Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) admitted 9% of applicants to the Class of 2030 from an application pool that increased by 92%, the school announced April 16.
One year after Georgetown renewed its contract to operate GU-Q, the campus had a record-low admissions rate, with the class representing over 66 nationalities. Incoming students and Georgetown faculty praised the statistic as a reflection of increasing interest in the school from students around the world.
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) admitted 9% of applicants to the Class of 2030, with the class representing over 66 nationalities, from an application pool that increased by 92%, the school announced April 16. (Georgetown University)
GU-Q Dean Safwan Masri said the low admission rate validates the university’s efforts to bolster its international and academic reputation.
“This year’s admissions cycle is a resounding affirmation that our efforts to elevate GU-Q’s reputation and deliver excellence in our academic offerings have borne fruit,” Masri wrote in a university press release. “I am deeply grateful to everyone across our community who has contributed to this achievement.”
Veronika Millena, an incoming student who lives in Qatar, said she has always wanted to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at GU-Q.
“Georgetown, for as long as I can remember, has always been my target university,” Millena told The Hoya. “It has been my dream university, even if I come from a STEM background, going into a liberal arts college as holistic as Georgetown and Georgetown University here in Qatar. It’s a dream that I was scared but also excited to fulfill, and obviously that dream came true.”
Moses Siregar, an incoming student from Indonesia, said GU-Q’s diverse student body was its most attractive quality.
“I grew up around people from different backgrounds so diversity is something that I’ve always lived with,” Siregar wrote to The Hoya. “When I discovered Georgetown in Qatar, I immediately knew that I belong there.”
“This diverse community at GU-Q closely resembles the community I grew up in,” Siregar added.
Millena said she felt honored to be part of the class of admitted students in a highly selective year.
“It’s a feeling of, ‘Oh my gosh, did I just really get in?’ and then it extended to the feeling of, when I learned about that statistic, I was like, ‘I get to be a part of a batch that’s very competent, that’s very well-versed in skills and it’s very diverse as well,’” Millena said. “I’m very happy, because I know that throughout my years in Georgetown, I’ll be able to surround myself with people who share the same interest.”
Siregar said the admission rate is reflective of GU-Q’s academic rigor and small class size.
“I know well that admission to GU-Q is very competitive, but I was still caught by surprise by the statistics,” Siregar wrote. “I’m beyond proud to be part of GU-Q and Class of 2030. I think that so many people applied because of what GU-Q has to offer. Georgetown Qatar, just like its main campus, is known for its prestigious school of foreign service with experienced faculties as its educator.”
The increase in applications comes as GU-Q operates remotely for the remainder of the Spring 2026 semester as a result of the ongoing conflict in Iran. The United States and Israel initially launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, leading Iran to launch retaliatory strikes on Qatar and other U.S. allies in the region. On March 29, Iran threatened to strike U.S. universities in the region following strikes on Iranian universities. The threatened strikes never occurred, and on April 7, the United States and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire.
The GU-Q regular decision application deadline was Feb. 1, almost a month prior to the start of the Iran war.
Ian Almond, a GU-Q world literature professor, said he was surprised to see the increase in applications given the current geopolitical climate in the Middle East.
“It’s certainly impressive,” Almond wrote to The Hoya. “Also feels a little counterintuitive — most people outside of the Gulf feel it’s a volatile area, the perception of Qatar to my friends in the UK at the moment is that it’s a war zone — so you would think the endless coverage of the US/Iran hostilities would put people off, but clearly in some perverse way it has even put Qatar on the map and in the center of things.”
Siregar said Qatar’s role in international diplomacy appeals to students interested in foreign service.
“In addition to its quality and in-class experience, I believe that GU-Q situated in Qatar also plays a crucial role in this matter,” Siregar wrote. “Qatar is a country that’s actively involved in diplomacy, so I think it’s only natural for many applicants to be attracted by GU-Q.”
Millena said she is excited to meet students who share similar values at GU-Q.
“I’m most excited for the fact that it’s a place where I know I’m able to grow towards the direction that I want to, and I feel the same as with my seniors in Georgetown and my batchmates in Georgetown,” Millena said. “It’s a haven for people who want to explore the world more.”
