Muscat – Medicine, business, engineering and computer science remain the most popular career choices for students from Oman. Within the humanities, students are interested in law, economics, international relations and political science.

The US Visa data indicates that there were 2,654 Omani citizens on student visas in the US in 2021.

Soraya Beheshti, regional director of Crimson Education, MENAT, said, “As per our records, there were approximately 16,000 students from Oman (expats and citizens) studying abroad. Approximately 2,300 students from Oman are currently studying in the UK.

“Our students have received 500+ Ivy League offers, 300+ Oxbridge offers, 3,000+ top 50 US offers and 100+ top UK offers in the past decade.”

According to Soraya, Oman too welcomes a large number of overseas students. Foreign students are enrolled in Sultan Qaboos University as well as private higher education institutions.

Among the many challenges that students face, Soraya said settling into a brand-new community tops the list. “There are many resources, clubs and networks available to students to overcome this. Students may elect to join religious groups, which can be a great source of like-minded friends, as well as cultural, linguistic, career-focused or interest groups.”

In some cities such as London and New York, she noted that it can be difficult for students to find housing. “We recommend students seek out options, join accommodation-focused Facebook and other community groups and apply for institutional accommodation as soon as possible.”

Another challenge lies in the contrasting curriculum. The Omani curriculum is not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Students completing the national curriculum are required to complete a foundation year prior to entering their degree programme. “This can be limiting, as foundation year programmes are less prestigious and not offered at all universities or for all subjects. Several Omani citizens have been able to bypass the foundation year requirement by studying for Advanced Placement (AP) exams with Crimson Global Academy. Students who complete 3-4 APs and the SAT or ACT exam are eligible to apply directly to Bachelor’s programmes,” Soraya said.

Omani students have numerous scholarships available, while other students can opt for financial aid at US universities. The financial aid system is unique to the US and more common and comprehensive than scholarship programmes at other universities.

“Crimson’s students have obtained over US$70mm in scholarships and financial aid and are accepted to Ivy Leagues and Oxbridge 4-7 times the usual rate,” Soraya added.