily events from August 23rd-August 25th to provide students arriving early with fun and entertaining things to do as well as opportunities to get to know new friends and thier new HBKU community. All new students are welcomed to attend these events.
2) What will happen when I arrive?
You will be picked up from the airport by the Orientation Peer Advisor at the time of your arrival if you have requested this through your branch campus. They will then take you to the currency exchange kiosk at the airport if you need any currency exchanged into Qatari Riyals before going to campus. You will then head to Education City where you will check into your residence hall to get settled in for the night. Depending on your arrival time and date, there may activities occurring on campus after your settle in that you are welcome to come to!
3) How much cash should I bring for my first few days in Qatar to get started?
We suggest that you bring an equivalent of 400 to 500 QAR to begin with. It may also be possible to use your ATM card at any ATM machine for cash withdrawal, but please check with your bank to ensure that your card will work in Qatar, and to find out how much you could be charged per international cash withdrawal. Though our recommended 400 to 500 QAR will not account for all extraneous expenses, it will aptly cover food and incidental needs upon your arrival until you have established a bank account here in Qatar.
4) How do I open a bank account?
Students can create a bank account with QNB (Qatar National Bank) branch located near Education City Community Housing. There will be bus service to this location throughout the week after your arrival. QNB staff will guide you through the process of opening the account on site. They will ask for your passport or Qatar ID. You will get Qatar IDs once the immigration process is complete; thus, it is recommended that you work to set up a bank account prior to August 27th, because your passports will be collected that morning by your branch campuses for immigration purposes.
5) Where can I get a SIM card and/or mobile phone?
There is a Qtel outlet in the Education City Recreation Center and in Villagio, Landmark and City Centre Malls. Shuttle buses will be running to and from the Recreation Center from the time of your arrival. You will need to provide your passport or ID card in order to purchase a SIM card for 50 QAR. To purchase a cell phone, you can take one of the QF shuttle buses to any of the malls previously mentioned where multiple mobile phone shops are available for mobile phones purchase. Shuttle service to the malls will also be available upon your arrival.
6) What will happen the day of orientation (August 26th)?
The day of orientation will be full of informational sessions and fun activities that will you get better acquainted with campus. We will go over important topics such as financial aid, student employment and campus involvement to name a few. This day is mandatory for all new students! All students and families must check-in at the HBKU Student Center between 8:00AM and 9:00AM. Refreshments will be served during this time as well.
7) Which events am I required to attend?
The one mandatory event for all new students is New Student Orientation on August 26th beginning at 8:00am in the Student Center. Additionally, your branch campus orientations are mandatory and you should contact your individual branch campus for more information on dates and times. All other events during orientation week and Eid break week are optional. However, in order to be an active member of the Hamad Bin Khalifa University community and to meet fellow classmates, we strongly encourage you to attend as many of the events as possible. We will continue to post the most updated information for events throughout the summer.
8) Can I go home during Eid break
Most international students will not be able to leave the country during Eid break as your passports will be with QF for the immigration processing. Students carrying passports from GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries do not require a visa or residency permit in Qatar and thus, will be able to travel as needed.
9) What will happen during Eid break?
Considering many of you will not be able to travel home for Eid break because of immigration processing challenges, we will be keeping you entertained with a variety of activities both on and off campus. These activities are designed to be fun and to get you better acquainted with all the exciting things to do in Qatar. Continue to check the orientation calendar for the most updated information on events and don’t hesitate to ask your Orientation Peer Advisors (OPA) or Community Development Advisors (CDA) for more information!
10) How can I get around in Qatar?
QF Transportation provides regular bus service to favorite locations in Qatar. There is frequent service to most of the local malls including Villagio Mall, Landmark Mall and City Centre Mall. Additionally there is bus service available to local mosques, Souq Waqif and the Education City Clubhouse located just off the main campus. You can find bus schedules posted on bulletin boards in your residence halls. For additional information regarding bus schedules, don’t hesitate to speak with an Orientation Peer Advisor or a Community Development Advisor.
If the bus schedule doesn’t fit with your needs, you can call any local taxi or limousine service to reach your desired destination. Karwa and Fox Taxi Companies are frequently used by students to get around Doha. You can request a Karwa Taxi by calling 4458.8888, and you can request a Fox Taxi by calling 4462.2777. There are also buses run by the Karwa, with a bus stop located just outside of Gate 2 here on campus.
QF shuttle buses are free of charge for Education City students. Taxis can cost anywhere from 30 to 70 QAR depending upon destination and Karwa buses are 3 QAR per trip.
11) Where can I get groceries?
There are several locations in Qatar where you can get groceries. Carrefour supermarkets are located at Landmark, City Center and Villagio Malls. Additionally, a Lulu Express market is available near the Education City Clubhouse for your convenience. Near campus, you can also find Family Food Center, which is located next Jarir Bookstore (for those who like to multi-task while out). Most grocery stores mentioned here have all the basics you need for making meals at home such as fruits, vegetables, spices, rice, pasta, eggs, bread, milk, etc., as well as basic household supplies such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, mops, cleaners, etc. All these locations are accessible using QF shuttle services.
12) Where can I eat on campus during the year?
You will find that every branch campus has a cafeteria where you can get a variety of food. Additionally, LAS (the Liberal Arts and Sciences building) is the common meeting ground students from all branch campuses to come and eat. You’ll notice that the branch campus cafeterias are not open for dinner, so LAS is your best bet for on campus dining. The Student Center will also be providing food services for lunch and dinner sometime this fall 2011 semester (date of opening to be announced). But don’t worry! If all else fails, you can also order food from the many restaurants located near campus.
13) If I’m fasting during Ramadan, where can I eat on campus?
During Ramadan food services will be limited to cater to the needs of those who are fasting. During Iftar times, the LAS building will be open for dinner services. There timings will be 6pm to 8pm. Friday will be the only day of the week when they won't provide dinner. Other options for eating on campus are limited. QF Housing and Residence Life as well as the branch campuses will be having events through orientation, some of which will include community Iftars, which students have the opportunity to participate in. Other options for food for Sahoor and Iftar include purchasing food from local super markets or ordering in. Don’t hesitate to talk to an Orientation Peer Advisor (OPA) or Community Development Advisor (CDA) once you’re on campus to get the best information regarding eating during Ramadan.
14) If I’m not fasting during Ramadan, is there a place I can get food?
Yes. However, please remember that it is prohibited to eat in public or in front of others during the times of fasting during Ramadan. During Ramadan food services on campus have limited hours and also work to provide a separate private area for people who are not fasting. LAS will be open for lunch seven days a week from 11:30 am to 2 pm except on fridays when its from noon to 2 pm. Betteel at Carnegie Mellon University will be open from 7am to 3 pm on weekdays.
15) What will be provided in my new apartment when I arrive?
Every student will be provided with one pillow, one pillow case, one fitted bed sheet, on flat bed sheet, and one towel.
Each apartment will be given a few items to get all flat mates through the first day or two, which will need to be shared equally. For food the following will be provided: coffee packets, sugar packets, milk, bread, bottles of water, cheese, eggs, butter, jam, apples, and oranges. For cleaning supplies the following will be provided: bar of hand soap, garbage bags, and toilet paper. In addition, all apartments are fully furnished with a TV, furniture, and kitchen appliances.
