Oman
Public and private higher education, including international awards.
Study overview
Oman’s system includes public universities, private universities and colleges, with both locally awarded and internationally affiliated qualifications. Direct degree entry and foundation study are distinct routes. For resident families, commuting or living at home creates a different budget from a residential overseas course.
Tuition / Year
International College of Engineering and Management (ICEM) international bachelor’s examples across programmes/years. Foundation, where required: OMR 3,500 extra. Omani-national fees follow a different schedule.
Living / Month
Illustrative shared-accommodation budget. It is not a national statistical average; living with family creates a different accommodation cost.
Typical degree length: Bachelor’s: usually 4 years
Master’s: usually 1–2 years
Foundation: additional, if required
Fields: Engineering; business; computing; logistics; health sciences.
Official references
- https://www.icem.edu.om/tuition-fees
- https://www.gutech.edu.om/international-office/
- https://nu.edu.om/faqs-for-international-students/
- https://eservices.moheri.gov.om/Student/FindExtUniversity.aspx
- https://www.gutech.edu.om/undergraduate-programmes/bsc-in-computer-science/
- https://www.gutech.edu.om/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Academic-Catalogue-2025-2026.pdf
- https://mec.edu.om/en/Programmes/master-of-science-in-cyber-security/
- https://unizwa.edu.om/program_details.php?lang=en
Study and admission
Institutions and Qualifications
Public universities, specialist colleges, partner awards and preparatory study.
Institutional structure
Oman’s provision includes public universities, private universities, university colleges and specialist colleges. Sultan Qaboos University combines undergraduate and postgraduate teaching across disciplines, while the University of Technology and Applied Sciences operates through branches in several governorates. Specialist provision includes dentistry, tourism, design, banking and military technology. Oman College of Health Sciences brings together former Ministry of Health educational institutions and offers six undergraduate fields: nursing, pharmacy, medical imaging, medical laboratory sciences, physiotherapy and health information management. Institutional type does not establish eligibility for every applicant category.
Qualifications and partner degrees
The Oman Qualifications Framework describes qualifications through levels and learning outcomes and provides arrangements for listing Omani qualifications and aligning foreign qualifications. Overseas university relationships are a significant feature of college provision. Muscat College offers Scottish Qualifications Authority diplomas and degrees linked to the University of Westminster and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah. Majan University College offers University of Bedfordshire master’s programmes alongside its own Arabic-taught Master of Business Administration. Consequently, the institution delivering teaching and the institution awarding the final qualification can be different organisations.
General foundation programmes
Foundation study develops competencies required before entry to academic degree courses. Muscat College’s general foundation programme includes English, mathematics and information technology. Its English exemption provisions recognise specified International English Language Testing System and Test of English as a Foreign Language results; mathematics and information technology have their own requirements. At Modern College of Business and Science, placement results determine English levels and mathematics or computing classes. Strong placement performance can exempt a student from foundation study. A language-test exemption therefore does not necessarily exempt the entire preparatory programme.
School-leaver admission
The Higher Education Admission Center coordinates undergraduate applications for eligible Omani school-leavers through programme preferences and published entry conditions. Programme codes identify distinct courses and funding arrangements; secondary-school subjects and results affect eligibility. The centre also administers designated international cultural and scientific cooperation arrangements, which have separate nationality conditions. Its domestic scholarship route is not an entitlement arising from expatriate residence in Oman. Direct college admission, government allocation and a foreign-country nomination under a cooperation scheme are different procedures, even where they lead to the same institution.
Entry, Finance and Student Life
International documents, postgraduate requirements and institution-specific living arrangements.
International academic entry
International applicants enter through institution-specific admission routes as well as designated scholarship arrangements. Modern College of Business and Science publishes a separate international admissions service covering academic documentation, English evidence and visa arrangements. Mazoon College’s application form requires international students to obtain a Ministry of Education equalisation letter for their higher-secondary certificate. It records school results, identity documents and available English or computing certificates separately. Academic equivalence establishes the level of a preceding qualification; it does not replace the subject requirements or placement decisions attached to the chosen course.
