• A bachelor's degree (BSc) in geology, geophysics, and related subjects from Sultan Qaboos University or a recognized university
• A cumulative GPA of not less than 2.5 on a 4-point scale as detailed below:
  • 2.75 to 4.00 on a 4-point scale or equivalent grade (without work experience).
  • 2.50 to 2.74 on a 4-point scale or equivalent grade (two or more years of work experience).
• English proficiency test result or certificate with a score of at least 550 in TOEFL or 6.0 in academic IELTS. For more information please visit https://www.squ.edu.om/ps

1. Attested bachelor degree (BSc) certificate
2. Attested bachelor degree (BSc) official transcript
3. English proficiency test certificate
4. Curriculum vitae (CV)
5. Passport
6. Identification card
7. A personal passport-size photo with blue or white background

The main objectives of this program are to provide a postgraduate level training in Petroleum Geosciences which are:

• Relevant to the needs of the oil and gas industry in Oman and the Gulf Region,
• Integrated with the day-to-day activities of the oil and gas industry,
• Professional training in petroleum geosciences such as in the fields of siliciclastic and
• carbonate sedimentology, diagenesis and sequence stratigraphy, structural geology and
• geophysics, and basinal studies, and
• Capability to meet contemporary business challenges of the Gulf region.

The petroleum industry is the largest potential employer of earth science graduates in Oman and overseas. During the MSc program, our students normally have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills that are needed in the petroleum industry and thus higher their chances in local and international oil and gas companies in Oman for gaining jobs.

Master students in SQU are required to pay tuition fees. For more information please visit https://www.squ.edu.om/ps/en-us/ProspectiveStudents:

1. Tuition fees (Omani Student)

For Omani students, the fees are 90 OMR per credit hour and 840 OMR for the thesis

2. Tuition fees (International Student)

For international students, the fees are 120 OMR per credit hour and 1120 OMR for thesis

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The MSc degree of science in petroleum geosciences consists of eight taught courses; four cores (compulsory) and four electives (option) (equivalent to 24 credit hours; 3 credit hours each) during the first year for full-time students and two years for part-time students followed by an independent research project (thesis; equivalent to 6 credit hours) which begins during the second year for full-time students and in the third year for part-time students. The research project (thesis) will be carried out in collaboration with the petroleum industry, government ministries, etc. If the student has an industrial sponsor, the thesis can also be carried out in collaboration with the sponsor. Thesis writing will be examined and evaluated.

The Department of Earth Sciences offers an MSc degree in Petroleum Geosciences for full-and part-time students. It spans over a period of two years for full-time and up to three years for part-time students. The academic year starts at the beginning of the fall semester (usually in September) each year. There are two semesters per year; fall-semester (usually in September) and spring-semester (usually in January). For more information, please refer to the academic calendar https://www.squ.edu.om/ps

* Elective 1: ERSC6109 (Description and Prediction of Reservoir Quality)

* Elective 2: ERSC6002 (Geowriting and Research Methods)

Students enrolled in the Petroleum Geosciences MSc program must give two seminars during their studies. These seminars will enable students to receive constructive feedback from faculty and students, and they should help them to develop their argumentation and presentation skills.

First Seminar

The first seminar should but not be limited to cover the research's background, objectives, and methodology. The student and the main supervisor must enter the date and approve the completion of the first seminar in the portal.

The first seminar must be held before the end of the first semester of thesis registration. It is usually scheduled on Thursday of week 13 of each semester.

1. Fill the form not later than Thursday of week 12 of the semester.
2. Use the seminar template.
3. Communicate with your supervisors at least one week before your scheduled seminar date to discuss and revise your PPts.

Second Seminar

The second seminar should but not be limited to include a summary of the research and the main findings. The student and the main supervisor are required to enter the date and approve the completion of the second seminar in the portal.

The second seminar for the master's program must be held before the thesis defense. It is usually scheduled on Thursday of week 10 of each semester. If you are ready for the second seminar, you are required to:

1. Fill the form not later than Thursday of week 9 of the semester.
2. Use the seminar template.
3. Communicate with your supervisors at least one week before your seminar date to discuss and revise your PPts.

The examination of master’s and doctoral theses may take place in either semester,
between semesters or in the summer break, subject to the availability of the
Examining Committee members.

