DOHA: Qatar University Tuesday said Qatari nationals comprise 63.75% of the first batch of students admitted to the College of Medicine for the academic year 2015-16.
The country's first national medical college admitted 80 students, comprising 51 Qataris and 29 of other nationalities, from 700 applicants.
QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham said: "The number of students joining the college has exceeded expectations. We congratulate the successful students who will form the first cohort of QU-trained doctors."
QU Vice President for Medical Education and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said: "The College has achieved another milestone in its very early history. We are very pleased with the number of Qatari nationals admitted and pledge our full commitment to supporting them in their studentship to meet the college's highly demanding requirements."
The College of Medicine admitted all Qatari applicants who achieved the minimum high school GPA requirement. Around half of them who already meet the English and mathematics requirements will be admitted directly into the 6-year MD programme and are expected to graduate with the Class of 2021.
QU's various colleges have admitted 2,918 students for the academic year 2015-16. The number of female students has gone up to 2,110 this year. The percentage of Qatari students admitted to various QU colleges has gone up to 63%.
QU's College of Arts and Sciences admitted more than 900 students, the largest in-take among the colleges.
The university has taken 174 faculty members from 26 countries for its new sections and undergraduate and graduate programs.
QU Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr Mazen Hasna said, "We are happy to welcome the new faculty. The faculty strength of QU's various departments and programmes is now 1,248. QU is committed to attracting and retaining high-qualified diverse faculty body by providing them with a vibrant work environment and opportunities for development."
QNA
