Muscat: The Higher Education Admission Center at the Ministry of Education has disclosed the outcomes of the initial admission phase for the 2026/2027 academic year targeting General Education Diploma holders and their equivalents. A total of 33,031 students have been extended academic offers, which accounts for 70.4% of the 46,934 successful applicants.
According to Oman News Agency, the students were informed of their results via SMS and were advised to check their admission statuses and the latest competitive cut-off scores for their selected programs through the student registration portal of the admission system.
Ahmed Mohammed Al Azri, Director General of the Higher Education Admission Center, highlighted in a press release that the first admission round reflects an expansion in available opportunities for graduates. The total number of academic seats available reached 34,113, indicating a 17% growth from the previous year. This increase coincided with a rise in the number of offers, growing from 27,537 last year to 33,031, marking a growth rate of approximately 20%.
He explained that more than 70% of eligible applicants securing an offer in the first round points to the abundant admission opportunities available, with further chances expected in subsequent stages. Offers were distributed across government institutions, domestic and external scholarships, with government institutions receiving the majority share of 17,430 offers.
Al Azri reported that 1,082 seats remained unfilled, which is 3.2% of the total seats, due to insufficient applicants meeting specific program requirements. He clarified that filling these seats depends on factors such as students' qualifications, preferences, and competitive cut-off scores. Efforts will continue to fill available seats in later rounds.
The Director General noted that the most competitive programs, like medical, health, and education, showed high cut-off scores. Specifically, General Medicine at Sultan Qaboos University had cut-off scores of 98.15% for males and 99.2% for females. Other competitive fields included Oral and Dental Surgery and various education specializations.
Following the announcement, students are encouraged to complete their registration at respective institutions within the designated period from August 20 to August 24, 2026. The failure to register on time will lead to a forfeiture of the offer. The Center emphasized ongoing opportunities through subsequent rounds and offered a preference modification service from August 27 to August 30, 2026.
The Center will accommodate second-session students and holders of non-Omani certificates whose results are released after the first round. The self-financed admission track will also be available for the second year, with a dedicated guide issued for interested students. Registration for self-financed programs runs from September 8 to September 10, 2026.
Al Azri noted several enhancements in the admission system, including improved data management and program search functions, supported by manuals and digital platforms to aid students and families in the registration process.
