How to Apply

If you think CMU-Q is the right place for you, we invite you to apply for admission to one of our undergraduate degree programs: Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science or Information Systems. Regular Decision applicants are currently in their last year of high school, have completed high school, or have completed a high school equivalency.

Applications for Fall 2026 are now closed – applications for our next admission cycle will open on September 1, 2026.

Regular Decision, Admission 2027

January 15

Application Deadline

February 01

QF Need-based Grant Application

April 01

Decisions Sent to Applicants

May 01

Enrollment Deadline

August 16

First-Year Orientation Begins

August 22

Semester Begins

Application Checklist

All applicants must submit the following credentials. International applicants, transfer applicants, and early decision applicants must also submit additional credentials.

Common Application

To apply, you must first create an account in Common Application. You will automatically be given a Common Application ID number.
All applications and most documents are submitted through Common Application.
If you have trouble logging into the online application, please contact the Common Application help center directly.
If you realize there is an error in the information you submitted, please email the CMU-Q Office of Admission to resolve the error.

Official and Complete Academic Transcripts

Your academic transcripts show us your academic performance, which is the main factor in our admission decision. We pay close attention to the curriculum rigor and the grades you have earned.

All transcripts and official results are submitted by your college counselor, principal or academic advisor through the Common Application. Please invite your school official through the feature within CMU-Q Common App.

We require:

Transcripts from all secondary schools attended, including all courses taken for grades 10, 11, and 12.
Official standardized test results, such as British IGCSE’s, AS, and A-Levels, Indian Standard X and XII board exam results.
Predicted grades if available.
Transfer applicants should include official transcripts from their current university.

Scanned copies of transcripts, or transcripts sent from the student, are not considered official. All documents must be uploaded to the Common Application by the school or teacher from an official school email address.

Letters of Recommendation

We are looking for information that will help us know you better as a person and as a student. Recommendations from school counselors, advisors, headmasters or teachers provide insight regarding your academic potential and character.

We require :

One letter of recommendation from a college counselor, principal, or academic advisor.
One letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor.

All recommendation letters are submitted by your recommenders through the Common Application. Please invite your recommenders through the feature inside the CMU-Q Common Application.

Passport and Biographical Information

A copy of your passport must be submitted electronically to the Passport and Biographical Page. Paper submissions will not be accepted. Please note that you will need your Common Application ID, which is assigned to you as soon as you start the Common Application.

Testing: Official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo results

To demonstrate your proficiency in English, CMU-Q requires all applicants to submit official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo results unless you meet our waiver policy. If you have taken an exam more than once, please note that Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar considers only the highest scores.

Read more about the English language proficiency requirement for admission.

Testing: Official SAT or ACT results

For Fall 2027 applications, the requirement to submit SAT or ACT results depends on two factors: your first choice of major and your secondary school curriculum.

Read more about SAT or ACT testing for admission to CMU-Q.

If SAT or ACT scores are submitted with your application, CMU-Q must receive all scores by the application deadline.

Writing Supplement Essay

The Writing Supplement Essay will give us a sense of who you are as a person, beyond your grades and test scores. The statement also demonstrates your ability to organize thoughts and express yourself.

The question for the Writing Supplement Essay can be found in CMU-Q’s Writing Supplement section within the Common Application.

Please note that while the Writing Supplement Essay is required, there is also an essay in the common part of the Common Application. This essay is optional for applicants to CMU-Q

Application Fee

A non-refundable $70 USD application fee must be paid online through credit card upon completion of the Common Application. If needed, a fee waiver can be requested inside the Common App.

Submitting Your Application

All applicants will receive a link and access to a portal within 24 hours of submitting their online application. The portal will allow applicants to see what documents we have received for them.

Applying to AI or CS

Students who would like to study Artificial Intelligence or Computer Science apply to a common Computing at CMU-Q year without declaring a major. At the end of the first academic year, Computing at CMU-Q students will declare a major of either AI or CS.

Learn more about applying to AI or CS

International Applicants

CMU-Q has an exceptionally diverse student population, and roughly a third of the incoming class is considered international. For the purposes of CMU-Q admission:

International applicants are neither Qatari citizens, nor residents of Qatar
International applicants do not have a parent that is a citizen or resident of Qatar

International students come from nearly every continent, and they are an integral part of the CMU-Q community.

Regular Decision Applicants

The Regular Decision application process is the same for all students, including international applicants.

Early Decision Applicants

The eligibility for Early Decision is different for international students. If you are an international applicant interested in Early Decision, please read the criteria carefully, as your Early Decision application may affect eligibility for financial aid.

Early Decision

Once You are Enrolled

International students who enroll at Carnegie Mellon will apply for a visa sponsored by Qatar Foundation. The initial visa is valid for one year and renewable for the remainder of the program. Students must be enrolled full-time and maintain student status in order to keep the visa valid.

Once you are enrolled, our team will assist you throughout the visa application process.

Tuition and Financial Aid

In Qatar, there are many different types of financial assistance to help pay for the cost of a Carnegie Mellon education.

Learn More

Selection Process

At Carnegie Mellon, we take a holistic approach to the application review process. There are many factors that we consider: academic performance, standardized testing results (if submitted) and non-academic performance.

We’re interested in seeing that you’ve challenged yourself in secondary school, and your academic performance will be the main factor in our admission decision. Standardized test scores are optional. If you choose to submit your scores to us, they will simply add to our knowledge of your ability.

Your non-academic activities, including extracurricular accomplishments, part-time jobs or hobbies, and community service also play a very important part of the admission process. We look at non-academic information to develop a sense of your personality, motivation and sense of responsibility.

Holistic admission means that we do a comprehensive review of your file, considering all of your grades, test scores (if submitted), personal essays, recommendation letters, and extracurricular activities before we make an admission decision.

Acceptance

Given that the number of qualified applicants exceeds the enrollment space, admission is competitive and the strongest applicants are thereby offered admission.

Acceptance packages are sent out April 1 to all applicants who have been selected.

Admitted students who enroll at Carnegie Mellon are required to submit a final transcript before they can register for classes. Final grades must be consistent with the grades presented to the selection committee.

Questions about Admission?

Admission Support