Foundation Program

The Foundation Program at Sultan Qaboos University is a mandatory requirement for all students. The program is designed to prepare the students who have been accepted to study at the university to achieve the required learning outcomes in accordance with the academic standards of the Omani Authority for Academic Accreditation (OAAA).

The program prepares students in English language, Mathematics, Information Technology and Study Skills.

During the orientation period before teaching commences, the Foundation Program administers Placement and Exit tests to determine each student’s proficiency level in English, Math and IT. Based on the results of the tests, students are  allocated to courses and groups of equal ability.

Here are the placement and exit sample tests & answers:

• Information Technology

1. IT Exit test Eng
2. IT Exit test Eng Answers
3. IT Exit test Ara & Answers

• Mathamatics

1. Math Exit test 0106
2. Math Exit test 0107
3. Math Exit test 0108

• English
• English-Arabic Glossary (FPMT0107)
• English-Arabic Glossary (FPMT0108)

SQU recognizes the importance of academic advising in guiding the students to progress successfully through their study in the University.

The role of the Academic Advisors in the Foundation Program is to guide students through their study period and help them to fulfill their Foundation Program requirements. Students are advised to discuss various aspects of their courses with course instructors, course leaders and the academic advisors in the Registration Office at the Foundation Program. Students can also refer to the Social Advisor in the Foundation Program Unit regarding their absences or any personal problems that might be affecting their studies.

Sultan Qaboos University provides a number of services to assist students, including the Student Counseling Centre. The center provides a comprehensive program of support services to help Sultan Qaboos University students to adjust to the demands of the university environment. These services are designed to enhance the student's educational experience by supporting his/her development and helping him/her to grow self-awareness, to identify his/her needs and problems, and to develop appropriate problem-solving techniques so s/he will be able to meet the demands of college life and be better prepared for work life on the completion of his/her studies. The Centre's counseling services provide individual counseling, group counseling, psychological consultation, a developmental counseling program, workshops, specialized training courses, and other services provided by specialist counselors.

As the student moves into this new stage of his/her academic life, he or she will find the university environment and academic study different from that of high school. Consequently, the student may well have many questions and concerns. If so, s/he should not hesitate to visit the Student Counseling Center where help with all aspects of life (academic, personal, or social) is offered.

If the Student Affairs Officer refers a student to the Student Counseling Center, s/he should follow this advice because the Student Counseling Center may be in a better position to help the student. After visiting the counselors there, the student should return to the Student Affairs Officer in the Foundation Program to brief them on the counseling s/he has received.

One of the responsibilities of the Student Affairs Officer is to help students if they experience difficulties with their language course registration.

The Student Affairs Officer also works with CLs, academic advisors, the Foundation Program Unit, the Deanship of Admissions and Registration, the Deanship of Student Affairs, the Student Counseling Centre and other university authorities to help students solve their problems.