Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

Students are admitted to the undergraduate programs at Dhofar University on the basis of their:

1. General Education Certificate or its equivalent; and

2. Results in the English, Math, and Information Technology placement tests.

Based on the results of placement tests, accepted students are divided into two groups as follows:

1. Students who need remedial work; these will join the Foundation Program, for one or more semesters, until they successfully complete the Program; and 

2. Students who proceed directly to the first year of the diploma or bachelor program.

Students may be exempted from English, Math, or IT Foundation requirements and admitted directly to their chosen fields of specialization if they meet the following criteria:

Exemption from English requires minimum scores of: 173 in the CBT (Computer-Based TOEFL); band 5.0 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) writing minimum 4.5; or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) score of 500 on the verbal section;

• Exemption from Math requires a minimum score of 500 on the SAT I math section or equivalent; and

• Exemption from IT requires an English ICDL certificate or equivalent.

Colleges may have additional requirements to join specific programs, details of which can be found under College Requirements in the DU catalogue.

Applicants who have a minimum English score of 230 CBT or band 7.0 IELTS or 380 SAT I (writing section) will be exempted from Freshman English requirements: ENGL 101A/B and ENGL 102.

Please note that the validity of all these tests is limited to two years from the date of taking the exam. Applicants must submit original certificate of test results and the University reserves the right to verify the authenticity of the certificate. Holders of IELTS and TOEFL certificates issued by institutions outside Oman may be asked to sit for the placement test.

Application Procedure

Every applicant is required to submit the following documents:

• A completed application form

• A certified copy of the General Education Certificate or its equivalent

• Four recent photographs

• A photocopy of identity card or passport

• A non-refundable application fee of RO 30

• A placement test fee of RO 5 (if applicable) or an IELTS test fee of RO 75 (if required)

 Please note that any certificate originated from a foreign country must be authenticated by the Omani Ministry of Education before it is accepted.

Special and Audit Students

Dhofar University is part of the network of universities serving Oman and the region and is very keen on maintaining good relations with other institutions of higher learning.  Furthermore, the University is located in Salalah which is world renowned for its mild climate in summer, or the rainy “Khareef” season when thousands of visitors come to enjoy the weather and the beautiful environment.  Many students come with their families to Salalah and would like to continue their education while enjoying the Khareef.  The University accepts Special students who would like to take a certain number of courses and transfer their credits to their universities. The University allows them to register for courses or merely attend classes as auditors.  Special students and auditors are required to present documents that show their credentials and preparedness to take courses in the University.

A student who has been dismissed from the University (See Dismissal section) may register as a special student not working for a degree contingent to the approval of the Administrative Committee of the corresponding College.

Academic Advisors

Each student is assigned an academic advisor from day one at DU. The academic advisor is a faculty member in the academic division in which the student is enrolled. the role of the advisor is to assist the advisee in preparing course schedule during registration, support and guide him'her during his'her university studies, monitors his/her academic progress, and offers him'her counseling on any academic difficulties or problems he/she may experience.

Deadlines for Applications

Applications should reach the Admission Department early so that the student has enough time to prepare himself/herself to join the University.  The last dates for accepting applications for admission are the end of August for admission to the fall semester and the end of January for admission to the spring semester. No students are admitted for the summer session.  Students applying through the Central Admission Office of the Ministry of Higher Education should adhere to the requirements indicated on their web site: http://www.heac.gov.om/

 Admission Requirements for Graduate Program

Admission Criteria

Students who are admitted to a graduate program are assigned to one of four categories:

Admission on Good Standing

1. Admission to the Master in Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching English Language is competitive and requires the candidate to:

2. Have a bachelor degree in English language, English literature, translation (English-Arabic), or Education (English emphasis) recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education; with a minimum average of 75/100 or equivalent.

3. Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and/or graduate course work

4. Pass an English entrance exam that includes all English language skills, or present an official certificate of passing IELTS level 6 or higher, or a paper-based TOEFL score of 550 or higher, or equivalent.

5. Succeed in the admission interview conducted by the Graduate Studies Committee of the college

6. Admission to the Master in Management program is competitive and requires the candidate to:

• Have a bachelor degree recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education in any field of study.

• Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and/or graduate course work

• Complete a minimum of two years of  experience in a managerial capacity, and

• Succeed in the admission interview conducted by the Graduate Studies Committee of the college.

Provisional Admission

Students who meet all the criteria for admission on good standing but did not complete their bachelor degree requirements at the time of registration may be offered provisional admission. Change of this status into the status of 'admission on good standing' requires satisfaction of all requirements for admission within one semester after registration.

Admission on Probation

Students who do not meet the admission requirements for a particular graduate program may be admitted on probation. The conditions for removal of probation shall be determined by the admission committee for that program.  However, under no circumstances shall a student be admitted as a regular graduate student or a graduate student on probation if he/she does not hold a bachelor degree or its equivalent from a university or college recognized by MoHE.

Special Admission

Students who have a bachelor degree and wish to enroll in one or more courses without working for a master degree may be admitted as special students not working for a degree. If they later wish to work for a degree, they must make a formal application and meet all the admission requirements set by DU.

Approval of MoHE

All admissions to the graduate programs are provisional subject to final approval by MoHE.

Application Procedure

To apply for admission to a graduate program, the applicant must submit the following:

• A completed application form

• Two letters of recommendation

• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and/or graduate course work

• IELTS score or equivalent for applicants for the Master in Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching English Language (validity of these tests is limited to two years from the date of taking the exam).

• Application fee of RO 50.

The student is required to undergo an interview with the Graduate Studies Committee of the relevant college.

Deadlines for Applications

Applications should reach the Office of Admission and Registration early so that the student has enough time to prepare himself/herself to join the University.  The last dates for accepting applications for admission are the end of August for admission to the fall semester and the end of January for admission to the spring semester.  No students are admitted to the summer session.  Students applying through the Higher Education Admission Center should adhere to the requirements indicated on their web site: http://www.heac.gov.om/

Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses

Senior undergraduate students who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 85% are allowed to take up to 6 credit hours of graduate courses with the approval of their advisor and the college graduate committee.  Graduate courses are made available for 4^th year students as “electives.”