The Earth Sciences Ph.D. program is by research and is available in a full- and part-time mode. It spans over a period of four years for full-time and up to six years for part-time mode. There are two semesters per year; Fall Semester (usually in September) and Spring Semester (usually in January).

Thesis writing will be examined and evaluated. Ph.D. students are expected to publish at least one paper in an international refereed journal. Ph.D. students are expected to present their results and findings at least in one region and/or international conference.

• A bachelor's degree (BSc) and master's degree (MSc) in geology, geophysics, and related subjects from Sultan Qaboos University or a recognized university. 
• A cumulative GPA of not less than 2.5 on a 4-point scale as detailed below:
  • 3.00 to 4.00 on a 4-point scale or equivalent grade (without work experience).
  • 2.75 to 2.99 on a 4-point scale or equivalent grade (two or more years of work experience).
• English proficiency test result or certificate with a score of at least 575 in TOEFL or 6.5 in academic IELTS.

For more information please visit: https://www.squ.edu.om/ps/en-us/ProspectiveStudents

→ Then, General Admission Requirements

• Attested bachelor degree (BSc) and master degree (MSc) certificate
• Attested bachelor degree (BSc) and master degree (MSc) official transcript
• English proficiency test certificate
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• A statement on the objectives and goals of the research proposed for the doctoral program.
• Three letters of reference, at least two letters from academics, to show competence in the discipline of interest and research capabilities
• Passport
• Identification card
• A personal passport-size photo with blue or white background
• Release letter or a study leave from an employer for a full-time study or no-objection letter for a part-time study

Doctoral students in SQU are required to pay tuition fees.

For more information please visit: https://www.squ.edu.om/ps/en-us/ProspectiveStudents

→ Then, Academic Fees Regulations

1. Tuition fees (Omani Student)

For Omani students, the fees are 5000 OMR for the whole program

2. Tuition fees (International Student)

For international students, the fees are 7000 OMR for the whole program

Postgraduate Seminars and Oral Exam

Students enrolled in the Earth Sciences Ph.D. program must give two seminars during their study. These seminars will enable students to receive constructive feedback from faculty and students, and they should also help them to develop their argumentation and presentation skills. In addition to the two seminars, the doctoral program student must sit to a preliminary thesis examination.

First Seminar

The first seminar should but not be limited to cover the research's background, objectives, and methodology. The student and the main supervisor must enter the date and approve the completion of the first seminar in the portal.

The first seminar for the doctoral program must be held after the first semester of thesis registration and before the end of the second semester. The student and the supervisors are responsible for scheduling and announcing the seminar. If you are ready for the first seminar, you are required to:

1. Fill the form at least one week before your scheduled seminar date,
2. Use the seminar template, and
3. Communicate with your supervisors at least one week before your scheduled seminar date to discuss and revise your PPts.

Second Seminar

The second seminar should but not be limited to include a summary of the research and the main findings. The student and the main supervisor are required to enter the date and approve the completion of the first seminar in the portal.

The second seminar for the doctoral program must be held before the thesis defense. The student and the supervisors are responsible for scheduling and announcing the seminar. If you are ready for the second seminar, you are required to:

1. Fill the form at least one week before your seminar date,
2. Use the seminar template, and
3. Communicate with your supervisors at least one week before your scheduled seminar date to discuss and revise your PPts.

Earth Sciences doctoral program students must sit for preliminary thesis examination at no later than the end of the third semester. Based on the student’s research proposal, the examination committee is intended to assess the student’s readiness to engage in the proposed research. The committee assigns the student either a “pass” or “no pass” result. The student who fails the oral examination may sit for another attempt, provided that the repeat attempt is within a semester. However, failure in the repeat attempt will result in withdrawal from the program.

The examination of doctoral theses may take place in either semester, between semesters or in the summer break, subject to the availability of the Examining Committee members.

Before initiating the procedure for the thesis examination

The student and supervisors must ensure that:

1. The student has presented a paper at an international scientific conference,
2. The student has published a paper or received acceptance for publication in a specialized, peer-reviewed journal,
3. The student has also completed the two required seminars and they are entered into the portal and approved by the main supervisor,
4. The student has conducted the preliminary oral exam and it is entered into the portal and approved by the main supervisor,
5. The progress report is entered by the student and approved by the main supervisor in the portal.

