Awards Categories

Winning projects receive certificates and cash prizes, with a dedicated award for the best research project by a Qatari national.

Student Awards (5 Awards)

• QAR 10,000 – Bachelor’s Degree Research Project, First Place
• QAR 5,000 – Bachelor’s Degree Research Project, Second Place
• QAR 10,000 – Master’s Degree Research Project, First Place
• QAR 5,000 – Master’s Degree Research Project, Second Place
• QAR 10,000 – Best Qatari National Student Award

Academic Research Award

• QAR 15,000 – Best Academic Research Paper

Publication Opportunity

Outstanding student research may be considered for publication in Nama’, the Qatar Journal of Business, Finance and Digital Economy, subject to editorial and peer review.

Research Focus/Topics

Submissions should address finance, banking, and economics. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Personal Finance
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Markets
• Behavioural Finance
• Risk Management
• Stock Market & Economic Growth
• FinTech & Digital Banking
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Crowdfunding
• Investor Behaviour
• Banking Regulations & Policies
• Islamic Finance & Banking
• International Finance
• Sustainable & Green Finance
• Any contemporary topic related to finance and banking, such as the role of technology in the sector.

Conditions for Submission / Eligibility Criteria

General Criteria – Applicable to All Categories

• Open to Qatari citizens and residents of Qatar.
• One individual submission per applicant: a single paper or dissertation.
• Research must be original and exclusive, not previously awarded or submitted elsewhere.
• Research must demonstrate clear relevance to Qatar’s economy and financial sector.

Student Category

• Applicants must be final-year Bachelor’s or Master’s students, or 2025 or 2026 graduates, from an accredited institution in Qatar.
• Applicants must apply directly through the Finance Researcher Award Portal on the QFBA website.
• Applicants must submit a full dissertation, an A1 research poster, academic transcript, and proof of status.
• A 150-word abstract must be included.
• The research must form part of the applicant’s academic work.

Academic Research Category

• Principal researchers must be based at a university, research centre, or higher-education institution in Qatar.
• Research must be published or accepted in a recognised peer-reviewed journal in Arabic or English.
• Research must have been published within the last two years.
• Work derived from theses or dissertations is not eligible.

How to Apply

Student Category

Apply through the Finance Researcher Award Portal on the QFBA website. Complete the online application form and upload your dissertation, A1 research poster, and required supporting documents.

Academic Research Category

Apply through the same Award Portal and upload your published or accepted research paper together with the required supporting documents.

Application Period

Applications open on 10 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026, exclusively through the official Finance Researcher Award Portal on the QFBA website.

Award Timeline

• 10 September – 31 October 2026 | Applications & Submissions: The Award Portal opens for applications and submission of papers, posters, and supporting documents.
• 1 – 15 November 2026 | Eligibility Screening & Shortlisting: Applications are reviewed for eligibility, and qualified submissions are shortlisted for evaluation.
• 16 November – 31 December 2026 | Academic Evaluation: Shortlisted submissions are assigned to independent reviewers and scored against the Award criteria.
• 1 – 15 January 2027 | Results Review & Approval: Scores are consolidated and verified, and final rankings are submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval.
• 1 February 2027 | Award Ceremony: Announcement and recognition of the Finance Researcher Award winners.