To empower students to be active, independent and accountable learners able to make critical decisions related to their education and future career, and take advantage of the resources and opportunities at SQU to recognize their full potential and succeed in their academic life.
Create a comprehensive and informative academic advising culture that nurtures collaborative professional partnerships with students and enables students to make well-informed decisions that maximize their educational achievements and timely degree completion.
Encourage faculty and students to form collaborative and professional partnerships to facilitate students' adaptation to academic life and smooth academic progression.
Educate faculty and students about the importance of academic advising at SQU.
Communicate regularly with students to provide accurate and timely academic advising information regarding policies and procedures.
Provide a safe, respectful, and confidential space for students to discuss educational, career, and social issues.
Guide students to follow their study plan by ensuring they understand and are able to meet the degree requirements.
Continuously assess students' academic progress and make appropriate amendments as necessary.
Advise students on matters affecting their study by providing timely guidance and intervention.
Encourage faculty and students to utilize university resources and support services.
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The Academic Advising Faculty Handbook provides faculty members with complete guidelines on advising duties, GPA calculations, conflict resolution, counseling referrals, and all administrative procedures at Sultan Qaboos University.
The Academic Advising Student Handbook is your essential guide to understanding degree requirements, registration procedures, academic policies, and support services at SQU. It helps you make informed decisions and successfully navigate your academic journey.
Academic Advising
What is the vision of academic advising at SQU?
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Empower students to become active, independent, and responsible learners who can make informed decisions about their education and future careers, and take advantage of the resources and opportunities available at SQU to recognize their full potential and succeed in their academic life.
What is the mission of academic advising at SQU?
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Cultivate a holistic and student-centered academic advising culture that fosters collaborative partnerships between faculty and students and enables students to make well-informed decisions that maximize their educational achievements and support timely degree completion.
What are the objectives of academic advising at SQU?
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- Encourage faculty and students to form collaborative and professional partnerships to facilitate students’ adaptation to academic life and smooth academic progression in their respective degree programs.
- Educate faculty and students about importance of academic advising at SQU.
- Communicate regularly with students to provide accurate and timely academic advising information regarding academic procedures to help students in making informed decisions related to their academic goals.
- Provide a safe, respectful, and confidential space for students to ask questions and discuss their academic, career, and social issues.
- Guide students to follow their study plans by ensuring that they understand and are able to meet their degree requirements.
- Continuously assess students’ academic progress towards meeting their goals by clarifying potential academic paths, monitoring their academic progress, and making appropriate adjustments as necessary.
- Provide students with timely advice and guidance on issues affecting their academic progression.
- Encourage both faculty and students to utilize university resources and support services related to academic advising.
What is the purpose of academic advising?
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Academic advising helps students understand their degree requirements and plan their academic progress. Advisors guide students in selecting courses, monitoring their progress, and ensuring they follow university regulations so they can complete their degrees successfully.
How does academic advising help students?
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- Understand degree requirements
- Monitor their academic progress
- Address academic challenges
- Make informed decisions about majors and career pathways
- Access additional university support services when needed
Advisors
Who is my academic advisor, and how can I contact them?
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Each student is assigned an academic advisor by the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies in their college. The advisor is usually a faculty member within the student’s specialization. Students receive their advisor’s office location, phone extension, and email address for communication.
How can I identify my advisor if I did not receive any communication?
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You can identify your advisor by:
- Visiting or emailing the Head of the Department (HoD).
- Checking your academic transcript, where your advisor’s name appears in the identifying information. After identifying the name, visit your department webpage to find the faculty member’s contact details.
Should I wait for my academic advisor to contact me?
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No. Students are responsible for initiating communication with their newly assigned advisors.
Will I be assigned a new advisor if I change my major?
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Yes. When you change your major, a new advisor from your new academic program will be assigned to you, as they are best equipped to guide you through the requirements of the new program.
Can I change my advisor?
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Yes. You must submit a written request to the Head of your Department explaining the reason for your request. You may also be asked to provide supporting evidence. The Head of Department will review the request and inform you of the decision.
Can I choose my academic advisor?
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Advisors are assigned by the department based on several considerations. However, if you wish to be assigned to a specific faculty member, you may submit a request to the Head of Department explaining your reasons. The department will review your request and inform you of the decision.
Can I meet my advisor outside working hours?
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No. Academic advising is part of the faculty member’s official workload and should be conducted during normal university working hours.
Can I visit my advisor at any time during working hours?
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Not always. Academic advisors have multiple responsibilities. It is recommended that you request an appointment (face-to-face or online). In urgent situations, you may visit your advisor during their office hours.
What should I do if my advisor is not responding to my emails?
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Academic advisors are full-time faculty members and may sometimes be unavailable due to meetings or other duties.
- Allow at least 48 hours for a response.
- If you do not receive a reply, send a reminder email.
- If there is still no response, contact the Head of the Department, who will follow up with your advisor.
What should I do if the issue is urgent?
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If your advisor is unavailable and the matter is urgent, contact the Head of the Department immediately.
Can the department change my advisor without my permission?
