Medical education and requirements for entering and studying medicine in Oman
The requirements for entering medical education and getting admitted to the universities of Oman is not easy for international job seekers, as local students can usually enjoy free education. But the criteria which are required for international students (non-Omani students) for studying medicine are as follows.
Students who have an experimental degree or individuals with a bachelor’s degree in basic sciences or medicine must be recognized by the OMSB – Oman Medical Specialty Board.
Students must be able to successfully complete their high school education.
Applicants for medical education must be able to pass the International Foundations of Medicine (IFOM) elective exams.
Students must take part in an interview which is held by the Specialized Education Committee.
Finally, students should participate in a 7-year course with 2 years of medical study, 2 years of basic
science education and 2 years of clinical education, respectively. Clinical training is provided in hospitals and clinics of the Ministry of Health of Oman which are located in Sohar and Rostagh. Graduates are required to complete a one-year clinical internship at the hospital after graduation and before receiving a medical license or taking specialized courses as a physician. After graduation, students undergo clinical internships under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, specialized medical training is provided under the supervision of the Oman Medical Specialty Board.
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Medical Education in Oman and Medical Universities
Oman does not have many prominent universities, some of the most important universities in Oman that offer medicine are introduced below.
- Oman Medical college
Oman Medical college was established in 2001. A private higher education institution which is located in Muscat. This university has institutes that offer medical courses. It should be noted that this university has had a uniRank policy for 18 years, which is related to the rank of the university, and getting admitted to this university is completely optional and is based on entrance exams, academic records, and the students’ previous scores/grades. This university is ranked 19th in the country and 9427 in the world. This college offers medical programs for 7 years and pharmacy programs for 5 years.
- Sultan Qaboos University in Oman
One of the best universities that offers medical and dental education in Oman is Sultan Qaboos University. This university is located in Muscat province and is the only public university in Oman. This university has started its activity in 1982 and since 1986 the first students have been able to enroll in this university. Sultan Qaboos Medical University is one of the largest medical schools and colleges with separate goals and chapters, including undergraduate, graduate and higher education programs in medical fields with the goal of training and educating professional and experienced physicians.
Medical fields and programs are divided into different sections, which include specialization in Cardiovascular, infectious diseases, lung and respiratory diseases, kidney and urinary tract, gastrointestinal, oncology, endocrinology and metabolism, and…
It is worth mentioning that students are eligible to continue their studies at this university based on their performance in the final exams in high school. Regarding the global ranking of this university, it can be said that based on the global ranking of universities in 2019, the QS Institute has ranked Sultan Qaboos University 450th in the world.
Medical education in Oman and the required documents for university admission
In order to get admitted to the universities of Oman, the required documents must be submitted according to what documents the university will ask for. Usually the most important documents requested from students include the following.
Applicants for medical education in Oman must get a letter of recommendation.
Students and applicants must submit a letter from their sponsor (financial supporter) which confirms that students are continuing their education in Oman.
Applicants for university admission in Oman must be relatively fluent in English and have an IELTS score of 6.5.
In some study programs in Oman, students will need to know a little bit of Arabic.
Applicants must have sufficient financial support to be able to provide their education and living expenses throughout their training program.
Presenting an education certificate and a 12-year diploma
Presenting a valid passport and a copy of it
The applicant should get free health counseling (submit a letter of no criminal records)
Passing international exams for studying in medical fields
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The costs of medical education in Oman
Studying medicine in Oman’s private universities will cost far more than public universities. But the important thing to note is that international students can only study medicine at the country’s private universities. It is noteworthy that tuition fees can be quite different according to the fields of study and universities of Oman and even according to the degrees. Generally, the cost of studying medicine in Oman is between 9,000 Rials to 13,000 Rials in Oman. Tuition fees in medical fields vary from year to year, and it can be said that tuition fees will peak in the fourth and fifth years.
Medical education in Oman and other fields of medical sciences
Other medical fields are also popular and interesting for many people, so the study conditions in other paramedical disciplines are examined below.
- Study pharmacy in Oman
University of Nizwa has provided a written test and a Professional Practice Exam(PPE) to determine the qualifications of pharmacy graduates. In this exam, students who can get the minimum scores/grades will get the required qualifications to participate in clinical education. It should be noted that passing the pharmacy exam is mandatory for all graduates who intend to continue their studies in this field.
- Studying dentistry in Oman
In order to study dentistry in Oman, all applicants are required to present their qualifications and have at least a 12-year diploma.
People who are interested in studying dentistry should get a C in mathematics and a B in chemistry and biology. Applicants must also provide an IELTS 6.5 English language certificate.
Dentistry in Oman lasts for 5 years, and graduates of this field can get a job and work as a dentist after completing their training and clinical courses.
- Nursing education in Oman
SQU is a nursing college in Oman where students can get a bachelor’s degree in nursing after graduation. The college of Nursing in Oman accepts undergraduate students in two ways. One way is the direct way which students will enter the college after getting a high school diploma, and the other way is for students who have a diploma in nursing but wish to continue their education in this field. Therefore, they enter undergraduate nursing courses.
Medical education in Oman and getting a visa
International applicants for getting a student visas in Oman can apply for a student visa through their university admission. But in the meantime, international students must provide other required documents and qualifications, which we will mention later.
Applicants who want to study in Oman must nominate a local sponsor in this country. Their sponsors must take the responsibility for a foreigner during his / her studies. In addition, those who intend to continue their studies in Oman must have a valid passport which is valid for at least 6 months.
When it comes to student migration to Oman, a very important point is the date of issuance of the student visa and the date of presence and arrival of international students in this country. Normally, a student visa in Oman is valid for between one to two years, and in order to renew it, students must submit a letter which proves that they are continuing their studies in higher education institutions in this country. Earlier, in the required documents section, we gave detailed information about providing and presenting financial ability and sponsors for financial support during the studies of international students, and we explained the relevant points, including presenting passports and presenting diplomas.
Medical education in Oman and working after graduation
Oman, like other Arab countries, has an oil-based economy. Hence, Oman is looking forward to change its focus from oil sales. Therefore, this country is trying to boost the fishing and agricultural industries. Meanwhile, international students who are studying in this country can convert their student visa into a work visa during their studies and according to the laws of this country, which they can convert their visas after getting a work permit from employers and companies in Oman.
Doctors who work in Oman usually get an average monthly salary of about 4,134 Rials. Of course, the amount of salary varies between doctors’ professions. If you are interested in a particular profession in medicine, you can see their salaries in the table below
| General Practitioner | 3،401 |
| Internist | 5،235 |
| dermatologist | 5،845 |
| Nutritionist | 3،836 |
| Clinical Psychologist | 5،582 |
| Cardiologist | 6،881 |
| Neurologist | 4،621 |
| Obstetricians | 4،329 |
| Optometrist | 3،509 |
| Pediatrician | 4،201 |
| Physiotherapist | 2،818 |
| Anesthesiologist | 6،227 |
All of the incomes/salaries are in Omani Rials.
It should be noted that in order to reduce the unemployment rate in its country, Oman has reviewed the policies that are related to the employment of foreign workers and is trying to reduce its need for foreign labor and in return is trying to Strengthens the country’s native labor and professionals in order to enter the labor market as soon as possible. Unemployment rate in 2018 was estimated at about 3% in Oman
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