Admission Requirements

Unconditional Admission

For unconditional admission an applicant for a masters program must meet the following criteria:

a.     An undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution.

b.     A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4-point scale or equivalent is required for admission into the masters by thesis program.

c.     A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale or equivalent is required for admission into the masters by course work or course work and thesis or course work and comprehensive examination option. 

d.     An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification and a one year postgraduate diploma in a related specification from a recognized higher education institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4-point scale (or equivalent grade) in the diploma.

e.     A student registered for the postgraduate diploma at SQU, who has completed the course requirement with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4 point scale, may be considered for upgrading into the masters program if the latter is in the same specialization. In this case the registration for the diploma will be cancelled. However, some of the courses taken may be counted towards the masters requirements. 

f.      A conditional student who has fulfilled the progression standards (Section 5.5) and/or language proficiency (Section 2.4).

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is granted to an applicant for the masters program who meets the following criteria:

a.     An applicant with cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4 point scale, but deficient in pre-requisite courses needed for the program, may be considered for conditional admission into the masters by research program. Such pre-requisite courses are termed bridging courses and should be completed within one year of study as specified by the department.

b.     An applicant with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4 point scale, but deficient in pre-requisite courses needed for the program, may be considered for conditional admission into the masters by course work, or course work and thesis, or course work and comprehensive examination option. Similarly, the bridging courses should be completed within one year of study. 

c.     An applicant whose cumulative GPA is between 2.74 and 2.50 may be considered for conditional admission into the masters by course work, course work and thesis, or course work and comprehensive examination options. In such cases, relevant work experience and any other academic activity beyond the first degree may be taken into consideration to assess the applicant’s potential to achieve at a high level in the selected field.

d.     An applicant who has not satisfied some of the program requirements, such as the language proficiency requirement as specified in Section 2.4, or submission of missing items (e.g. confirmation of grades, verification of degree or test results). The provision of missing documents, except for the language proficiency results, should be completed within a period specified in the acceptance letter.

Application Requirements

The applicant must fulfill the following:

a.     Submit an application form

b.     Attend an interview, if required.

c.     Provide a letter of release and support from the employer for full-time study, or a no-objection letter for part-time study.

d.     Provide proof of financial support.

e.     Provide a medical report, not more than six months older than the date of application, certifying fitness to pursue the study.

f.      Submit official transcripts, copies of degree certificates and passport/national identity card.

g.     Adhere to the requirements of specific programs, such as language and computer proficiency, assessment of work experience or a qualifying examination in a specific area. Such requirements are listed under the appropriate program description.

Any conditions placed on the student will be included in the notification of admission. If the conditions are not met within the specified time, the candidate’s registration in the masters program will be canceled.

Duration

A masters program is designed to normally be completed within two years of full-time enrolment. An extension of up to one year may be approved by the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies on the recommendation of the supervisor and the College Dean. In case of part-time study, all degree requirements must be completed in three years. An extension of up to two one-semester periods may be approved by the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies on the recommendation of the supervisor and the College Dean. The maximum period of registration is counted from the date of first registration, excluding any postponements granted throughout this period. The minimum residency period required for full-time students is one year and for part-time students is two years.

Degree Options

There are four options for masters programs at Sultan Qaboos University:

·          Master’s by thesis

·          Master’s by course work and thesis

·          Master’s by course work

·          Master’s by course work and comprehensive examination.

The options available for each degree program should be clearly stated. A program may be offered in more than one option. Where more than one option is available for a particular program, acceptance of candidates into a certain option will depend on the department’s decision. A student may not submit for assessment material which has already been submitted for another degree at this University or any other academic institution.

The four options of the Master’s degree are described below.

Masters by Thesis

Research leading to a thesis. 

The focus of the program is the undertaking of guided research combined with appropriate course work, if required. The course work, which should normally not exceed 12 credits, shall be completed as specified in the degree plan, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. The research for the thesis need not necessarily be entirely original, but must represent elements of novelty in approach or application. The culmination of this effort is an investigation which makes a contribution to the body of knowledge in the specific area, and which must demonstrate that the candidate has achieved the necessary level of proficiency in both the subject matter and allied research methodology. The student should identify the research problem in consultation with the supervisor, which normally takes place in the first semester. The student should register for the thesis in his/her first semester.  The format and style of the thesis is defined in Appendix A (General Format for a Thesis).

 Masters by Course Work and Thesis

24-30 credits of course work in addition to research leading to a thesis.

The student should complete the course work requirements specified in the degree plan with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. For the thesis, the candidate is required to conduct the necessary literature search, undertake the research, analyse the results, write the report and communicate the results at an oral defence. This work need not necessarily be original research, but should be a new application of ideas. The student should identify the research problem in consultation with the supervisor, which normally takes place in the second semester. The student should register for the thesis in the third semester after having completed at least 12 credits of the course work.  The format and style of the thesis is defined in Appendix A (General Format for a Thesis).

Masters by Course Work

36 credits of course work.

The student should complete all course work requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

Masters by Course Work and Comprehensive Examination

30-36 credits of course work and a comprehensive final examination.

The student should complete all course work requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and should pass the comprehensive examination. This examination is at a significantly higher level than undergraduate course examinations and requires the synthesis and interpretation of the material, concepts and skills of individual courses. Rather than re-testing course level material, it is expected that a candidate will understand, discuss and demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply acquired knowledge in a way that requires independent thinking and critical analysis. Such an examination may be written, oral, or practical, and is usually some combination of these assessment modes.

Supervision

Any faculty member with a PhD or equivalent may supervise a masters research thesis. Clinicians with consultant or senior consultant status who are not faculty may serve as co-supervisor if they have a PhD or equivalent. 

Graduation Requirements

Authorisation to grant a masters degree will be confirmed upon completion of the following conditions:

a.     Satisfactory completion of all degree requirements within the specified time limit.

b.     Cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 for any course work requirements.

c.     Preparation and formal acceptance of a thesis, if required.

d.     Submission of the required number of copies of the final approved version of the thesis.

e.     Clearance of all debts to the University.