Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar welcomed 71 new full time students to the Education City campus recently.
VCUQ also welcomed the third group of students into the new BA programme in art history. This is the first non-studio degree offered by the branch campus and is intended to support the development of the cultural infrastructure in Qatar.
The incoming BFA and BA classes of 2018 represent a diverse student body with nearly 60% Qatari students and the remaining international students from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Hungary, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United States.
Admission to VCUQ is highly competitive. The incoming class represents well qualified students who are poised to succeed in the fields of art and design.
VCUQ Dean Allyson Vanstone said her welcome address to the students: “Being accepted to this prestigious university is the first step in your academic journey. Take full advantage of every opportunity during your years at university both within and outside the classroom. Be curious, collaborate, experiment and find your passion. University is a diverse learning environment where you will be supported and expected to find your critical voice and share your creative expressions.”
The welcome address marked the opening of an exciting week of orientation activities, which included an introduction to all aspects of the university, college transition programmes, an intercultural workshop to help prepare students for the diverse cultural experiences. Students also participated in additional Hamad Bin Khalifa University sponsored events.
VCUQ also welcomed the sixth class of the MFA in Design, the first graduate programme in design in the Gulf region.
The incoming class brings the student population at VCUQ to 282 with 270 undergraduate (Foundation, Fashion, Graphic and Interior Design, Painting & Printmaking and Art History) and 12 graduate students, representing 40 nationalities. VCUQ is also hosting six students from its home campus in Richmond, Virginia for the semester.
