Program Overview

MFA in Design Program

The VCUarts Qatar MFA in Design with a concentration in Design Studies is a full-time, two-year, studio-based interdisciplinary design program. Students complete 60 credits of graduate coursework over four semesters. Instruction takes place on the Qatar campus of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, and the degree is issued by the VCU home campus in Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Application Deadline

The MFA priority application deadline is January 15 for August enrollment. Admission decisions will be sent to applicants by April 1st.

Application Requirements

• Transcripts: a bachelor-level degree in design or a related discipline from an internationally accredited university
• Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Portfolio, in PDF format, 20 pages maximum
• Statement of Intent
• CV/Resume
• Scan of passport or Qatar Residency Permit
• English language proficiency test scores, except for applicants who meet the criteria for an exemption
• Three letters of recommendation

Transcripts

Upload unofficial transcripts, listing all courses completed and grades earned. Upon acceptance, official transcripts will be required prior to enrollment. Transcripts issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official English language translation.

Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of your best and most recent work, documenting and demonstrating your creative experience. The number and type of projects you choose to include is up to you, but the portfolio must be in PDF format, 20 pages maximum. For time-based media, sound, or other projects that are difficult to document in PDF format, you may include a link, providing online access for the admissions committee.

Statement of Intent

In 1-2 pages, discuss your creative practice and refer to the work documented in your portfolio. Relate your past experience and future goals to your interest in the MFA in Design program.

CV/Resume

Document your academic and work experience, highlighting aspects that have prepared you for success as a graduate student in the MFA in Design program at VCUarts Qatar.

Scan of Passport or Residency Permit

If you are a citizen or resident of Qatar, upload a scan of the front and back side of your QID. If you are an international applicant who does not yet have Qatar residency, upload a scan of the first two pages of your valid passport.

English Language Proficiency Test Scores

• Applicants are exempt from the English language proficiency exam (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo) only if they hold a passport from a country where English is the first language.
• If an applicant's country is not listed, they are required to take one of the three accepted English proficiency exams.
• For all applicants whose undergraduate degree was taught in a language other than English, the following documentation is required: TOEFL scores of 570 (paper-based), 230 (computer-based), or 88 (internet-based) or higher; an IELTS score of 6.5 overall or higher; or a Duolingo score of 120 or higher.

Letters of Recommendation

Request letters of recommendation from three former professors, teachers, mentors, or supervisors. Recommenders must be familiar with your academic and/or professional ability and be able to reflect on your aptitude for graduate study.

Cost of Study

Academic Year

The amounts listed below apply only to students who started their current degree-program studies at VCUarts Qatar in Fall 2019 or after.

• FULL TIME ENROLLMENT 9-15 credits per semester
  • Tuition: US$ 30,374.86, QAR 109,374.18 per academic year
  • Comprehensive Fee: US$ 1,036.36, QAR 3,772.32 per academic year
• PART TIME ENROLLMENT 1-8 credits per semester
  • Tuition: US$ 1,652.91, QAR 6,016.59 per credit
  • Comprehensive Fee: US$ 87.05, QAR 316.86 per credit

Financial Support

Students admitted to the MFA in Design program at VCUarts Qatar are eligible for both merit and need-based graduate fellowship assistance. A separate financial aid process for the MFA in Design program will be available only after offers of admission are sent to applicants. Once an applicant has been offered a place in the program, efforts are made to make it possible for that student to attend, regardless of financial status. The goal is to build a diverse and inclusive community of creative scholars.