Postgraduate language requirements
Sultan Qaboos University requires valid academic English-test evidence for postgraduate admission at the score specified by the programme. Its published policy recognises the International English Language Testing System Academic examination and the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language. Candidates whose mother language is English are exempt. A further doctoral exemption can apply when a master’s degree satisfying the relevant language requirements was completed within two years of application. The university also describes conditional English-course arrangements for certain admitted candidates, with successful course completion required before programme registration.
Tuition and scholarship components
Funding benefits differ between Omani domestic allocations and institutional international awards. Sultan Qaboos University publishes full postgraduate scholarships and tuition-only scholarships; full awards include monthly allowances of OMR250 for master’s students and OMR350 for doctoral students. Recipients undertake specified academic or administrative duties. A’Sharqiyah University’s published 2026–27 international undergraduate package covers tuition and OMR80 monthly, but excludes accommodation, meals, travel, visas, books and registration. Oman Dental College states that its tuition fee is the same for domestic and international students. These are institution-specific financial arrangements.
Accommodation and student services
Oman Dental College is a non-residential institution at Al Wattayah in Muscat. Its Student Affairs Registry assists with nearby private hostels and shared apartments, transport information, counselling and settlement administration. The college’s public-relations officer assists with student-visa and resident-card formalities. Its international guide identifies Mwasalat buses and taxis as commuting options and describes a Student Advisory Council with annually elected class representatives. These services illustrate the distinction between support in finding accommodation and provision of an institution-owned residence; neither follows automatically from an academic offer.
Official references
Entrance and language assessments
International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic)
Applies to: Institution-specific English admission or foundation exemption
Muscat College publishes IELTS 5.5 for exemption from its foundation English component. This is a college rule; it does not establish a national threshold or exemption from mathematics and computing.
https://muscatcollege.edu.om/lrc/the-general-foundation-programme/
Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based (TOEFL iBT)
Applies to: Accepted English evidence at specified institutions
Muscat College’s foundation page publishes 46 on the 0–120 scale for English-component exemption. This published score is not a threshold for every Omani degree, and separate foundation components remain subject to their own rules.
https://muscatcollege.edu.om/lrc/the-general-foundation-programme/
College English placement examination
Applies to: Modern College of Business and Science foundation placement
The college’s examination assigns students to English levels 1–3; sufficient performance can support exemption from foundation classes. This is an institutional placement process, not an Oman-wide entrance examination.
Mathematics placement examination
Applies to: Modern College of Business and Science foundation mathematics
Published passing marks are 24/40 for MATH 10 and MATH 20/21. The Arabic-programme MATH 12 threshold is 20/40. These scores determine college course placement or exemption.
Information technology placement examination
Applies to: Modern College of Business and Science foundation computing
The college publishes 24/40 for COSC10 and 12/20 for Arabic-programme COSC12. Mathematics and computing placement tests permit at most three attempts per course; later attempts have a published OMR 20 fee.
IELTS Academic / TOEFL iBT for postgraduate study
Applies to: Sultan Qaboos University postgraduate programmes
The required score is programme-specific. Native English speakers are exempt; a qualifying recent master’s degree can support a doctoral exemption. Published conditional language-course provisions apply to specified admitted candidates, not every international applicant.
https://www.squ.edu.om/ps/en-us/English-Language-Proficiency-Test-Certificate
Scholarships and funding routes
Sultan Qaboos University postgraduate scholarships
Support: Full awards combine tuition exemption and a monthly allowance; tuition-only awards also exist. Published full-award allowances are OMR250 for master’s and OMR350 for PhD.
Eligibility: Omani and non-Omani applicants with unconditional admission, full-time study and required academic standing; master’s applicants normally need at least 3.0/4.0.
Application: Eligible students with unconditional admission enter automatic college nomination; a separate scholarship application is not required.
Conditions: Recipients undertake up to ten hours of academic or administrative work weekly on full awards, or five hours on tuition-only awards. The separate international master’s allocation excludes Oman residents, application fees and bridging courses.
