Study abroad checklist: Eligilibility and requirements

Getting into your university of choice can seem complicated at first. You might need to translate your school's qualifications into something the destination university can understand. You can divide it into two parts: academic skills and language skills.

If your English or Academic qualifications are not high enough for the courses you want to study, do not worry: there are options available to help with this.

To understand your academic eligibility, you need to convert the qualifications you have into something that can be understood by all universities. Oman has an excellent education system. With a good high school education, you should expect to be eligible for most courses with the possible addition of a foundation year.

Universities process applicants from all international students, including Omanis, on a case-by-case basis. If you do not line up perfectly with their requirements, you should contact them.

To make sure all of their students will get the most out of their course, countries and universities often ask for proof of English skills. The two tests generally accepted by universities are TOEFL and IELTS, but others are available. Many universities now also accept Duolingo English scores.

Some universities require specific types of test, so it is best to check with your university before you take a test. Here is a guide, on a different website, to help you pick your course.

For guidance, the UK minimum requirement is B2, but this can vary by university or course.

It is normal to find that your school's qualifications do not perfectly align to the requirements of your destination university. Lots of universities offer foundation, pathway or English courses either themselves or through partnerships with other institutions like INTO, Kaplan, Shorelight and more.