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General Descriptions per Broader Subject Area

External Scholarships Group A & B

Academic year 2014/15

CATEGORY: HEALTH

SUBJECT AREAS

Medicine (group A only) – page 3-4

Dentistry (group A only) - page 4

Optometry (group A only) – page 4

Podiatry (Group A only) – page 4

Prosthetics & Orthotics (group A only) – page 4

Occupational Therapy; Speech Therapy; Respiratory Therapy; Paramedic Science (group B only) –

page 5

Dietetics/Nutrition - page 5

Audiology (group B only) - page 5

Medical Imaging; Radiation Therapy Technology; Cardiovascular Technology; or Nuclear Medicine

- page 5

Biomedical Sciences (group B only) – page 6

Veterinary Medicine & Science (animal health) (group B only) - page 6

CATEGORY: PROCESS & RESOURCE ENGINEERING

SUBJECT AREAS

Petroleum Engineering or (Renewable/Sustainable) Energy Engineering – page 7

Chemical Engineering – page 7

Materials Engineering/Science or Mining Engineering (Group B only) – page 7

CATEGORY: OTHER ENGINEERING & RELATED TECHNOLOGIES

SUBJECT AREAS

Civil Engineering; Architectural Engineering; Structural Engineering; Transport Management or

Built Environment – page 8-9

Electrical Engineering & or related technologies – page 9

Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or Industrial Engineering – page 9

CATEGORY: BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SUBJECT AREAS

Architecture & or Design - page 11

Surveying – page 11

CATEGORY: NATURAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES

SUBJECT AREAS

Earth Sciences; Geology or Geosciences – page 12

Geography and/or Geographical Information Systems - page 12

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Geophysics or Meteorology or Geochemistry (group A only) - page 12

Statistics - page 12

Forensic Science (group B only) - page 13

Astronomy or Astrophysics – page 13

CATEGORY: COMPUTING/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OR RELATED PROGRAMS

SUBJECT AREAS

Computing/Computer Sciences; Information (Communication) Technology or related programs –

page 14-15

CATEGORY: BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES

SUBJECT AREAS

Business and/or Management Courses – page 16-17

International Business or Entrepreneurship/Business Enterprise (group B only) – page 17

Finance and/or related Courses – page 17

CATEGORY: SOCIAL SCIENCES

SUBJECT AREAS

Law and/or Criminology - page 18

Economics – page 18

Political Science or International Relations (group B only) – page 18

Psychology (group B only) – page 19

Special (Needs) Education – page 19

Translation (Arabic – English) (group B only) – page 19

CATEGORY: COMMUNICATION STUDIES

SUBJECT AREAS

Journalism; Media and/or Communication Studies – page 19

Graphic and/or Media Design; TV, Media and/or Film Production; Broadcasting or Museum

Studies – page 19

Public Relations; Marketing; Advertising or Events Management (group B only) – page 20

YOUR DECISION IS YOUR FUTURE While competitively applying for a scholarship at undergraduate level through the Higher Education

Admission Center, you can rank your program preferences, provided you meet the selection criteria, by

selecting minimum 12 and maximum 40 programs offered at selected overseas Higher Education

Institutions in certain study destinations (external scholarships and grants) and/or at one of the Oman

Higher Education Institutions (internal scholarships, seats and grants).

Nobody can predict whether you will be competitively selected for one of your preferred options in your

list, as you will be selected based on academic merit (grades) while there are a limited number of seats

per subject area. However, you are strongly advised to rank your preferences based on the program you

prefer and not primarily based on a certain preferred study destination and/or University. It is therefore

crucial to make a well-informed decision when it comes to choosing the type of degree program you wish

to study at a Higher Education Institution as it has to suit to your own talents and interests.

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Please note that this document concerns only the general descriptions of broader subject areas as

mentioned in the external scholarship section of the HEAC guidebook for the academic year 2014/15. You

are strongly advised to do further research into the specific courses and consult your careers advisors and

other people who are aware of your specific talents and interests.

The content of this section (external scholarships) has been researched and provided to the Higher

Education Admission Center (HEAC) by the External Scholarships Department and the Directorate-General

for Scholarships in cooperation with its overseas representatives, Oman Ministry of Higher Education.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the content of this document is accurate and up-to-date,

changes might be periodically made. These changes will be uploaded to the Higher Education Admission

Centre website.