A’Sharqiyah University International Undergraduate Scholarships
Support: Published 2026–27 offer: full tuition for the programme duration and OMR80 monthly; the OMR210 registration fee is payable by the student.
Eligibility: International applicants with an eligible school qualification, at least 70% and medical fitness. Priority goes to higher grades and certificates obtained abroad; continuation requires CGPA 2.7. IELTS above 5 permits foundation-year exemption for non-native English speakers.
Application: The university receives scholarship applications directly from candidates.
Conditions: Agency and third-party applications are excluded. Flights, visa costs, books, housing, meals and the registration fee remain outside the published 2026–27 package.
Omani Cultural and Scientific Cooperation Scholarship — Pakistan allocation
Support: The 2026–27 allocation covered tuition, one return flight annually and OMR200 monthly without institutional accommodation, or OMR140 monthly when accommodation was provided.
Eligibility: Pakistani/AJK nationals living outside Oman, aged at most 21, with 2025–26 HSSC/equivalent results of at least 75%, a valid USAT score and medical fitness.
Application: HEC Pakistan administered online applications and nominations for two places under the 2026–27 allocation.
Conditions: Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, medical laboratory sciences and education were excluded. The published allocation covered nongovernment Omani institutions; its application period closed on 16 July 2026.
HEAC internal scholarship routes for Omani school-leavers
Support: Government-funded study places in eligible domestic institutions; tuition and any allowances follow the specific programme code and award terms.
Eligibility: Eligible Omani applicants meeting the current General Education Diploma or equivalent, subject, age and programme conditions.
Application: HEAC allocates places through its coordinated undergraduate admission system and ranked programme preferences.
Conditions: Restricted to eligible Omani applicants. Expatriate residence in Oman does not confer entitlement to these domestic scholarship places.
Selected university profiles
Selected universities and recognised higher education colleges. The official directory includes different institutional types, specialist providers and partner-award arrangements; the selection is not an exhaustive national list.
Sultan Qaboos University
A public university at Al Khoud in Muscat providing undergraduate and postgraduate education. Its colleges cover engineering, medicine, science, agriculture and humanities, with research and clinical activity alongside teaching. The campus accommodates academic departments, student facilities and health-related educational provision.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Medicine; Science; Agriculture; Humanities
- Address
- P.O. Box 50, P.C. 123, Al Khoud, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.squ.edu.om/
University of Technology and Applied Sciences
A public university organised as a network of branches across Oman. Its applied academic provision includes engineering, computing, business, sciences and education. The central administration is in Muscat; individual branches deliver programmes with diploma and degree-level qualifications within the university structure.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Computing; Business; Applied sciences; Education
- Address
- P.O. Box 74, Al Khuwair, Muscat 133, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.utas.edu.om/
National University of Science and Technology
A private multicampus university combining medical, engineering, pharmacy and maritime education. Its constituent colleges operate at different locations, including Muscat and Sohar. The university’s institutional postal address is in Muscat, while teaching and practical training are organised through the individual colleges.
- Subjects
- Medicine; Engineering; Pharmacy; Maritime studies
- Address
- P.O. Box 620, P.C. 130, Azaiba, Bousher, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://nu.edu.om/
Official references
Sohar University
A private university in Sohar offering foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Its academic subjects include business, computing, engineering, education, language studies and law. Teaching is organised through faculties covering professional disciplines as well as humanities and social-science provision.
- Subjects
- Business; Computing; Engineering; Education; Law
- Address
- P.O. Box 44, P.C. 311, Sohar, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.su.edu.om/
- suinfo@su.edu.om
Official references
University of Nizwa
A nonprofit university in Nizwa with colleges covering arts and sciences, economics and business, engineering, pharmacy and nursing. It provides undergraduate and graduate education. Arabic and English are used within its academic provision, with language determined by the programme and discipline.
