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 and Life Skills. 

The Placement and Exit Tests 

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.  

If a student is placed in a level too demanding for his/her level, it is  unlikely that the student will cope with the level of instruction and s/he  may be unable to satisfy the requirements of that level. Similarly, if a  student is placed in a level that is too easy for him/her, s/he will  probably be bored and will not benefit from the instruction. Therefore,  the Placement Test is very important and should be taken seriously so  that you are placed at a level that will benefit you the most.  

English Language Courses:

a) A student earning a grade of C- or higher enrolls in a new full course. For example, a student with a C- in the FPEL 0120 course is registered for the next semester in the FPEL 0340 course.

b) A student with a grade lower than C- in any of the courses FPEL 0120, FPEL 0230, FPEL 0340, FPEH/S 0450 must repeat the latter half of the course. For instance, a student getting a D+ in FPEL 0120 enrolls in the next semester in FPEL 0230, repeating both the second and third levels.

c) A student obtaining an F grade in any course must retake the entire course. For example, a student getting an F in FPEH/S 0603 is registered in the same course in the next semester.

d) A student receiving an F grade in two consecutive semesters in an English language course gets suspended for a whole semester and is only allowed to sit for the English language proficiency exam or present an IELTS certificate with a score not less than 5, and each section should have a score of at least 4.5. 

e) If a student fails to complete the foundation program in two years, s/he will be asked to study  FPEL0700 (for English), as a last chance. 

Information Technology Course:

a) A student registers for the Information Technology course in English only upon reaching level 4 or higher in the English Foundation Program.

b) A student obtaining a grade of D in the Information Technology course has completed the foundation program requirements.

c) A student receiving an F grade in the Information Technology course is allowed to repeat the course only once.

d) A student obtaining an F grade twice in the Information Technology course gets suspended for a whole semester and is allowed to sit for the final exam or present ICDL and IC3GS5 certificates instead.

Mathematics Course:

The Mathematics courses are offered in three streams as follows:

• Mathematics for Humanities: FPMT 0106 (Arabic)

• Mathematics for Economics: FPMT 0107 (English) 

• Mathematics for Sciences: FPMT 0108 (English)  

a) A student is registered for the Mathematics course in English only upon reaching level 4 or higher in the English Foundation Program.

b) A student obtaining an F grade in any Foundation Program course is allowed to repeat the course only once.

c) A student receiving an F grade in two consecutive semesters in any mathematics course stops studying the course for a whole semester and is allowed to sit for the final exam.

Study and Life Skills Course:

a) The Study and Life Skills course is registered for all students based on priorities determined by the Student Guidance and Registration Department.

b) Students who have completed the English language, Information Technology, and Mathematics courses can register for their courses according to their academic plans after registering for the Study and Life Skills course.

c) These students are treated like those who have completed the Foundation Program.

d) A student receiving an F grade is registered for the course.

e) A student receiving an F grade in two consecutive semesters is registered for the third time as a last chance.

The First Week 

When teaching at the university commences, students are expected to  have finalized their accommodation and transportation arrangements, and to have found the location of their classrooms.  

Students will be registered automatically in their FP courses by the  Foundation Program Registration Office. 

Classroom numbers are given in the timetables provided by the  Deanship of Admissions and Registration (A&R). 

On the first day of classes, students should go to their classrooms with  their stationery (pens, pencils and papers) to meet their teachers who  will explain the study program to them and arrange for distribution of course materials.  

It is very important for all the students to know their teachers' names,  office numbers, and telephone extension numbers. Students should  also find out the titles and codes of their courses. They should write all  this information down in a notebook. 

Very Important Notes 

• All students who are doing the Foundation Program have to  complete its requirements in no more than two academic years, that  is from the beginning of the first fall semester to the end of the  summer semester of the second academic year. 

• In order for a student to move from one level to a higher level in  FPEL courses, s/he has to pass with at least a grade of (C-). 

 • If a student scores Band 5 in IELTS (with a minimum of 4.5 per  skill), s/he can present the certificate to  the IELTS Centre and the Registration Office in the CPS for the  possibility of being exempted from completing the English  Foundation Program. Students with lower scores are not allowed to  ask for exemption. 

The Foundation Program includes a large number of staff with  expertise in teaching on a number of programs and courses. Each  course in the FP is headed by a Course Leader (CL) who administers  the course. It is important for students to know the name of the CL of their Foundation Program course because it may be necessary for  them to consult with the CL on certain matters.  