Undergraduate External Scholarships cover up to the normal program duration on condition that the

recipient maintains a record of good academic performance and attendance.

HEALTH Are you a people person? Are you interested in becoming a healthcare professional who is deeply

interested in how to prevent and/or diagnose, and/or treat diseases that affect human beings? In other

words, are you interested to help other people when it comes to their health? Are you also willing to fully

dedicate yourself to a challenging and extensive study and you have a deep interest in the ‘hard’ sciences?

If the answer to all these questions is ‘yes’, then the programs that fall under the Health category might

be interesting options for you to explore. Scholarship Recipients competitive selected for either Medicine, Dentistry or Optometry or one of the

Health Sciences through the HEAC electronic system based on their grades, will have to realise that they

need to meet additional (University) requirements and can only be admitted to the course based on

meeting such requirements which could include an interview and/or additional entrance tests. Hence, the

Ministry of Higher Education cannot guarantee an acceptance by a University as these are highly

competitive subject areas.

Only upon successful completion of the interview and/or the Foundation Program which is mandatory for

at least General Education Diploma Certificate holders, students will be eligible to progress onto the first

year of the specific program. Should a student competitively selected for a scholarship within the Health

Category not be eligible to progress onto the program, he/she will be offered a related course provided

he/she meets the specific entry requirements of this particular program..

Medicine Medicine is an extremely challenging yet rewarding program of study for people with a deep interest in

how the human body works and in treating and taking care of people. Depending on your academic

background, the early part of a Medicine program will usually include a pre-medical course or ‘foundation

program’ to help you develop your basic skills and knowledge involving the themes that comprise the

basic disciplines of medicine. You might even have to start with an English language course first.

In most medical programs you learn the fundamentals of clinical practice, along with studying Medicine in

broad domains like applied science for medicine and clinical and communication skills. In addition to the

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study of science and the normal structure and function of the human body, you usually learn about the

psychology and sociology of illness and health. Medicine is essentially an applied science; and this means

that you will put theory into practice; hence, hospital placements (clinical rotations) and dealing with real

patients will be part of the program.

Again, studying Medicine involves extensive and dedicated study – you have to be prepared for long

hours of studying and hard work. Practicing Medicine can be great but is also challenging and stressful

and is suited to the few individuals who have an appetite for very hard work, long hours and a great

academic background. In order to be sure that Medicine is the right choice for you, you could talk with

some doctors (for example, hospital doctors, surgeons, general physicians) about what the job is really like

and/or discuss this with your family and your careers advisor.

Dentistry

Are you interested in becoming a healthcare professional who is specialised in preventing, diagnosing and

treating diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, gums, jaws and mouth? If so, then Dentistry

might be the right area for you. However, prospective Dentistry students must meet a set of rigorous

academic and professional requirements and usually course work on the undergraduate level includes

Science subjects such as anatomy, chemistry, physics, and biology. For GED-certificate holders the early

part of the Dentistry program will include a ‘foundation program’ to help you develop your basic skills

and knowledge while you might even have to start with an English language course first.

Optometry Optometrists are able to examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the eye.

They are healthcare professionals who can prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and medications to treat

eye disorders. As well as examining the eye for sight problems, the optometrist will look for illness and

disease related to the eyes. Optometry usually includes subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pathology,

pharmacology and medicine.

Podiatry

Podiatry: get involved in the medical care of the feet – as a podiatrist you could help people with

common foot problems.

Prosthetics & Orthotics Prosthetics & Orthotics: become an expert in the area of artificial limbs (body parts) and orthopedic

braces. Learn how to create devices for people who are in need of replacement of a limb and to assess,

diagnose and treat people requiring prosthetic and orthotic care

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HEALTHCARE STUDIES/SCIENCES You want to become a healthcare professional in order to help other people in need but becoming a

Doctor, Dentist, Optometrist or a Veterinary Surgeon would probably not suit you? Then you might want

to consider one of the Healthcare Sciences. Depending on the availability at the selected Higher Education

Institutions (HEIs) in the different study destinations, the Health Sciences could include the following

courses as indicated below.

