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Experience Life at VCUarts Qatar

You are more than a student at VCUarts Qatar; you’re an innovator, entrepreneur, business or community leader, future designer, artist, academic, historian, curator, change maker, and scholar discovering your passions, refining your skills, and learning more about what you can contribute to the world around you. Your journey in the arts comes to life at VCUarts Qatar.

Our campus is the perfect balance between inspiration, exceptional resources, and unique learning opportunities, both inside and outside of the traditional classroom. It’s the kind of stimulating environment that unleashes imagination and originality, helping you grow. 

At VCUarts Qatar, your learning and experiences will extend beyond the campus and into the wider community, where the networks established by our alumni, faculty, and staff offer opportunities that will help you flourish well beyond your years studying with us.

Something for everyone

We’re proud of our multicultural environment that values collaboration and diversity. Our student population, representing 33 nationalities, benefits from a network of over a thousand graduates representing 60 nationalities, and the experience and dedication of faculty and staff drawn from nearly 30 countries.

VCUarts Qatar provides numerous opportunities for engagement! It is the place to visit to learn about the various clubs and organizations of interest to you. Whether you’re into environmentalism, social justice, anime, or sports, there is a club and leadership opportunity for you.

Can’t find what you like? Come to an event and start your own club over a hot cup of Karak tea! 

Practice your people skills

Are you keen to hone your leadership skills or learn to collaborate with other creatives in the community? Or perhaps you have specific ideas for an initiative that involves your peers? Then the Student Government Association or other club leadership positions are the place for you.

You can learn about leadership by engaging in on-campus activities, or if you strive to make a wider impact, participate in community service and international service-learning trips to learn about what it takes to become a change maker. 

“I had access to a wealth of beneficial resources and outstanding faculty, and I was afforded the opportunity to nurture and expand my creative abilities."
Zahra Anwar (GDES 2023)
“I embraced volunteer opportunities, which added an enjoyable dimension and allowed me to give back to the community while simultaneously learning through teaching.”
Fatima Nazir (GDES 2023)
“Reflecting on my education, it has been a transformative journey marked by exploration, challenges, and growth. Throughout my academic pursuit, I have gained a solid foundation in art, broadened my perspective through interdisciplinary studies, and honed essential skills that extend beyond the classroom.”
Dalal Johar (ARTH 2023)
“The emphasis on practical, hands-on experiences has allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, preparing me for a dynamic professional landscape.”
Maha Nasr (IDES 2023)
“The exposure to a multicultural setting has broadened my perspective and enriched my understanding of global design practices.”
Maha Nasr (IDES 2023)
“The numerous opportunities for networking, internships, and industry collaborations have been instrumental in shaping not just my academic journey but also my path beyond the classroom.”
Maha Nasr (IDES 2023)
“As a proud alum of VCUarts Qatar, I carry forward a legacy of excellence and creativity.”
Maha Nasr (IDES 2023)
“I am not just a graduate; I am a testament to the transformative power of a VCUarts Qatar education."
Maha Nasr (IDES 2023)
“Studying at VCUQ has been and will always be one of the best educational experiences I had. I have learned so much and gained a myriad of skills to help me as a designer.”
Karmina Asaad (IDES 2023)
“I am so grateful to be a VCU alumnus and have a VCU family that I can be a part of forever.”
Aldana Osama M. S. Dabousi (ARTH 2023)
“I think VCUarts Qatar has not just shaped me as a designer but also as a human being. It has given me so many opportunities outside of class – extracurricular that activities contributed to my growth.”
Afreena Niaz (GDES 2022)
“The Painting and Printmaking department catalyzed my journey as a thinker and artist who experimented with many different forms, mediums, and possibilities. I believed every day that I was always in the right place. It did not matter what major I was in; the dialogues, interactions, and events were inclusive and beneficial. PAPR allowed me to express myself freely, not only academically but also individually. Despite the differences in us as a class, we all felt united in one language, which was the creative-driven passion. I enjoyed the acceptance, freedom, and bond we had as a whole department; I sang, wrote, read, created, and much more. It was an unforgettable experience, and I won’t forget the artist visits, art events, workshops, and classes we had together! This experience shaped how I perceive art and printmaking; it unleashed a braver, experimental, and fearless version of myself to the outside world.”
Ghayda Abduljalil (PAPR 2024)

Explore and experience more

As you progress in your studies, you will find exceptional art and design facilities and laboratories that will help take your creative vision to the next level on campus! The Arts and Design Library, Materials Library, Print Lab, Innovative Media Studios, and research initiatives like the xLab and Sonic Jeel, offer spaces where you can conduct research and take your ideas even further. Can’t find what you need? Come to an event and spark your own ideas!

Don’t forget to include a study abroad or exchange program experience in your university experience as well. Students at VCUarts Qatar can spend a semester or year on our home campus in Richmond, Virginia, USA, or another campus around the world. Students who study abroad say that it’s one of the best experiences of their lives!

Our Department of Academic and Career Advising can further help you make decisions about your academic path and in planning your future career.

Be part of a community

VCUarts Qatar is part of the larger and diverse close-knit community of Education City that houses eight universities representing leading educational institutions from around the world, along with technology parks, cultural institutions, service organizations, and innovative research centers, among others.

It is a multiversity, a multicultural campus where every institution is accessible to the community, allowing students’ life and learning to flourish. This is in an environment that is created to help you excel academically and personally, but also as a member of a broader community. 

Not only can students enroll in classes at other universities, but they also have, at their fingertips, state-of-the-art institutions, such as the Qatar National Library and Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art, to help them prosper in their academic, professional, and social development.

Here, you can not only participate in the co-curricular activities offered by your university but also get involved in organizing wider community initiatives, collaborative events, and community service projects. Every exchange on the Education City campus is an opportunity to initiate dialogue and foster understanding for a more peaceful and prosperous world.