The Department of Physics at Sultan Qaboos University since its inauguration in 1986 has been providing quality teaching, research and expert advice. Our academic and technical staff members are well prepared with the best qualifications and experience to meet the University’s expectations. The Department always strives to stay abreast of technology growth and development and recognizes the fact that learning is a multifaceted continuous process.

The Department has a number of excellent laboratories with advanced facilities for teaching and research and also shares other facilities within the College and the University. The Department offers a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum for the physics degree covers the fundamental concepts of physics and mathematics, practical training in laboratories and workshops, computational techniques and research oriented project work. E-learning and computational techniques are being encouraged in several courses. The flexibility of the degree program permits a major in Physics together with a minor in other subjects. A minor could be selected from other departments within the College of Science (Earth Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics) and from a relevant college. Presently the Department offers physics with an option of a minor in Astronomy, Medical Physics and Applied Nuclear Science. This gives students the opportunity to choose courses they enjoy and provides graduates with access to a wide variety of occupations and professional scientific careers.

The outstanding performance of the past physics graduates has established a reputation that enables new graduates in gaining employment in the academic, industrial, commercial and government sectors. Employment prospects for the graduates in Physics from different degree plans based on past data range from public to private sectors.

There are several active research groups within the Department, which have been producing a steady stream of research publications of international calibre and which maintain strong research collaborations with international institutions. All staff members are highly committed and they work together to achieve our common goal: The development of students’ minds and skills as well as providing a basis for their personal, social and cognitive development.

The Department has a number of excellent laboratories with advanced facilities for teaching and research and it also shares other facilities within the College and the University. It ensures a good deal of practical training in laboratories and workshops. General and specialized teaching laboratories are housed here in the fields of Electronics, Modern Physics, Nuclear Physics, Thermal Physics, Mechanics, Lasers and Optics and Computational Physics. Students receive first-hand training in Electronics, Metal and Wood Workshops.

For Astronomy and Cosmology, 6 types of telescopes, a number of high-tech cameras and Skyscouts are available along with 3 domes. The recently introduced Nuclear Physics program is in the process of procuring a number of mid-level equipments for experimentation.  

The departmental research facilities include Mössbauer spectroscopy, Faraday and VSM systems for magnetic measurements, four point probe for electrical resistivity measurements, surface science ultra-high vacuum (UHV) instrument equipped with XPS, AES, UPS and SPA-LEED, AFM, STM, MFM, vacuum coating and sputtering systems, state of the art station for the characterization of ferroelectric liquid crystals, LRC-meter for dielectric studies, surface tension apparatus, electrical characterization tools using IVT and CVT in addition to computational facilities.