The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Qatar University (QU) has announced the establishment of a new PhD Gulf Studies programme in English at its Gulf Studies Centre (GSC).
The announcement was made at a press conference last week  by CAS dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi, who outlined details of the new programme, along with associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr Mohamed Ahmedna, GSC director Dr Abdullah Baabood, and Gulf Studies programme co-ordinator Dr Khaled Almezaini.
The new programme, which is the first-of-its-kind in the region, is designed to engage students in research on Gulf-related issues and prepare them to contribute specialist skills to professional sectors in Qatar, in line with the country’s ambitions towards a knowledge-based economy.  
The inter-disciplinary three-year degree programme comprises disciplines from CAS departments of Humanities, International Affairs, English Literature and Linguistics, with  courses on the region’s heritage, society, politics, economics, environment, media, international relations and the energy industry.
Admission requirements and criteria include the completion of the two-year MA in Gulf Studies at QU or a master’s degree in a related subject or its equivalent from a recognised university, as well as the fulfilment of the requisite English language standard, or a minimum score of 520 in TOEFL or an equivalent test taken within two years after admission. Students must complete 60 credits, i.e. 30 credits for coursework and 30 for final thesis.
 Dr Mustafawi said: “In establishing the new PhD programme, CAS is building on its continuing development and its vision towards quality and excellence in all its curricula.
The new programme serves to contribute to QU’s strategic plan to prepare competent graduates to meet the society’s needs in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
It also builds on the College’s vision to be a regional leader in interdisciplinary education and research and which saw the establishment of the MA Gulf Studies programme in 2011.”  
English-speaking and Arabic-speaking students will be required to develop respective language skills in Arabic and Persian as part of the new programme, Dr Almezaini said, adding that those who had not completed the MA Gulf Studies at QU will be required to take bridging courses according to their needs and backgrounds.