Spread over 800 hectares in Doha, Education City is a cluster of world-class higher education institutions, housed together to provide academic excellence for the region. Its objectives are to prepare world-class graduates able to occupy leadership positions, and promote high quality research.

Developed by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the project has created a network of leading international institutions:

• Texas A&M University offers degree programs in engineering
• Weill Cornell Medical College provides a medical degree program and state-of-the-art research facilities
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts offers a B.A. in Fine Arts and design
• Carnegie Mellon University offers degree programs in computer science, business and information systems
• Georgetown University School of Foreign Service offers a degree program in international studies
• Northwestern University offers degree programs in journalism and communications

In addition, the Rand Qatar Policy Institute works in association with medicine, science and other educational programs, training the region's policy analysts in research methods.

Education City also includes mechanisms to support the above-mentioned institutions:
The Academic Bridge Programme prepares students for their degree courses in 33-weeks, by providing necessary English language, IT and study skills.
Qatar Academy offers classes from kindergarten to  pre-university level, according to an adapted British curriculum as well as the International Baccalaureate.
The Learning Center meets the requirements of students with special needs, caters to those who have problems with normal lessons as well as the gifted children.

Although officially inaugurated in 2003, the site of Education City is still under development. When completed, the complex will locate more than 30 buildings, including a museum, a conference centre and exhibition gallery, sports facilities, a shopping centre, a mosque andresidential and recreational facilities. It will also be the home of Qatar Science and Technology Park and Sidra Medical and Research Center.

Education City offers an interesting prototype for the universities of the future. It is a ground-breaking and ambitious project.