Visiting your teacher 

Students may need to visit their teacher in his/her office to discuss  topics that they may not have understood in class. They can see  their teacher during his/her office hours. Teachers put their  timetables (indicating their office-hours) on their office-doors.  Students should note these timings (as well as their teacher's office  number) so that they can arrange to visit the teacher when s/he is  most likely to be there. Students are advised to send emails to their  teachers to arrange for appointments. 

Student Affairs Officer (CPS)  

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. 

What should you do when you have a problem? 

The Foundation Program assists students with problems they may  encounter during their study. Students should follow the procedure below when they have a problem: 

∙ First, the student should go to his/her course teacher to explain  the problem and ask for help. 

∙ If the teacher is unable to help with the problem, the student can  then refer the problem to the Course Leader (CL) in the  Foundation Program. 

∙ If the CL cannot help with the problem, the student should then go  to the Student Affairs Officers in the CPS for English courses or  the registration officers in the Foundation Program Unit for  Mathematics and IT courses. 

∙ If a Student Affairs Officer is unable to help, the student should  seek the help of the Head of Department or the Deputy Director of  Academic Programs who may refer the matter to the Student  Advising and Registration Department in the CPS.  

∙ Only if the matter remains unresolved, should the student contact  the Director of the CPS. 

For problems regarding credit courses (non-FP courses), students  should consult the CL as well as the academic advisor assigned to  him/her in the colleges.

Registration of Foundation Program courses is done  automatically by the registration officers in the Foundation  Program. It is not allowed for students to change their timetable  of the FP courses except for serious reasons which need approval. Please note that a student cannot enroll in a college  major course until s/he finishes the foundation program.  

Concurrent registration in university courses and foundation program courses is as follows:

a) Registration in other university courses is done through the registration website of the Admission and Registration Deanship after completing registration in foundation program courses.

b) Students are not allowed to register for credit courses in their colleges before completing the foundation program courses: English, Mathematics, Information Technology and Study and Life Skills.

c) Students are allowed to register for university requirements such as Arabic language, Islamic civilization, and other university elective courses upon reaching level 6 in the English Foundation Program.

Attendance

 An Absentee Failure Notice is issued (and the student is given a  "FW" grade) when a student is absent for: 

- more than 20% in courses with a total of less than 75 teaching  hours (such as FPCS) 

- more than 15% in courses with a total of 75 to 150 teaching hours  (e.g. FPMT courses, FPEH0603 or FPES0603). 

- more than 10% in courses with a total of more than 150 teaching  hours (most other FPEL courses).

Electronic "Warning Notices" are also sent to students when they  have missed a certain percentage of their classes. Students may  then also be referred to the Student Affairs Coordinator for advising. 

The "Absentee Failure Notice" is also sent to the student  electronically. It should be noted that the student will be recorded  absent even if s/he is absent for a valid reason such as sickness or  a driving test. 

Lateness Policy 

1. Students coming to class within the first ten minutes will be  marked late. If a student comes to class late three times, s/he will be  marked absent for one hour. 

2. Students coming to class after the first ten minutes will be  marked absent for one hour and will be allowed to attend the class if  they choose to do that. 

3. Students coming to class after the first thirty minutes will be  marked absent for two hours and may not be allowed to attend the  class. 

Mass Absences 

Some students put pressure on other students to get agreement for the whole class to miss a lecture on a certain day. These students falsely believe that mass absence will not be recorded.  

In fact, mass absence is not tolerated by the university. In the case  of mass absence, all student absences will be recorded and this  could result in students receiving warning notices or being barred  from the final test - and consequently failing the course and  repeating it. 

Use of cell phones in the classroom 

It is obvious that a ringing cell phone creates a disturbance during a  lesson. Therefore, all cell phones must be switched off during class  or an examination. If this regulation is not followed, the teacher may  

ask the student to leave the class and may take certain actions  against the student. During an examination, students are required to switch off their cell phones and to hand them over to the invigilator. Students must collect their phones at the end of the exam. 

Cheating in a Test 

One of the responsibilities of an invigilator during an examination is  to provide a calm atmosphere in the exam venue for students to  concentrate and to perform at their best. Students’ performance in  the test should reflect their own effort and ability. Therefore, cheating  is not tolerated under any circumstances.  

If a student is caught cheating, the invigilator has the right to take the student’s exam paper, and to implement any measures needed  to restore an atmosphere suitable for the examination to proceed. 

Repeating Courses 

• If a student fails a course or is barred from one, s/he will have only  one opportunity to repeat it. This means that students cannot  attempt the same course more than twice. 

• If a student fails a course twice, s/he will be asked to study  FPEL0700 (for English), then sit the Exit Test or resit the final exam  (for Mathematics and IT). 

