GRADUATE ACADEMIC STANDING POLICY
1.0 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions have the meaning hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Advisor: A representative of the University who helps and advises Students on their academic plan, appropriate Course selections, academic progression, and learning outcomes.
1.1.2 Academic Dismissal: A decision of the University to revoke the enrollment status of a Student from a Program based on their Academic Standing.
1.1.3 Academic Probation: An Academic Standing assigned to Graduate Students who achieve a Cumulative GPA less than 3.00 for the first time.
1.1.4 Academic Standing: The standard set by the University to determine a Student’s eligibility to remain and/or progress in a Program.
1.1.5 Academic Unit: An entity within the University that delivers Courses for Programs or for entry into Programs.
1.1.6 Academic Year: Means the 12-month period defined in the University's Academic Calendar, as approved by the Board.
1.1.7 Admission: The process in which Applicants are evaluated for entry into a University Program.
1.1.8 Applicant: An individual who has submitted and completed an application to be admitted into a Program.
1.1.9 Candidacy Examination: Designed to assess the quality, significance, and meaningfulness of the Student’s advanced research and evaluate their ability to complete a dissertation.
1.1.10 Clear Standing: The Academic Standing of a Student who has achieved the minimum Cumulative GPA required by the Program.
1.1.11 Comprehensive Examination: Designed to assess the Student’s cumulative knowledge in the chosen area of study, and the ability to communicate his or her understanding of it.
1.1.12 Course: A set of Learning Sessions in a particular subject, with a defined scope and duration, and specific learning outcomes.
1.1.13 Cumulative GPA: The overall cumulative grade point average across multiple Semesters in a Student’s Program.
1.1.14 Credit: A unit of measurement assigned to a course based on the total amount of learning time that counts toward a program or credential completion, at a particular level of the Qatar National Qualification Framework.
1.1.15 Discontinued Student: A Student who was enrolled in a Program and has either not registered for a subsequent Semester, registered in a current Semester but not attended any classes, has withdrawn voluntarily or involuntarily, or has been suspended.
1.1.16 Dissertation Examination: The culmination of the doctoral program
intended to allow the Student to demonstrate their expertise in the
chosen area of study through a presentation of their research. The
examination presents an opportunity for the Student’s work to be
subject to scholarly evaluation by members of the academic
community.
1.1.17 Graduate Student: Student enrolled in a graduate academic program falling within levels 9, 10 or 11 of the Qatari National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.18 Learning Session: Classes, labs, placements or work term prescribed by the Course.
1.1.19 Program: A prescribed set of Courses leading to a qualification, including a Certificate, Diploma (2 years), Advanced Diploma (3 years), Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate, according to the Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.20 Re-admission: The process in which an Applicant is admitted (or denied) into a University Program, when an Applicant has previously been admitted as a Student but has been dismissed or has become a Discontinued Student.
1.1.21 Semester: A division of an Academic Year where a Student is enrolled in a Course(s) followed by an examination period.
1.1.22 Student: A person who is presently enrolled at the University in a Credit Course or who is designated by the University as a Student.
1.1.23 Transcript: An official document of the University summarizing the entire academic records of a Student including essential information pertaining to the Student's Courses, grades, Academic Standing and credential attainment.
1.1.24 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
1.3 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
2.0 Policy Purpose
2.1 The purpose of this policy is to define the conditions and categories under which:
2.1.1 A Graduate Student will remain and/or progress in a Program;
2.1.2 A Graduate Student will be Academically Dismissed;
2.1.3 An Academically Dismissed Graduate Student can be Re-admitted.
3.0 Policy Scope
3.1 This policy applies to:
3.1.1 All Graduate Students;
3.1.2 Academic Units;
3.1.3 Admissions and Registration Directorate.
4.0 Policy Statement
4.1 General
4.1.1 Academic Standing will be noted on the Graduate Student’s Transcript.
4.1.2 Graduate Students who have been Academically Dismissed will not be eligible for Re-admission to the same Program.
4.1.3 Academically Dismissed Graduate Students may apply for Admission to another Program in the subsequent Semester, in accordance with the pertinent procedures.
4.1.4 Graduate Students who have been Academically Dismissed from two Programs are not eligible to return to the University.
5.0 Academic Standing
The following Academic Standing categories are applied to Graduate Students based on academic performance:
5.1 Clear Standing
5.1.1 Graduate Students are in Clear Standing when they have attained a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
5.2 Academic Probation
5.2.1 Graduate Students will be placed on Academic Probation should they fail for the first time to achieve a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
5.2.2 Graduate Students on Academic Probation, in consultation with the Academic Advisor, will determine an appropriate Course load and prioritize repeating Courses.
5.3 Academic Dismissal
5.3.1 Graduate Students will be Academically Dismissed should they:
5.3.1.1 Be on Academic Probation and fail to achieve a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 at the end of the following semester of registration.
5.3.1.2 Achieve a failing Final Grade in a Course on the second attempt; or
5.3.1.3 Fail to pass the Comprehensive Examination on the second attempt; or
5.3.1.4 Fail to pass the Candidacy Examination on the second attempt; or
5.3.1.5 Fail to pass the Dissertation Examination on the second attempt; or
5.3.1.6 Exceed the maximum enrollment duration of their respective Program by 150%, counted from the first Semester of registration in the Program. The maximum enrollment duration excludes Semesters without registration.
5.3.2 Graduate Students who have been Academically Dismissed are not eligible for Re-admission to the same Program.
5.3.3 Academically Dismissed Graduate Students may apply for Admission to another Program for the subsequent Semester. Academic Standing for Academically Dismissed Graduate Students is returned to Clear Standing upon Admission to another Program.
6.0 Students on Academic Probation Who Transfer Programs
6.1 Graduate Students on Academic Probation when accepted for Internal Transfer will have their Academic Standing recalculated by the Admissions and Registration Directorate at the end of their first semester in the new Program.
6.2 The Final Grades for all Courses accepted for Internal Transfer by the receiving Program along with the Final Grades for all Courses taken in the Student’s first semester in the new Program will be included in the Cumulative GPA and Academic Standing calculation.
6.3 Until the Cumulative GPA and Academic Standing are re-calculated at the end of the Student’s first semester in the new Program, the Academic Standing and Cumulative GPA from the most recent Semester remains in effect.
6.4 Graduate Students on Academic Probation are allowed to Transfer only once to another Program.
6.5 The University does not limit the number of times a Student in Clear Standing can Transfer Programs.
6.6 Internal Transfer is subject to the provisions of the Transfer Policy (PL-ST-06).
7.0 Academic Dismissal Appeal
7.1 Graduate Students who have been Academically Dismissed may appeal the decision as outlined in the Student Appeals Policy (PL-ST-04) and the Student Appeals Procedure (PR-ST-04).
7.2 Successful appeals are limited to the Graduate Student being granted a one Semester extension.
8.0 Procedures
8.1 The Vice-President, Student Affairs will ensure that procedures are developed for the execution of this policy, and are implemented accordingly.
9.0 Related Documents
9.1 PL-ST-04: Student Appeals Policy.
9.2 PL-ST-06: Transfer Policy.
9.3 PL-ST-09: Registration Policy.
9.4 PL-AC-07: Examination Policy.
9.5 PL-ST-17: Graduate Admissions Policy.
9.6 PL-ST-19: Graduate Final Grade Policy.
9.7 PR-ST-04: Student Appeals Procedure