Please do note that a scholarship allowing you to study one of the following Health Sciences does not

mean you will be able to change your specialisation to Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry or Veterinary

Science as the requirements are different.

Speech & Language Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Dietetics/Nutrition;

Respiratory Therapy; Paramedic Science or Audiology Speech & Language therapy; this course will enable you to assess and treat a variety of speech, language

and communication problems that humans may face.

Occupational therapy: occupational therapists focus on helping people who face challenges in carrying

out daily tasks and/or in achieving their goals in life because of an illness, disability or due to a lack of

opportunities.

Dietetics/Nutrition: become an expert who can apply knowledge in food and nutrition and learn more

about related areas in order to improve and maintain the good health of other people.

A Paramedic is a healthcare professional who is able to provide immediate medical assistance at an

accident or a medical emergency.

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing; for example, from a chronic

respiratory disease, such as asthma.

Audiology: audiologists help manage hearing and balance problems in people.

Medical Imaging; Radiation Therapy Technology; Cardiovascular Technology or

Nuclear Medicine Medical Imaging- medical imaging technologists are able to operate X-ray and other imaging

equipment to produce radiographic images which are used in the diagnosis and management of a

disease or injury.

Radiation therapy technology - radiation therapy technologists are able to assist other healthcare

professionals in treating diseases such as Cancer by exposing areas of patients' bodies to ionizing

radiation.

Cardiovascular Technology – cardiovascular technologists assist doctors in diagnosing and treating

cardiac (heart) and/or vascular (blood vessel) diseases.

Nuclear Medicine - nuclear medicine refers to medications that are attached to a radioisotope

(=radioactive material); it involves the use of small amounts of radioactive materials to help diagnose and

treat a variety of diseases.

Neuroscience – concerns the study of the nervous system;

Medical Physics - concerns the application of physics to physics to the treatment and diagnosis of

medical/health conditions.

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Biomedical Sciences Do you want to learn more about the processes that control the functions of a healthy human body; how

these processes are affected by diseases and how treatments are developed to treat or even prevent

these diseases? In general, the Biomedical Sciences combine the areas of Biology and Medicine. Biomedical scientists focus on how cells, organs and systems function in the human body and on how

biomedical knowledge can be best applied for medical use; for example, for the actual treatment of

diseases. Does this appeal to you and do you want to cover course subjects such as (for example as the

course content may differ per Higher Education Institution) Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular

Sciences, Neuroscience or Physiology? If so, then the Biomedical Sciences might be a suitable subject area

for you.

Veterinary Medicine & Science (animal health) Are you passionate about the health and well-being of animals? Do you want to be able to diagnose

whether an animal has a health problem, decide whether further tests are needed or even, should this be

necessary, conduct a surgery? Are you willing and able to work relatively long hours and do some

administrative work as well? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, then Veterinary (VET) Medicine

might be the right area for you. Please do bear in mind that it will not be ‘easy’ to get accepted by a VET

School. Scholarship applicants competitive selected for Veterinary Medicine through the HEAC electronic

system have to meet additional University entry requirements and can only be admitted based on an

interview to be conducted by the University and/or the Ministry of Higher Education. Only on successful

completion of this interview and the foundation program, students will be eligible to enter the VET school.

Should a student not be eligible, he/she will be offered enrolment in a related-program. The Ministry of

Higher Education cannot guarantee an acceptance by the University.

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PROCESS & RESOURCE ENGINEERING In a nutshell, many Engineering degree programs cover aspects related to the development,

improvement and maintenance of infrastructure, products and/or services that the society needs. As an

Engineer you are able to combine Science and Mathematics and you should be willing and able to solve

(often complex) problems by applying the knowledge and skills you gained. Engineers may end up working indoors while, depending on their type of job, they may also have to

spend time at outdoor locations to monitor operations and/or solve problems onsite. Undertaking

fieldwork may be part of your undergraduate degree program.