Skipping a level (English Language Only) 

Students who get an A grade (or A-) in FPEL0120 or FPEL0230  courses are given a chance to sit a test (the Challenge Test) on the  next course. If they score a grade C or above in this test, they can  skip the course and proceed to the next one. For example, if a  student gets an A or A- in FPEL 0120, s/he can sit the FPEL 0230  Challenge Test soon after the results are announced. If the student  scores a ‘C’ or above in this Challenge Test, s/he can move directly  to FPEH/S0450 (instead of taking FPEL0340).  

Note, however, that Challenge Tests are available for students who  score A or A- in FPEL 0120 and FPEL 0230 only. 

It is worth noting here that a student can be exempted from the  English Foundation Program if s/he obtains any of the following  certificates: 

• International Academic IELTS with an overall score of Band 5 and certain criteria which include  academic achievement, discipline, commendable behavior and  commitment.

Student Awards

The CPS FP may reward students for excellence in academic performance in all courses according to certain criteria which include

academic achievement, discipline, commendable behavior and commitment.

Dress Code for Male & Female Students

The university dress code for male students for all lectures,

examinations and university functions is a white dishdasha and turban or kuma.

The university dress code for female students for all lectures, examinations and university functions is modest dress.

A student may be allowed to withdraw temporarily from the  university by requesting a formal postponement of study, for one  semester renewable for a second semester. Postponement may be  granted upon approval by the Assistant Dean of the College in  consultation with the Deanship of Admissions and Registration for  the following reasons: 

Health, psychological, pregnancy and family reasons or other  compelling circumstances. 

Supporting documentation from authorities such as the student’s guardians/parents, the Counseling & Guidance Centre or a health  clinic are required.  

Extension of postponement beyond two semesters may be granted  in exceptional circumstances. Postponement is not normally granted  during the first semester.  

If a student does not return to the University after the approved period, his/her enrollment may be withdrawn. 

It is the responsibility of the student or his/her family to notify the  University of any request for extension. Subsequent re-admission  will be considered on an individual basis. 

A student may rejoin the university only at the beginning of a  semester under the customary procedures for registration. When a  postponement has been approved, a special grade of 'OP' will be  entered and the date of postponement noted on the transcript.  Postponement will not be granted merely to avoid failing grades. 

The final exams are conducted in the 15/16th weeks of each  semester for the Foundation Program courses (English,  Mathematics and IT). The time and date of these exams are  announced by the teachers in the Foundation Program, but they can  also be found through the A&R website as well as SQU Portal. 

Students can obtain their results of the FP final exams from the  Admission and Registration website (student portal) about a week  after the semester ends. 

Final Examination Policy 

Late Arrival 

Depending on the exam, a student is allowed to enter the  examination room up to and during the first 30 minutes from the start  of the exam. However, no extra time will be given for its completion.  Students arriving later than 30 minutes will not be allowed to sit the  exam. 

General Rules for Examinations  

• Students must bring their national/university ID cards to all exams.  Those who do not comply may not be allowed to sit the exams. • Presentation of a sickness note cannot be accepted as a valid  reason for absenteeism from an examination unless there was  hospitalization or other evidence of extreme illness (the presentation  of a sick note from a clinic is not accepted). 

• Bereavement of immediate relatives (viz., parents, brothers,  sisters, spouse or child) before the examination may be accepted as  a reason for absenteeism subject to verification by official  documents and provided that such bereavement took place not  more than 4 days before the examination. Bereavement certificates  will not be accepted for relatives of the second degree. • Excuses such as not having transport, oversleeping, not knowing  the examination venue are NOT acceptable and the student will be  awarded a zero for that particular exam. 

• Missing a final exam with no valid reason, would mean repeating  the course. 

Answer Sheets 

• Students must ensure that they have transferred their answers to  the answer sheet before the end of the exam. No extra time will be  given at, or after the end of the exam, to transfer the answers.  Answers that are not transferred to the answer sheet may not be  marked.

Students have the right to appeal against grades that they obtain  within 2 weeks from the official announcement of the results. The appeal process shall proceed strictly as follows: 1. Students must complete an online Grade Appeal Form available  from the CPS website (Note there are different links for FP and  Credit English, Mathematics and IT).  

2. The online appeal goes to a departmental committee for follow up. 

3. This committee reviews all spreadsheets and test papers. 

4. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to the student by email. 

5. If there is a request for a change of grade, the committee will  inform A&R. 

6. Students must accept the findings of the committee as final. 

University life is rich with various experiences and so it offers many  opportunities for learning. Thus, students should make use of every  opportunity to upgrade their level of academic and practical  experiences. The FP office encourages all students to use all the  available facilities to enhance their educational and learning  outcomes.