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Usually, students remain with the same advisor. However, the department may reassign advisors in situations such as:
- Faculty retirement or resignation
- Sabbatical leave
- Long-term sick leave
- Student change of major
Students will be informed if such changes occur.
When should I meet my academic advisor?
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Students should meet their advisor in situations such as:
- Before and during course registration
- When reviewing academic performance
- When choosing or changing a major
- When transferring to another college
- When planning to withdraw from a course
- When postponing studies or withdrawing from the university
- When seeking academic, personal, or career guidance
Can I choose not to visit my academic advisor?
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Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their advisors regularly. Advisors provide personalized guidance that helps students make informed decisions about their academic journey.
Can I seek advice from senior students?
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You may consult senior students for general guidance. However, your academic advisor remains the most reliable source of information regarding degree requirements and university regulations.
Advising Topics
What should I prepare before registration?
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Before registration, students should review:
- Their degree plan
- Required and elective courses
- Course prerequisites
- Semester credit limits
- Course schedules and examination dates
How can I register for, drop, or withdraw from a course?
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Can I drop or withdraw from a course?
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Yes.
- If a course is dropped during the first week, it will not appear on your transcript.
- If it is withdrawn between the second week and mid-semester, a W will appear on your transcript, but it will not affect your GPA.
- If withdrawn after mid-semester, an F grade will be recorded and will affect your GPA.
Should I consult my advisor before withdrawing from a course?
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Yes. Withdrawing from a course may affect your academic progress and degree completion timeline, especially if the course is a prerequisite for other courses.
What happens if my GPA becomes too low?
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Students may be placed on academic probation if:
- Their cumulative GPA falls below 2.00, or
- Their semester GPA remains below acceptable limits.
Students on probation must reduce their course load and consult their academic advisor before registration.
Yes. Students must repeat failed required courses. They may also repeat courses with passing grades (up to C) to improve their GPA, depending on university regulations.
Should I consult my advisor before repeating a course?
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Yes. Sometimes, the timing of repeating a course may affect your ability to take other courses, especially if it is a prerequisite. Your advisor will help you decide whether repeating the course in a particular semester is the best option.
Regulations
Where to find detailed information about the Undergraduate Regulations at SQU?
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Detailed information about undergraduate regulations can be found in the SQU Undergraduate Academic Regulations document:
https://www.squ.edu.om/Portals/24/academic-en-2019_1.pdf
Key sections include:
- Admission regulations (pp. 4–11)
- Registration regulations (pp. 12–25)
- Attendance regulations (pp. 17–21)
- Courses and grading regulations (pp. 26–54)
- Graduation regulations (pp. 56–62)
Attendance
What happens if I miss too many classes?
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Attendance is mandatory. Excessive absences may lead to warnings and eventually a barring notice, preventing you from taking the final exam and resulting in an FW grade.
Should I inform my advisor if I have difficulty attending classes?
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Yes. Your advisor can guide you and direct you to appropriate university resources to help address the issue.
What if I miss classes due to medical, psychological, or personal issues?
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Inform your advisor. They can guide you through confidential procedures to ensure your absence is handled appropriately while protecting your privacy.
Do I need official documentation for excused absences?
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What if I miss a class because of a university activity?
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Before the event, ask the organizing body to send an official letter to the relevant authority (e.g., the Dean, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, or Head of Department) specifying the nature, date, and time of the activity. After review, the college/department will inform you if the absence will be excused.
Academic Performance and GPA
How is academic performance graded?
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Academic performance is graded using letter grades such as A, B, C, D, and F, each corresponding to numerical grade points used to calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA).
GPA is calculated by multiplying each course’s credit hours by the grade points earned, adding the total points, and dividing by the total credit hours attempted.
What GPA is required to graduate?
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Students must complete all degree requirements and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 to graduate.
How are degrees classified?
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Degree classifications are based on cumulative GPA, ranging from Pass (2.00–2.29) to Distinction with Honours (3.75–4.00).
Documentation of Academic Advising
What if I forget what my advisor recommended?
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Log in to the Academic Advising webpage in the SIS system using your SQU credentials:
https://sis.squ.edu.om/Default.aspx
Check your advisor’s recorded feedback and recommendations. If none are recorded, you may email your advisor and request that the feedback be added.
How can I access feedback from previous semesters?
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Access the Academic Advising section in the SIS using your SQU credentials:
https://sis.squ.edu.om/Default.aspx
Select the relevant semester or academic year to view your advisor’s feedback.
Student Support Services
What support services are available to SQU students?
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What is student counseling?
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Student counseling is a university service that helps students address personal, academic, and social challenges through professional guidance.
Who provides counseling services?
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Is counseling confidential?
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Yes. Counseling sessions are confidential, and information will not be shared without the student’s written consent.
What services are available for students with special needs?
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What services does the Deanship of Student Affairs provide?
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What services does the Independent Learning Center provide?
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The Independent Learning Center (ILC) offers:
- Workshops and training programs
- Academic lounges and learning spaces
- Self-learning resources
- Peer tutoring services
https://www.squ.edu.om/ilc/Home
What services does the Career Guidance Center provide?
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The Center for Career Guidance (CCG) helps students explore career pathways, develop job-search skills, and prepare for employment.
https://www.squ.edu.om/ccg