Before initiating the procedure for the thesis examination

The student and supervisors must ensure that:

1. The student completed all required program courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0,
2. The student must have also completed the two required seminars and are entered into the portal and approved by the main supervisor,
3. Ensure that the unused grades (any taken courses outside of the degree plan of the MSc program) are approved, and
4. The progress report is entered into the portal by the student and approved by the main supervisor.

During initiating the procedure for the thesis examination

The student and supervisors must ensure that:

5. Enter the title and abstract both in Arabic and in English into the portal,
6. The main supervisor and co-supervisors must approve the thesis readiness,
7. The main supervisor may nominate the external and internal examiners,
8. Schedule the thesis examination day, date, and time, and place of examination,
9. Handle the printed copies of the thesis to the thesis examination committee, i.e., chairperson, main supervisor, external examiner, and internal examiner. The student and the main supervisor are responsible for handling the thesis copies to the examination committee before the day of examination with enough time,
10. The external examiner must be a Ph.D. holder with teaching experience from outside the department. He/she can be from outside the Sultan Qaboos University and can also be outside of Oman. The external examiner who is from outside of Oman must be an associate professor. If the external examiner is from outside Sultan Qaboos University, the CV of the nominated external examiner must be submitted. The internal examiner is from the department or affiliated with the department and must be at least an associate professor. The chairperson will be appointed by the Assistant Dean of postgraduate, and    
11. This information detailed in points 5 to 9 must be forwarded to the postgraduate studies committee in the college for acceptance and later send to the Dean through the Assistant Dean for approval at least one month from the date of the second seminar and one month before the examination date; therefore, the main supervisor must email all this information to the departmental postgraduate coordinator before that with enough time.

During the thesis examination

Involvement in the thesis defense is limited to members of the Thesis Examining Committee. However, members of the Thesis Supervision Committee may attend the defense, which includes the following procedures:

13. Preliminary Session: The Examining Committee goes briefly over the Thesis Report and assigned grades using the adopted rubrics for the MSc thesis assessment before inviting the candidate into the room.
14. Thesis Presentation Session: This session started by inviting the student to conduct the thesis presentation. The presentation should be delivered in which is not exceeding half an hour covering the thesis objectives and major findings.
15. Question Session: The Chair regulates the time so that the whole process should not exceed three hours. At the end of the question session, the student is requested to leave the room.
16. Decision Session: The thesis examination committee decides by majority vote to place the thesis in one of four categories (a) pass, (b) pass pending minor revision, (c) deferred pending major revision, and (d) no pass, using the adopted rubrics for the MSc thesis assessment.
17. Result announcement: The thesis examination committee may invite the student and announce the result.

After the completion of the thesis examination

18. The thesis examination committee members are requested to enter and submit the thesis examination report in the portal,
19. In case that the external examiner is from outside of Sultan Qaboos University, the main supervisor is responsible for entering and submitting the thesis examination report in the portal on behalf of the external examiner,
20. The main supervisor, external examiner, and internal examiner must submit their detailed report to the chairperson and the student. The main supervisor, external examiner, and internal examiners are advised to handle the annotated thesis to the student detailing their comments, correction, and feedback,
21. The chairperson must prepare a report at the end of the examination that summarizes the proceedings and submit it to the Assistant Dean of Postgraduate, who forwards it to the Deanship of Postgraduate within one week from the end of the examination,
22. The student should communicate with the main supervisor to get the thesis examination reports,
23. The student must implement all the required comments and corrections and submit the final thesis copies within one month from the thesis examination date.

Repeating Thesis Examination

24. When the examination committee’s decision is “deferred pending major revisions”, is assigned, the second defense in front of the same Examining Committee is required within a maximum of three months from the date of the first defense. In the second defense, the committee will place the thesis in one of three categories: (a) pass, (b) pass pending minor revisions, or (c) no pass, using the adopted rubrics for the MSc thesis assessment.

After the implementation of the required corrections on the thesis by the student and approval by the supervision committee, the student must:

25. Visit the Deanship of Postgraduate to check the thesis editing and formatting before the final printing,

26. Provide six bound copies of the final version in the correct format; 2 copies must be submitted to the department to the postgraduate coordinator, 1 copy to the college Assistant Dean of Postgraduate office, and 2 copies to the Deanship of Postgraduate Office. In addition, each hard copy must have an electronic copy of the thesis and abstract in Arabic and English in pdf and Docx formats.