Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has announced a new Academic Bridging Program that will allow humanities-track secondary school graduates to pursue scientific and technical university disciplines under the Government Scholarship Program, aiming to better align student talent with future labor market needs.

Speaking to Qatar TV, Saleh Al Muftah, Career Guidance and Professional Development Consultant at the ministry, said the initiative is being introduced through an agreement between the ministry and the Academic Bridge Program at Education City. Under existing regulations, humanities-track students are generally expected to continue into humanities-related bachelor's degrees. However, the new pathway will allow eligible students to transition into scientific specialisations including computer science, refrigeration and cooling technologies, pharmacy, and certain engineering disciplines.

To qualify, students must complete a one-year Academic Bridge Program, achieve the required cumulative GPA, and successfully complete designated science courses. Upon meeting these requirements, they will be eligible to pursue the scientific specialisation that aligns with their abilities and interests. Al Muftah noted that many humanities students possess strong capabilities in scientific and technology-related fields.

The ministry has also broadened scholarship pathways in science, technology, engineering, health sciences, education, sports, and the creative economy - including event management and television production. Al Muftah highlighted that scholarship programs are continuously updated to accommodate emerging disciplines such as artificial intelligence. Qatar currently offers access to top international institutions through the Amiri Scholarship Program, which includes 24 leading universities worldwide in addition to five designated universities within Qatar.

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