Petroleum Engineering or Renewable Energy Engineering Petroleum Engineering involves the extraction of oil and/or gas from below the Earth’s surface and its

processing. Petroleum engineers are often responsible for helping to find and drill new oil reserves so that

we all can, among others, continue driving our cars. These type of engineers may not only help determine

where a company should and should not drill for more of oil or gas, they should also be able to determine

the cost efficiency of the drilling project. Petroleum Engineers may work indoors, however (depending on

their type of job), they usually also spend time at drilling sites and they often may have to do so for long

periods of time. Undertaking fieldwork may be part of your undergraduate degree program. Another course that falls within this area is (Renewable) Energy Engineering. An energy engineer is

involved with the production of energy through natural resources, which could include the extraction of

oil and gas, but this could also be from alternative, renewable and relatively cleaner sources of energy

such as biofuels, hydro-electric, wind and/or solar power.

Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering involves chemical processes in which raw materials undergo a transformation into

useful ‘things’ that people want and/or need such as food & beverages, fibres, pharmaceuticals, plastics,

fuels or energy. Chemical Engineering should not be confused with Chemistry; it is a very broad (and

challenging) area of study that does overlap with Chemistry, but also with other types of Engineering and

Biochemistry. Depending on the specific course, while the curriculum (=course content) may be different

per Higher Education Institution, you may also learn how to keep the environment safe from possible

pollution and hazardous waste.

Materials Engineering or Mining Engineering Have you always been interested to learn why, for example, your IPhone has been made out of certain

materials or why it is designed in a particular way? Materials engineers or materials scientists study

material properties and are often responsible for the design, research, testing, processing and

development of materials used to create a range of products. Their expertise, which can be valuable to

different industries, lies in understanding the properties and behaviors of different materials, from raw

materials to finished products. This subject area is sometimes also referred to as materials science or

materials technology.

Mining Engineering involves the science of mining. You will learn more about the methods used to

remove or extract minerals, which have many important industrial uses, and/or other resources from the

Earth.

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OTHER ENGINEERING & RELATED TECHNOLOGIES

Iron Man (yes, from the movie) is not only a (although fictional) superhero but also a good Engineer. Depending on the course and the type of Engineering, you may study how ‘things’ are made and how

they could be improved; you may study the possibilities of new techniques and the usefulness of certain

‘things’ for human beings. Engineers can usually work across many industries as their analytical skills,

numeracy and practicality are sought after in different sectors. You will often require good skills in

mathematics and another science-subject in order to apply for one of the Engineering scholarships (see

the specific requirements per subject area). Engineers may end up working indoors while, depending on

their type of job, they may also have to spend time at outdoor locations (worksites).

Undertaking fieldwork might be part of your undergraduate degree program.

Please note that Computer Engineering and Software Engineering belong to the Information Technology

category.

Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering or related programs Civil Engineers are able to combine science, mathematics, design and creativity. They can be involved in

either the construction, design and/or supervision of major infrastructure projects which involve public

works or physical structures such as (for example) roads, bridges, railways, dams, buildings, water supply

and sewage disposal systems, power stations, ports, airports, hospitals, schools, and/or sports stadia.

Depending on the Higher Education Institution (HEI) and study destination, courses related to Civil

Engineering could, as this is subject to availability, also include ‘Construction Engineering’, which

usually combines Civil Engineering with Construction Management. Civil engineers may work indoors

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behind their computers but, depending on their type of job, they may also spend some time outdoors at

construction sites.

The related course Structural Engineering (subject to availability) concentrates on the built environment

and its structural integrity in order to ensure that structures are built in such a way that they stand up to

certain forces such as the wind, waves or even traffic. The course could include subjects such as surveying,

civil engineering and environmental science.

Architectural Engineers are able to apply scientific and engineering principles to the design and

construction of different types of buildings. Architectural Engineering overlaps with other subject areas

such as Civil and Mechanical Engineering, but it is specifically focused on the building industry. It is also

important to beware of the difference between Architecture and Architectural Engineering; while architects

design buildings; architectural engineers are experts in the design, planning, construction, and operation

of the engineering systems within buildings. Transport Management (Germany) is usually more

concerned with the planning and coordination of freight and transport operations. Built Environment

(Malta and not be confused with the below category ‘Built Environment’).); this course introduces a wide

range of disciplines; from architecture, structural or civil engineering, spatial planning, management,

environmental performance, to particularly materials and construction technology subjects.

