MUSCAT: The Higher Education Admission Centre at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation has announced that 6,367 students have been shortlisted to undergo admission tests, personal interviews, and medical examinations for 123 academic programs for the 2025/2026 academic year. Notifications were sent via SMS to inform candidates of their shortlisted programs and to provide guidelines for the assessment phase. These programs collectively offer 2,617 seats, reflecting competitive opportunities in higher education across Oman’s public and private institutions.
Officials clarified that being shortlisted does not guarantee admission. Final acceptance will depend on performance in interviews, tests, or medical examinations, subject to evaluation by respective educational institutions. Admission will be based on available seats and students’ competitive scores relative to other successful applicants. The centre emphasized that failure to attend an assigned interview or assessment—regardless of reason—will be considered a withdrawal from the selection process, potentially impacting the candidates’ admission status.
This announcement follows the conclusion of the preference modification phase for the 2025/2026 academic year, which closed last Thursday. A total of 43,060 applicants were registered in this cycle, comprising 20,081 male and 22,979 female students. The HEAC has highlighted the importance of careful preparation as shortlisted students proceed to the next stage, stressing the significance of active participation in required assessments to maximize admission prospects.
The centre confirmed that results of the initial sorting will be published on the evening of Tuesday, 19 August 2025. Following the announcement, students will need to complete their registration procedures by 12:00 PM on Sunday, 25 August 2025, at their allocated higher education institutions. This timeline underscores the structured approach adopted by the ministry to ensure transparent, merit-based admissions in support of Oman’s national education and innovation framework.
