Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation, announced the official launch of eight unique graduate degrees across all six of its colleges. The multidisciplinary degrees will open for Fall 2019 admissions as of Saturday, May 18.

The initial announcement was made by Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, president of HBKU, at this year’s graduation ceremony, which witnessed 173 graduates from 43 countries conferred with HBKU degrees. This marked the fifth graduation ceremony since the university was founded in 2010.

As of September 2019, the College of Islamic Studies will offer a Master of Arts in Applied Islamic Ethics degree. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is now accepting applications for its PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences program – the first doctoral degree on offer within the college. Additionally, the College of Science and Engineering has introduced a Master of Information Systems in Health Management program and a Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management – a joint degree with the University of South Carolina. 

HBKU’s College of Law (formerly known as the College of Law and Public Policy), now offers two pioneering degrees at the intersection of the legal, business and entrepreneurship sectors. The degrees – an LLM in International Law and Foreign Affairs and an LLM in International Economic and Business Law – are designed to cross the lines of single-disciplinary studies.

The university’s College of Health and Life Sciences will subsequently offer a joint degree with the University of South Carolina – a Master of Science in Exercise Science degree.  

Finally, HBKU’s newly inaugurated college – the College of Public Policy –  is receiving applications for its Master of Public Policy program.

Speaking on the announcement, Nasser Al-Binali, head of enrollment at HBKU, said: “The new degrees are an organic extension of HBKU’s vision to offer an integrated and cutting-edge learning experience. Each of the programs were handpicked with a futuristic vision in mind. At a foundational level, the university’s mandate is to graduate a highly capable stream of individuals, but, even more importantly, it seeks to begin addressing today the needs of tomorrow. HBKU aims to do so through a welcoming and inclusive environment that is conducive to learning, where none of our students are left behind.”

Each of the programs are at the intersection of cross-disciplinary studies. The first program of its kind worldwide, the Master of Arts in Applied Islamic Ethics addresses how Islam, as a global religion with a rich moral heritage, engages with and contributes to the worldwide moral discourse. The degree tackles ethical issues across a variety of disciplines and fields.

The PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences is the first degree of its kind in Qatar, and one of the few in the world providing students with the philosophical and technical grounding to  design and tailor their own interdisciplinary program  and concentration, while contributing effectively to their communities.

The Master of Information Systems in Health Management is a unique program designed to prepare students for professional roles in the design and management of information systems and services in health care organizations and sectors.

The Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management is identified as the first master’s degree in sports and entertainment management in Qatar and one of a few in the MENA region. The program trains and prepares students for management and leadership roles in the sports and entertainment industries, which have been identified as key areas for the State of Qatar.

The LLM in International Economic and Business Law is ideal for lawyers working or aspiring to work in international business, private practice, academia, government, and the judiciary. The one-year program complements national aspirations to nurture a homegrown community of graduates. 

The LLM in International Law and Foreign Affairs enables leaders who can manage multi-faceted relationships that span different legal systems, and have a command of a wide range of skills.

The Master of Science in Exercise Science will establish within Qatar and the MENA region the top-ranked educational and research degree program in exercise science.

The Master of Public Policy program will offer world-class academic and professional training in public policy analysis, design, implementation, evaluation, and management, in the related areas and specializations of social policy, energy and the environment.

Additionally, two new degrees have been announced for Fall 2020. On offer will be a Master of Arts in Intercultural Communications, to be delivered via the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and a Doctor of Juridical Science, to be offered by the College of Law.

Over recent years, HBKU has witnessed a rapid yet calculated expansion to its degree offerings. Last year alone, the university celebrated the successful launch of six new degrees, falling under the umbrellas of the College of Islamic Studies and the College of Science and Engineering.

HBKU is tasked with a mission to provide specialized and highly distinctive graduate programs. As of Fall 2019, it will offer a total of 33 degrees at master’s and PhD levels. The university’s far-reaching alumni network comprises more than 550 graduates, each making a tangible impact in their respective areas.

HBKU aims to place emphasis on developing and delivering unique interdisciplinary programs that address contemporary societal and economic concerns cutting across multiple areas of study. The newly announced programs were developed together with a cross section of experts across critical fields.

The continued formation of new educational initiatives is part of HBKU’s mission to build and cultivate human capacity. Prospective students can now apply to HBKU’s programs at www.hbku.edu.qa. 

Admissions for international applicants will close on Saturday, June 15. Local applicants may apply to the programs until Monday, July 15.