Electrical Engineering & or Related Technologies Electrical and/or Electronic(s) Engineering involves the study of electrical energy and systems.

Depending on the course, it may involve the study of electronic devices, circuits or equipment such as, for

example, mobile phones, high definition televisions; MP3 players, electronic amplifiers, solar power

generators and/or embedded computer systems.

Electrical Engineering students may learn how to design and build electronic systems and/or machines

that generate, transmit, measure, control and use electrical energy. Electronic(s) Engineering involves the

study of devices and systems that use small amounts of electrical energy to analyse, transmit and store

information. Subject to availability and this differs per study destination (please check the separate codes

per destination), this area could also include Telecommunications or Communications Engineering

which usually concentrates on Internet and computing technologies, networking and telecommunications,

and radio.

Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering is a broad area of study. In a nutshell, Mechanical Engineers have learned how

mechanical (and thermal) devices work. Like many other engineers, they should be able to apply the

fundamentals of science and math to create/design practical, useful solutions or products that the rest of

us can use. Although the specific course content (curriculum) may differ per Higher Education Institution,

Mechanical Engineering courses may cover subjects such as materials, solid and fluid mechanics,

thermodynamics, heat transfer, control, instrumentation, design, and manufacturing in order for you to

understand how mechanical systems function.

Subject to availability, and this differs per study destination (please check the separate codes per

destination), this area could also include Mechatronics which is an interdisciplinary area that combines

mechanical, electrical engineering and computer science.

Industrial Engineers know how to improve, design, manage, evaluate, and test production systems. They

study how a product is made or a service is provided and how to improve the quality of those products

and services

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

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Architecture & or Design Architects are involved in the design, planning and construction of the building structures in which we

live, work, shop, learn, pray, play and/or entertain; they help create the built environment. Architecture

(sometimes referred to as Architectural Design) combines art with science; design with technical

knowledge, and can help you develop important problem-solving skills and communication skills.

Architects may have to work both indoors and outdoors.

Subject to availability, other courses within the broader subject area could include Landscape

Architecture which usually focuses on the design of gardens, parks, and/or other ‘open’ or outdoor

spaces. Generally speaking, landscape architects can help decide where to put things like trees, bushes,

buildings, paths, and roads. Also subject to availability, this area could include Interior Design

(sometimes referred to as Interior Architecture) which focuses on the design of interior environments to

make them both functional and ‘attractive’ for people to make use of them. Think, for example, of the

interior of homes, shopping malls, airports, schools and so on. Land Planning & Development (New

Zealand) covers subjects such as Land Development Engineering, Geographic Information Systems, Urban

Design and Surveying.

IMPORTANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLYING TO ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMS

For Architecture programs, you need a reasonable grade in either Pure Mathematics and/or Physics in

order to competitively apply as these subjects are an indicator of the analytical thinking skills while an

assumed knowledge in these subjects is often beneficial in order to make academic progress. Please also

note that many, if not most, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) offering Architecture usually require you

to present an Art Portfolio as well and/or to sit for an interview or provide them with a personal

statement. By a portfolio they usually refer to the reproductions of your previous art and/ or design work

although this is usually not expected to be work of an architectural nature.

Instead, the HEI representatives (who will make the final decision about your admission) will usually want

to see something that shows your interests, experience and ability in the arts. Should you not get

accepted onto the Architecture program based on these additional entry requirements, you will have to

progress onto one of the related courses, provided you meet the (specific course) entry requirements.

Surveying Perhaps you have seen these men or women stand beside the road looking through some kind of a

telescope? Basically, Surveying, also sometimes referred to as Geomatics, concerns the land around us.

Surveyors are experts in land measurement to determine property boundaries and are able to make use

of software, technology and scientific principles to measure, analyse and manage data about the Earth's

physical shape and engineering structures on it. They are able to provide practical solutions to many areas

of industry. Surveying usually involves both fieldwork and indoor work. When working outside in the field,

surveyors must be willing and able to stand for long periods and often walk long distances, sometimes in

challenging weather conditions.

Specific courses within this broader subject area, and this is as always subject to availability per

destination, may include Quantity surveying; quantity surveyors are able to manage all costs relating to

building and civil engineering projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures. Basically, the

Quantity Surveyor is the person responsible for determining what a building is going to cost and in some

cases for making sure that construction costs and production are managed as efficiently as possible.

