Northwestern University in Qatar

The Northwestern Qatar Emergency Aid Fund is available to enrolled students facing financial hardship.

The Emergency Aid Fund offers non-repayable assistance, typically up to $1,000, to help cover urgent emergencies and essential expenses. It is intended for students facing temporary financial hardship due to unexpected circumstances who are unable to meet immediate basic needs whilst residing in the State of Qatar or on university sponsored travel. Assistance is designed to address short-term needs and is not meant to replace or supplement financial aid.

We recognize that meeting students’ basic needs is essential to their academic success, and this fund helps provide the support they need to succeed.

Eligibility

• Open to all enrolled full-time Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) students.
• An individual may only receive one award during a calendar year.

Qualifying Expenses

Medical Expenses

This includes funding for emergency medical expenses that are not included in NU-Q provided insurance policy or exceeding the coverage provided. Please refer to your student insurance coverage for additional information regarding your policy.

• Medical Emergency Expenses (ambulance, emergency room, hospital) after insurance has been applied
• Testing for disabilities after insurance has applied
• Emergency Vision, Dental (contact office prior to committing expenses)
• Psychological Support

Atypical or Nonstandard Housing Expenses

Students experiencing additional costs for housing, beyond the average cost accounted for in your financial aid package, may be eligible to request additional assistance. Examples include:

• Students who need to move during the term due to an emergency.

Atypical or Nonstandard Food Expenses 

• Food expenses related to a medical condition requiring dietary restrictions (medical documentation required).

Emergency travel

• I.e., emergency bereavement travel for an immediate family member (parent or sibling)

Belongings lost due to theft or property damage

• A police report is required with application

What is not covered?

• Tuition
• Student fees or fines
• Laptop or supplemental technologies

Application Review Process

All applications will be reviewed by the Director, Business and Finance. The director will consider the application material and any relevant supporting documentation to assess the viability of the request. An individual may only receive one award during a calendar year.

Applications should include explicit information about:

• Why you are requesting support
• What effect receiving financial support may have on your academics and well-being
• The urgency of the request
• And an explanation of how this is an unavoidable expense
• Any information about other funding opportunities you have pursued to finance the request

Each request is reviewed individually. A rubric will be utilized in the review process and the following factors will be considered:

• Financial aid status
• Impact on well-being, mental health, and academic progress
• Clear documentation
• The nature and urgency of the request

Every effort will be made to process these requests within two weeks. Not every request will be approved and approved applications may not cover the full amount requested. Though the above criteria will be used, each decision is unique to each student's application and individual financial situation. All decisions are final and there is no appeal process. For questions, please contact the Director of Business and Finance at david.donaghue@northwestern.edu.

Students seeking assistance with expenses not covered by the SEEN fund may be eligible for a Student Loan through Business and Finance. For questions, please contact studentfinance@qatar.northwestern.edu.

The application is accessible here.