- Subjects
- Arts and sciences; Engineering; Business; Pharmacy; Nursing
- Address
- Nizwa Campus, P.O. Box 33, P.C. 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.unizwa.edu.om/
Official references
Dhofar University
A private university in Salalah providing undergraduate and postgraduate education in southern Oman. Its academic portfolio includes arts, applied sciences, business, engineering and law. Preparatory study forms part of its provision alongside degree programmes delivered through its constituent academic colleges.
- Subjects
- Arts; Applied sciences; Business; Engineering; Law
- Address
- P.O. Box 2509, Postal Code 211, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.du.edu.om/
Official references
A'Sharqiyah University
A private university in Ibra with colleges in business, engineering, applied and health sciences, humanities and law. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate education alongside foundation study. The university operates a separate international undergraduate scholarship scheme covering tuition and a monthly allowance.
- Subjects
- Business; Engineering; Applied sciences; Humanities; Law
- Address
- P.O. Box 42, Postal Code 400, Ibra, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.asu.edu.om/
- info@asu.edu.om
University of Buraimi
A private university in Al Buraimi, near Oman’s border with the United Arab Emirates. Its academic provision includes business, engineering, nursing and law. Professional and academic programmes are organised through colleges, with preparatory study forming a separate stage of university provision.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Business; Nursing; Law
- Address
- University of Buraimi, Al Buraimi, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.uob.edu.om/
- callcenter@uob.edu.om
German University of Technology in Oman
A private university in Halban with academic links to Germany. Its subject portfolio includes engineering, geosciences, computing, architecture and business. Degree education combines technical and applied disciplines, with programmes delivered in Oman through the university’s own academic departments and schools.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Geosciences; Computing; Architecture; Business
- Address
- Halban, near Southern Expressway; postal: P.O. Box 1816, Athaibah P.C. 130, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.gutech.edu.om/
Official references
Muscat University
A private university in Muscat offering undergraduate and postgraduate education through three faculties: Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, and Transport and Logistics. Its course catalogue includes finance, computing and logistics-related study, with a separate General Foundation Programme.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Business; Logistics; Finance; Computing
- Address
- Building 2089, Al Ghubra North, P.O. Box 550, P.C. 130, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://muscatuniversity.edu.om/
Middle East College
A private college at Knowledge Oasis Muscat offering engineering, computing, business, logistics and records-management education. Its undergraduate and postgraduate provision includes Coventry University programmes and qualifications awarded by Middle East College. Foundation study is delivered separately from degree-level academic programmes.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Computing; Business; Logistics; Records management
- Address
- Knowledge Oasis Muscat, Al Rusayl, P.O. Box 79, Postal Code 124, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://mec.edu.om/
- admissions@mec.edu.om
Majan University College
A private university college in Muscat providing business, computing, accounting and English-language education. Its postgraduate catalogue includes University of Bedfordshire master’s programmes and Majan’s own MBA taught in Arabic. A General Foundation Programme covers English, mathematics, information technology and study skills.
- Subjects
- Business; Computing; English language; Accounting
- Address
- Way 2621, Building 1986, Muscat–Mutrah; P.O. Box 710, P.C. 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://majancollege.edu.om/
Modern College of Business and Science
A private college in Bawshar offering undergraduate and graduate study in business, computing, economics and aviation management. Its academic portfolio combines degree programmes with preparatory provision. Business and technological subjects form the main areas of teaching at the Muscat campus.
- Subjects
- Business; Computing; Economics; Aviation management
- Address
- Bawshar Street, Way 273, Building 259, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.mcbs.edu.om/
- admission@mcbs.edu.om
Gulf College
A private college in Muscat offering business and computing degrees in affiliation with Cardiff Metropolitan University. It also awards its own cybersecurity degree, with cyber-forensics and network-security pathways. Its provision includes undergraduate and postgraduate programmes plus a General Foundation Programme.
- Subjects
- Business; Computing; Cybersecurity; Management
- Address
- Mabela, Muscat; postal: P.O. Box 885, Postal Code 133, Al Khuwair, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://gulfcollege.edu.om/
Muscat College
A private college in Muscat providing foundation preparation and degree programmes in business, computing, accounting and management. Academic partnerships form part of its award arrangements. The general foundation programme includes English, mathematics and information technology before progression to degree-level study.