Subject to availability, this area may also include Surveying & Mapping Science.

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NATURAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES Earth Sciences; Geology or Geosciences

Are you interested to learn how to ‘read’ the rocks of the Sultanate of Oman or how to secure our water

resources which are threatened by scarcity? Courses such as Earth Sciences, Geology or Geosciences all

usually involve the study of the (origin of the) Earth and its physical, chemical and biological processes

that formed it and which have been operating over the past billion years.

Depending on the specific course (and this may differ per Higher Education Institution), you may further

develop your knowledge of Science subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Mathematics and

learn how to apply this knowledge to explain these processes. You may focus on aspects like, for instance,

the use of resources and/or the climate change or you may gain a better understanding of life on earth,

the evolution of the solar system; the causes of natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic

eruptions; and/or of the complex water systems of the Earth in order to help solve crucial water problems,

to name but a few examples. Please note that these type of courses usually include fieldwork.

Geography and/or Geographical Information Systems Geography is essentially concerned with the study of the interactions between human or social and

physical or environmental processes and therefore combines the Sciences and the Humanities in order for

you to understand real-world problems; for example, climate change or the impact of the global

economic crisis. Higher Education Institutions may allow you to choose between Human Geography and

Physical Geography. Human Geography is more part of the Social Sciences and focuses on the

interactions between human beings and the Earth; while Physical Geography is part of the Natural

Sciences and focuses more on natural processes.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) combines Geography with technology. GIS is mostly about how

spatial information (which is data detailing the topographical position of objects) is captured, organised,

integrated, modeled and visualized. Please note that some of these courses may include fieldwork.

Geophysics or Meteorology or Geochemistry Geophysics combines Geology, Mathematics, and Physics in order to understand how the Earth works

with a focus on the future sustainability of our (natural) resources.

Geochemistry involves Earth Science as well and this course will help you develop an understanding of

the application of Chemistry to natural systems.

Do you prefer to be able to help predict a storm or rain? Perhaps you then might be interested in

Meteorology which is focused on weather conditions.

Statistics Are you interested in Mathematics and Computer Science? Statistics is essentially concerned with the

collection, analysis and interpretation of data. By analyzing trends and patterns in these data you should

able to provide information about probable and possible future developments. These data can help create

solutions for probable and/or possible challenges facing a society. Specific courses usually combine

theory with practice with a focus on, while this may differ per Higher Education Institution, experiment

design, survey methodology and statistical computing. This program will also help you develop some key

analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Forensic Science Perhaps you are a huge fan of television-series like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) or ‘real trials’ that have

been broadcasted and decided you want to become a Forensic Scientist or Forensic Science Technician? If

so, you must bear in mind that the work of a Forensic Scientist often involves very detailed, scientific work

and involves the collection and interpretation of scientific data. Hence, what you see on television may not

reflect the reality.

Forensic Science usually combines Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geology, Psychology and the Social

Sciences and is basically the application of all sciences to both the civil and criminal law. A Forensic

Scientist should be able to collect, analyse and provide unbiased scientific evidence for use in a criminal

investigation or a trial or laboratory analysis.

Astronomy or Astrophysics Are you interested in learning more about our Universe; in the ways in which various forms of matter and

energy interact and do you have strong skills in both Mathematics and Physics? In general, Astronomy

involves the study of the physical universe, from the Earth, the solar system to galaxies, stars and planets.

Any Astronomy course at undergraduate level, although there might be differences among the particular

courses per Higher Education Institution in the different study destinations, may provide a broad

introduction to modern astronomy.

Astrophysics, sometimes offered as Physics with Astrophysics, focuses on the observation of the Universe

and students will usually learn how to apply their knowledge of physics, mathematics and computer

science to astronomical observation.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT), COMPUTER SCIENCE

AND/OR RELATED TECHNOLOGIES

Not everyone who studies Information Technology (IT) or a related program will

become as ‘wealthy and famous’ as the late Steve Jobs (Apple) or Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook). However,

experts in IT and skilled computer scientists who can apply computing to different areas and are able to

solve problems are indeed essential to most types of organisations, whether in the public or private

sector. Subject to the availability per study destination (please check the available courses per study

destination), you could perhaps opt for Information (and Communication) Technology and learn more

about the application of IT in organisations; about software design, hardware and communications.

