Oman
3 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Oman is an Arab country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Modern Oman is a young, growing country where the total population is 4.7 million, approximately 50% of which is under the age of 25. Oman is an increasingly urban country, with about 86% of the population living in cities. Close to half of the population lives in the Muscat (the capital) metropolitan area and half of that population are third country nationals—primarily from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—who perform most of the clerical, construction, and service sector jobs in the country. Oman has a developed economy that is reliant on the oil and gas sector, and it continues to pursue a diversification strategy to expand other critical industries such as tourism, manufacturing, logistics, mining, and fisheries. Oman is a Muslim nation, with many observing the Ibadhi sect of Islam (practiced only in Oman and Zanzibar—a former overseas holding of Oman). There are also Sunni and Shia followers in the country, as well as Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and others. Oman is a highly literate country with a literacy rate of 95.7%; before 1970—when Sultan Qaboos took the throne—Oman had only three formal schools in the entire country, with under 1,000 students. Today, Oman is one of the most stable partners the U.S. has in the Middle East and Arab World. As such, the goal of the Fulbright program is to continue to strengthen the U.S.-Oman relationship through educational and cultural partnerships.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Fulbright grants typically begin September and end June per the academic calendar, but flexible start and end may be possible subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Muscat.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a Pre-Departure Orientation in the United States in June or July as a condition of their grants.
The U.S. embassy will provide a security briefing upon arrival.
Candidate Profile
Applicants at all degree levels will be considered. Ideal applicants should propose a distinctive research project relevant to Oman that can be reasonably accomplished in 10 months. Although applicants are not required to have prior experience in Oman or in the Middle East, those who possess previous cross-cultural experiences and appropriate language skills may have a more enhanced research experience. There is a strong preference for those who have not previously held a Fulbright grant and who intend to promote long-term connections with Oman post-research.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
"Oman is a calm, peaceful, and picturesque country that provides Fulbrighters with a comfortable yet challenging grant experience. Oman has highly developed infrastructure, with widespread access to electricity, water, high-speed internet, and high-quality medical care. Major cities such as Muscat offer most amenities Americans are used to. Oman has multiple high-quality supermarkets and boasts various shopping malls, entertainment venues, good-quality hospitals, and social activities. As is the case in many countries across Europe and Asia, some food and sanitation products may be more expensive or unavailable due to differing trade requirements. Smaller cities, such as Nizwa, still offer multiple amenities, such as various restaurants, healthcare institutions, internet, electricity, and water, supermarkets, and outdoor activities. There is little public transportation development, meaning that visitors will either need to rent or buy a car or take a taxi. Taxis are widespread and inexpensive, and drivers are typically kind. By US standards, social norms are somewhat conservative. Locals and expats alike are expected to dress modestly. However, it is common to see expats dressing less modestly in some spaces, as well as Omani men and women wearing nontraditional clothing. There are multiple social activities indoors and outdoors. Muscat features a somewhat lively nightlife, with some locals and many expats consuming alcohol and going out to socialize in one of Oman’s various bars. Oman is known for being a beautiful country, and Fulbrighters are fully able to take advantage of a wide array of activities in nature, such as hiking, snorkeling, water skiing, scuba diving, and boating. There are many opportunities to speak and practice Arabic, and Omanis are usually elated to speak Arabic with a nonnative speaker. Research opportunities are also plentiful, though Fulbrighters should make sure to use WhatsApp to make connections, as it is a preferred medium of communication for Omanis and expats in the country.” (Benjamin, U.S. Fulbright Student, Oman, 2023-2024)
Please note that before students are awarded a grant, they must receive approval from the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), a process that can take a considerable amount of time.
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Though not required, proficiency in Arabic is recommended to better carry out the proposed research. Spoken Arabic is helpful but not required. The local dialect is a mixture of Gulf and Modern Standard Arabic. English is the medium of instruction in all public and private colleges and universities. Courses in the Colleges of Arts, Education, and Islamic Sciences are often taught in Arabic.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
No affiliation letter required at deadline
It is strongly recommended that applicants list preferred host institutions for their projects in their applications. Applicants may also provide an affiliation letter. However, no affiliation letter is required and all host affiliations must be approved by Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as such, the Government of Oman and the host institutions will make the final selections and placements, which will require additional time. The U.S. Embassy in Muscat will facilitate the final arrangements in placing grantees at the appropriate academic institution.
Potential host institutions include:
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Modern College of Business and Science
- National University for Science and Technology
- University of Nizwa
- Dhofar University
- Sohar University
- A’Sharqiyah University
Please note that the Fulbright Program in Oman will not communicate directly with the universities and colleges or facilitate communications for applicants. However, the program team can answer general questions about Oman, universities, and colleges. Applicants may communicate with the higher education institutions directly. Applicants who are interested to connect with potential contacts at host institutions can email Hala El Bingawi, Cultural Affairs Assistant, at ElBingawiHM@state.gov for additional information and guidance.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
The monthly amount includes housing costs in country.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
The amount of the grant is adequate for the cost of living in Oman.
Dependents
Dependent financial support includes a modest increase in the monthly stipend. However, grantees must receive approval for dependents and must independently cover costs for dependent travel and school enrollment.
Grantees may consider enrolling their school-aged children in private international schools that offer courses in English at the grantees’ expense. Local schools can only accommodate Arabic-speaking students. Applicants interested in bringing school-aged dependents can contact Hala El Bingawi, Cultural Affairs Assistant, at ElBingawiHM@state.gov for additional information.
Housing Arrangements
The host institution will not provide housing but the Embassy's Public Affairs Unit will assist grantees in locating nearby and appropriate housing. All housing must be approved by the Embassy's Regional Security Office (RSO).
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Field of Study Restrictions
Proposals in all fields are welcome, with the following caveats: any subject related to politics is not recommended; and projects focused on social anthropology, religion, media, and governance may present issues depending on the specific nature of the proposal. Candidates with such proposals are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy early in the application process.
Research Clearance/Visa Requirements
Individual academic institutions are not able to grant permission for off-campus fieldwork. Students wishing to conduct field research will need a permission from, and should seek affiliation with, the pertinent ministry dealing with their project area. Allow plenty of time for such clearances.
Grantees will be requested to send their passport copies, photos, and curricula vitae to the U.S. Embassy before their arrival, and the Embassy will forward the documents to the host institutions in order to facilitate the visa issuance process.
Security Information
Oman, in general, is considered to be one of the safest countries in the Gulf. For latest travel advisories for Oman, please refer to the State Department’s Country Information for Oman.