- Subjects
- Business; Computing; Accounting; Management
- Address
- P.O. Box 2910, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://muscatcollege.edu.om/
Official references
College of Banking and Financial Studies
A specialist higher education college in Muscat focused on banking, finance, accounting and business. Its provision includes academic qualifications and professional learning routes for the financial sector. Degree and diploma education sit alongside professional credentials with their respective awarding arrangements.
- Subjects
- Banking; Finance; Accounting; Business
- Address
- Bushar, Muscat; P.O. Box 3122, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://cbfs.edu.om/
- info@cbfs.edu.om
Official references
Scientific College of Design
A private specialist college in Muscat providing design education through studio-based programmes. Its subject portfolio includes graphic design, interior design, fashion design and animation. Teaching centres on creative practice and visual communication, with programme curricula incorporating the development of design work.
- Subjects
- Graphic design; Interior design; Fashion design; Animation
- Address
- Airport Heights, Matar Street, P.O. Box 1656, P.C. 114, Matrah, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://scd.edu.om/
- info@scd.edu.om
Official references
Oman Tourism College
A specialist higher education college in Muscat focused on tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts. Its provision includes preparatory study, diploma qualifications and bachelor’s degrees. Practical teaching facilities include training kitchens and hospitality spaces used alongside academic instruction in the relevant disciplines.
- Subjects
- Tourism; Hospitality; Events; Culinary arts
- Address
- Airport Heights, Muscat; P.O. Box 2008, C.P.O., Postal Code 111, Seeb, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.otc.edu.om/
- office@otc.edu.om
Official references
International College of Engineering and Management
A private specialist college in Muscat offering programmes affiliated with the University of Lancashire in the United Kingdom. Its subjects include fire safety, mechanical engineering, facilities management, construction management and health and safety. Undergraduate and postgraduate study sit alongside general foundation preparation.
- Subjects
- Fire safety; Mechanical engineering; Facilities management; Construction management; Health and safety
- Address
- P.O. Box 2511, C.P.O. Seeb, Postal Code 111, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.icem.edu.om/
Official references
Arab Open University, Oman
The Oman branch of the nonprofit Arab Open University, offering study in business, computing and English-language fields. Its programmes use an open-learning model that incorporates scheduled teaching and assessment. Academic provision combines independent study with institutional requirements for participation and examinations.
- Subjects
- Business; Computing; English language
- Address
- Building 994, Way 92, Al Maabilah, Seeb, Muscat; P.O. Box 1596, P.C. 130, Sultanate of Oman
- Website
- https://www.aou.edu.om/
- info@aou.edu.om
Further institutions
| Institution | Location and type | Official website | Book page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Buraimi University College | Al Buraimi / Private university college | https://buc.edu.om/ | 248 |
| Bayan College | Halban / Private college | https://bayancollege.edu.om/ | 248 |
| Al-Zahra College for Women | Muscat / Private women's college | https://www.zcw.edu.om/ | 248 |
| Global College of Engineering and Technology | Muscat / Private college | https://gcet.edu.om/en/ | 248 |
| Mazoon College | Muscat / Private college | https://mazcol.edu.om/OM/ | 248 |
| Oman College of Management and Technology | Halban / Private college | https://www.ocmt.edu.om/ | 248 |
| Oman Dental College | Muscat / Private specialist college | https://www.odc.edu.om/ | 248 |
| National College of Automotive Technology | Muscat / Private specialist college | https://ncat.edu.om/ | 248 |
| Oman College of Health Sciences | Muscat and regional branches / Public specialist university college | https://www.ochs.edu.om/ | 248 |
| College of Sharia Sciences | Muscat / Public specialist college | https://css.edu.om/ | 248 |
| Military Technological College | Muscat / Public military college | https://www.mtc.edu.om/ | 248 |