🇴🇲Oman Intelligence
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026.
Visas granted (2025)
1,010
Year-on-year change (2025)
+0.1% — flat but stable
Refusal rate (2025)
0.8% — near-zero compliance risk
Uniquely diversified
Bachelors 43.6% · Below Bach. 29.8%
Student Visa Applications vs Visas Granted — Oman 2020 to 2025
Source: Home Office Immigration Statistics. Applications are visa applications submitted to UKVI, not university applications.
Note: Oman is one of the most stable markets in the dataset — volumes have remained between 946 and 1,053 every year since 2020 with effectively zero refusal rates throughout. In several years grants actually exceed applications due to timing differences — the cleanest compliance record of any Gulf market.
2025 grants by course level
Note: Oman has the most evenly distributed course level mix of any Gulf market and the second highest Below Bachelors proportion at 29.8% — reflecting a large foundation and language programme pipeline. The Doctoral market at 5.5% is the third highest of any market after Saudi Arabia and Italy.
Bachelors vs Below Bachelors vs Masters vs Doctoral — 2020 to 2025
Note: Bachelors has been declining since 2020 — down 28% from 612 to 440. Masters grew strongly from 2020 to 2023 then declined slightly. The most striking trend is Doctoral — growing 124% from 25 in 2020 to 56 in 2025 with a peak of 64 in 2024. This is the fastest Doctoral growth of any Gulf market.
Refusal rate by course level
Percentage of applications refused, 2020–2025. Negative values indicate more grants than applications due to timing differences.
| Course level | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors | -1.8% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.3% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Masters | -1.6% | 1.1% | -1.6% | 3.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Doctoral | -19.0% | 9.5% | 0.0% | 5.1% | 1.5% | 3.4% |
| Below Bachelors | -2.2% | 0.9% | -2.0% | 0.3% | 1.5% | 1.0% |
Note: Oman has near-zero refusal rates across all course levels and all years. Masters refusal rate was literally 0.0% in 2025.
Quarterly visa grants — 2024 vs 2025
Note: Q3 dominates at 82% of annual volume in 2025. Q3 2025 grew 8% versus Q3 2024 — the primary positive signal in an otherwise flat year. Q4 declined 34% — worth monitoring as a leading indicator.
Oman Vision 2040 — Why UK Education Remains Strategically Important for Omani Students
Oman's approach to overseas education is shaped by Vision 2040 — the Sultanate's long-term national development strategy launched by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in 2021. Vision 2040 identifies human capital development as a central pillar of Oman's economic diversification away from oil dependency.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI) along with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education funds competitive overseas scholarships for Omani students in priority disciplines including Engineering, Health Sciences, Information Technology and Education. Critically, scholarship recipients must apply to universities approved by the relevant Ministry — meaning universities not on the approved list are excluded from this funding stream.
The UK remains a leading destination for Omani scholarship students due to the long historical relationship between the two countries, the quality of UK engineering and health science programmes, and the English language environment. The British Council has a strong Oman presence and the IELTS testing network is well established.
For universities seeking to recruit Omani scholarship students, verified approval status with MoHERI is the essential first step. Contact the Omani Embassy in London or the British Council Oman for guidance on approved institution status.
Sources: Ministry Approved Universities August 2025; British Council Oman; Oman Vision 2040.
Oman — The Most Significant Doctoral Growth of Any Gulf Market
Oman's Doctoral market has grown 124% since 2020 — from 25 grants to 56 in 2025 with a peak of 64 in 2024. This is the fastest Doctoral growth rate of any Gulf market in the dataset and reflects Oman's Vision 2040 commitment to building a knowledge economy through advanced research and postgraduate education.
Omani doctoral students in the UK are typically funded through Ministry scholarships or corporate sponsorship from major Omani employers including OmanOil, Omantel and Bank Muscat. Engineering, Environmental Science, Health Sciences and Computing are the dominant doctoral disciplines.
Research universities with strong REF profiles in these areas should actively target Omani doctoral applicants through the British Council Oman network and direct MoHERI relationships.
Source: Home Office Immigration Statistics year ending March 2026; British Council Oman 2025.
University Applications
Oman is a meaningful UCAS undergraduate market — Bachelors represents 43.6% of all visa grants though volumes have been declining since the 2020 peak of 612. The large Below Bachelors cohort at 29.8% — one of the highest in the dataset — represents a significant foundation and language programme pipeline. Universities with strong foundation pathway partnerships in Oman are well placed to capture students at the pre-degree stage and retain them through to undergraduate and postgraduate completion. Many Omani undergraduates also apply directly outside UCAS through institutional partnerships and agent networks.
Source: UCAS data; British Council Oman 2025.
Agent landscape
| Agent | Description |
|---|---|
| British Council Oman | Promotes UK education through Study UK brand with strong Muscat presence and IELTS network. Essential relationship for any university recruiting Omani students. |
| SI-UK Oman | UK specialist with Muscat office, strong Russell Group relationships. |
| IDP Education Oman | Global player with Muscat presence and strong IELTS network. |
| IELTS Oman | Large British Council and IDP testing network — strong student preparation pipeline. |
| Study Group Oman | Pathway provider with Omani student focus. |
| Kaplan International Oman | Language and pathway provider with Omani student base. |
| Al Manar Education | Muscat-based agent specialising in UK placements. |
| Future Bright Oman | Mid-market Muscat agent with UK university relationships. |
| ApplyBoard | Tech platform with growing Oman partnerships. |
| Keystone Education Group | Digital platform tracking Omani student interest in UK. |
Recruiter insights
- Most stable Gulf market in the dataset — volumes have remained between 946 and 1,053 every year since 2020. Reliable, predictable, low-maintenance.
- Near-zero compliance risk throughout — 0.8% overall refusal rate and Masters literally 0.0% in 2025. Perfect for BCA compliance purposes.
- Fastest Doctoral growth of any Gulf market — 124% growth since 2020. Research universities with Engineering, Health Science and Computing strengths should prioritise Omani doctoral recruitment and MoHERI relationships.
- Ministry approval is the gateway — universities not on the MoHERI approved list are excluded from the scholarship pipeline. Contact the Omani Embassy in London or British Council Oman to verify status.
- Below Bachelors pipeline at 29.8% is strategically important — one of the highest in the dataset. Foundation programme capacity for Omani students is a long-term feeder investment.
- Bachelors declining since 2020 — down 28%. The undergraduate market is contracting while Doctoral is growing. Shift recruitment strategy toward postgraduate and doctoral accordingly.
- Q3 dominant at 82% — almost entirely September intake. Year-round recruitment investment not justified.
- Vision 2040 is the strategic context — everything Oman does in overseas education connects to economic diversification. Engineering, Technology, Health and Education are the priority disciplines.
Source: Home Office Immigration Statistics year ending March 2026; British Council Oman 2025; Ministry Approved Universities August 2025; Oman Vision 2040.