The program equips students with the ability to engage in local and regional knowledge production, and to hone their skills in understanding and responding to women's issues that are specific to the Middle East. It enables students to translate this knowledge into practices and social interventions that are needed to improve the status of Middle Eastern girls and women in their own communities. The program aligns with Qatar’s aspirations to contribute to global sustainable development in matters related to women and gender issues. It offers Qatar a think-tank capability on women's issues that can be used for coherent national policy-making on issues related to women. Students will understand how global research both defines and is informed by the specific debates and issues pertaining to women and development in the Middle East. Students will learn how to translate academic theory and debate into local, knowledge-making practices needed to identify and address women’s issues at the neighborhood, community and regional levels.

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Digital Humanities and Societies should have an undergraduate degree in any major from a recognized institution. They must also have a strong undergraduate academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent). In addition to the aforementioned requirements, only applicants who are interested in enrolling in MESD programs are encouraged (but not required) to submit a portfolio of their work or a writing sample on a named topic (maximum 2,000 words).