During initiating the procedure for the thesis examination

The student and supervisors must ensure that:

6. The thesis title and abstract both in Arabic and in English, have been entered into the portal,
7. The main supervisor and co-supervisors must approve the thesis readiness,
8. The main supervisor may nominate two external examiners and one internal examiner,
9. Schedule the thesis examination day, date, and time, and place of examination,
10. Handle the printed copies of the thesis to the thesis examination committee, i.e., chairperson, main supervisor, two external examiners, and one internal examiner. The student and the main supervisor are responsible for handling the thesis copies to the examination committee before the day of examination with enough time,
11. The external examiner must be a Ph.D. holder with teaching experience from outside the department. He/she can be from outside the Sultan Qaboos University, and it is recommended that one of the external examiners to be from outside of Oman. The external examiner who is from outside of Oman must be an associate professor. The external examiner from outside Sultan Qaboos University must submit his/her CV. The internal examiner is from the department or affiliated with the department and must be at least an associate professor. The chairperson will be appointed by the Assistant Dean of postgraduate, and    
12. This information detailed in points 8 to 11 must be forwarded to the postgraduate studies committee in the college for acceptance and later send to the Dean through the Assistant Dean for approval at least one month from the date of the second seminar and one month before the examination date; therefore, the main supervisor must email all this information to the departmental postgraduate coordinator before that with enough time.

During the thesis examination

Involvement in the thesis defense is limited to members of the Thesis Examining Committee. However, members of the Thesis Supervision Committee may attend the defense, which includes the following procedures:

13. Preliminary Session: The Examining Committee goes briefly over the Thesis Report and assigned grades using the adopted rubrics for the Ph.D. thesis assessment before inviting the candidate into the room.
14. Thesis Presentation Session: This session started by inviting the student to conduct the thesis presentation. The presentation should be delivered in which is not exceeding half an hour covering the thesis objectives and major findings.
15. Question Session: The Chair regulates the time so that the whole process should not exceed three hours. At the end of the question session, the student is requested to leave the room.
16. Decision Session: The thesis examination committee decides by majority vote to place the thesis in one of four categories (a) pass, (b) pass pending minor revision, (c) deferred pending major revision, and (d) no pass,
17. Result announcement: The thesis examination committee may invite the student and announce the result.

After the completion of the thesis examination

18. The thesis examination committee members are requested to enter and submit the thesis examination report in the portal,
19. In case that the external examiners are from outside of Sultan Qaboos University, the main supervisor is responsible for entering and submitting the thesis examination report in the portal on behalf of the external examiners,
20. The main supervisor, external examiners, and the internal examiner must submit their detailed report to the chairperson and to the student. The main supervisor, external examiners, and internal examiners are advised to handle the annotated thesis to the student detailing their comments, correction, and feedback,
21. The chairperson must prepare a report at the end of the examination that summarizes the proceedings and submit it to the Assistant Dean of Postgraduate, who forwards it to the Deanship of Postgraduate within one week from the end of the examination,
22. The student should communicate with the main supervisor to get the thesis examination reports,
23. The student must implement all the required comments and corrections and submit the final thesis copies within one month from the thesis examination date,

Repeating Thesis Examination

24.When the examination committee’s decision is “deferred pending major revisions”, is assigned, the second defense in front of the same Examining Committee is required within a maximum of three months from the date of the first defense. In the second defense, the committee will place the thesis in one of three categories:

(a) pass

(b) pass pending minor revisions

(c) no pass.

After the implementation of the required corrections on the thesis by the student and approval by the supervision committee, the student must:

25. Visit the Deanship of Postgraduate to check the thesis editing and formatting before the final printing,

26. Provide six bound copies of the final version in the correct format; 2 copies must be submitted to the department (i.e., the postgraduate coordinator), 1 copy to the College Assistant Dean of Postgraduate office, and 2 copies to the Deanship of Postgraduate office. In addition, each hard copy must have an electronic copy of the thesis and abstract in Arabic and English in pdf and docx formats.