MUSCAT : Registrations are also open for internal and external scholarships, and grants for the academic year 2025/2026.

The registration period begins on April 13 and will continue until June 1, 2025.

Students holding a General Education Diploma or its equivalent for the academic year 2024/2025 can register via the Centre’s website (www.heac.gov.om). They can review the academic programmes and specialisations available across Oman’s higher education institutions and select their preferences accordingly.

Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Azri, Director General of the HEAC, noted that the Centre released the official Student Guide at the end of March, which outlines all necessary registration and admission procedures, policies, and programme offerings. The guide also provides key advice for students during each stage of the registration and admission process and is available online via the Centre’s website and social media platforms.

He further highlighted updates to the admission system this year, notably the integration of two key programme listing screens into a new ‘View and Select Eligible Programs’ interface. This upgrade enables students to see only those programmes they qualify for and to easily arrange their selections based on preference.

Significant developments in admission policies include the allocation of certain academic programmes at branches of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) to students from specific governorates. For example, engineering and business-related programmes at UTAS Muscat will be designated for residents of Muscat Governorate, while similar allocations apply to UTAS branches in Nizwa and Al Musannah for residents of Al Dakhiliyah and South Al Batinah, respectively.

Other updates include the introduction of personal interviews for candidates applying to education specialization programmes at UTAS and a revised age limit of 23 years for applicants to the Military Technical College. Seats have also been reserved at the Oman College of Health Sciences for students with physical disabilities, and a specialized programme has been created for students with learning difficulties, contingent on institutional approval.

Al Azri pointed out that several institutions have adapted their offerings to align with the competencies of graduates from the General Vocational and Technical Education Diploma. Additionally, Sultan Qaboos University will announce its privately funded programmes following the first screening phase.

This year, 535 study programmes are available across various fields such as health, sciences, agriculture, engineering, IT, business, education, arts, and humanities. A guide detailing recommended minimum scores for programme eligibility—based on past admission trends and current student performance—is also set to be published soon, offering further support to students and their families.

Community awareness initiatives are underway, with awareness dialogue sessions targeting 800 career guidance specialists across Oman, running through April 23. These sessions aim to educate stakeholders on the latest changes to the admission process and ensure informed decision-making.

Al Azri urged students and parents to carefully review the Student Guide to ensure accurate and effective participation in the admission process, emphasizing the importance of understanding detailed information about programme requirements and eligibility criteria.

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