Students

As we have now implemented the directive to deliver courses remotely, I hope you are being vigilant and safe and that everything is going well in your dormitories.

As a precautionary measure, I would like to encourage international students to travel back to their home countries. International travel advisories continuously change, and more flight destinations are being canceled and airports shut down. These restrictions are likely to affect your ability to travel by the summer. 

For those who decide to travel back, your housing facility has provided an express-checkout system, which you can inquire about from the Student Housing focal point at studenthousing@qf.org.qa. Your respective colleges have undertaken to cover your flight ticket expenses to your countries and to facilitate your exit permits in a timely manner.

For students who are unable to travel back due to flight cancellations or difficult conditions in your home country that might affect your studies, you are more than welcome to remain in your dormitories. The University will continue to ensure your wellbeing, and all services will be provided to you as usual.

I would like to reiterate the importance of giving due consideration to traveling back, as your ability to do so may be impacted by travel limitations in the near future.

I wish you all safe travels and assure you of our continued support.

Following a meeting of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding further precautionary measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), all incoming flights to Hamad International Airport will be suspended starting from Wednesday, March 18, for an initial period of 14 days.

In view of this, Hamad Bin Khalifa University remains fully committed to operating remotely, ensuring research and educational continuity.

International students wishing to travel to their home country are requested to continue their studies remotely and should contact their college focal point for further inquiries/arrangements.

Qatari students outside the country would need to adhere to the national policies in place in that country with the readiness of the country's embassies to provide the necessary services, including facilitating the procedures for returning to the State of Qatar if needed.
 

To support our community members during the period of remote working, the HBKU IT team will be using the following protocols:

Please note that the following tools will be required to telecommute and stay connected:

In an effort to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our community, students will continue their learning and education remotely until the end of this semester in coordination with your faculty members. Colleges will communicate with their students in regard to course requirements and grading arrangements.

Students are requested to take part in classes and complete all their course requirements. Please contact your instructor directly if you face any connectivity issues or the HBKU IT team (hbkuitsupport@hbku.edu.qa ) for technical support.

International students wishing to travel to their home country will be provided with an air ticket to continue their studies remotely, thereby not impacting their degree. Please contact your college focal point in order to make the necessary arrangements. However, anyone choosing this option should note that their stipend will be canceled for the period that they are out of Qatar.

For students who wish to remain in Qatar, the dormitory will remain open, and your stipend will continue while you are here.

As previously advised, access to all HBKU buildings and facilities have been restricted until further notice.
 

Following the most recent guidance provided by the Ministry of Public Health , access to all HBKU buildings and facilities will be restricted as of Thursday, March 12, 2020.

We request that all our students refrain from accessing any HBKU facilities until further notice. For urgent exceptions, kindly coordinate with your college.
 

Please be informed that, due to the current situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), further precautionary measures have been announced by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in an effort to protect the health of students and the wider community in Qatar. 

To this end, Hamad Bin Khalifa University will be suspending classes from tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, until further notice. Students are advised to coordinate with faculty members to work remotely and continue studies online until advised otherwise.
 

At Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), our priority is to safeguard the community, while maintaining operational continuity as far as possible. In line with the recent Qatar Foundation Maktabi circular, kindly note the following:

In most cases, HBKU will continue to conduct standard activities, with Education City remaining open.

Furthermore, HBKU management recommends that its community members (students, faculty, researchers and staff) limit their personal travel plans. However, should they wish to do so (at their own risk), please note the precautions set by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

Please be informed that a number of inaccurate news articles relating to the coronavirus COVID-19 in Qatar have been circulated.

A number of media outlets outside of Qatar have reported two coronavirus cases having occurred at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), which is entirely false. Likewise, information circulating regarding a complete travel ban to and from Qatar is incorrect. 

To this end, we recommend that students, faculty, researchers and staff reference official sources to obtain accurate information, including Qatar Foundation’s Maktabi Portal and Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health .