Choose Computer Science or Computing degree programs to learn more about the underlying principles

and theory of computing, programming and other related subjects such as Computer Hardware and

Software Systems.

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Another option, and again depending on the availability per destination, is Computer Engineering which

usually combines Computer Science and Electronic Engineering to design Computer Technology or

Software Engineering which usually focuses on developing and maintaining software systems. Or, again

subject to availability, you could specialize in Computer Information Systems and gain a deeper

understanding of how to build large-scale information systems (such as databases, WWW sites and

spreadsheets). Or you might want to become an expert in activities designed to protect a computer

network and therefore focus on Network Security? Each program is subject to availability, please check

the content of the codes below.

Please note that Telecommunication/Communications Engineering as such falls under a different area:

namely, Electronic Engineering.

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BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES

Business and/or Management Courses You may want to develop a broad understanding about the theoretical and practical aspects of Business

& Management; about how organisations in the public and private sector are managed and how they

operate in an ever changing external environment. Courses within this area usually cover different areas of

Business such as human resource management; finance and accounting; marketing; business/corporate

strategy and/or other subjects, this all depends on the specific course. Within this area you may choose

from a range of courses, however, please note that this always depends on the availability of specific

courses at the recommended Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) which may always differ per destination

(please research the selected courses per code in the guidebook).

Courses may include Business & Management; Management or Business Studies. Business

Administration courses usually focus on how to manage the operations of a business, including people

and day-to-day operations, in order to maintain growth and stability of the organization. A Bachelor of

Commerce is usually a program allowing you to specialize in one of the main business disciplines.

Perhaps you are interested in Human Resource Management; human resources managers should be

able to plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization; they can oversee the

recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new employees and serve as an important connection between an

organisation’s management and its employees. Retail & Services Management (Ireland) is another type

of a Business and Management program with a strong focus on the major retail and service sectors.

A relatively more ‘technical’ course is Logistics and/or Supply Chain Management (only for applicants

who took pure mathematics); a supply chain refers to multiple organizations while logistics involves the

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flow of goods within this supply chain; from the source through the total industrial process to the

customer and then on to disposal or re-use/re-cycling. Supply Chain Management activities cover

everything from product development, sourcing, production, and logistics, as well as the information

systems needed to coordinate these activities.

Safety or Security/Emergency Management– this type of course helps you develop the required

knowledge, skills and competencies for responding to complex emergencies and post-crisis management;

for example, in the event of human security or a natural disaster. In this case, it may focus on areas such

as accident prevention; fire protection and hazardous substances and waste disposal – to name but a few

examples.

International Business or Entrepreneurship Are you interested in starting your own business one day or in learning more about the aspects of how an

organisation operates within the global economy? Then you might want to consider an International

Business Degree program which usually tends to focus on how organizations are operating in a

globalizing economy.

Entrepreneurship/Business Enterprise; are you considering to start your own business and/or can you

see yourself taking up a leadership position within an existing organization (e.g. your family business) one

day? Then you might want to consider this area which usually focuses on many different areas of business.

Finance and/or related courses Finance and related areas are core functions in any organisation. Depending on the specific course, it may

give you the critical insight to be able to analyse and understand a range of different ‘financial’ concepts

including, for example, auditing, taxation and financial accounting, finance, financial management,

reporting and/or statistics. The specific courses you can select from and they could include the following

courses, depending on the availability at recognized and recommended Higher Education Institutions

(HEIs) in the selected study destinations (please see the codes per destination):

Accounting and/or Auditing or Accounting and Finance.

Accountancy concerns the process by which financial information is interpreted, communicated,

classified, summarised and recorded. Hence, accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial

records and ensure that financial records are accurate; they assess financial operations and help ensure

that organisations run efficiently. Subject to availability, other possible courses may include Financial

Management/Finance; Banking & Finance; Finance & Investment or Insurance & Risk Management.

Crisis or Risk Management might either enable you to come up with strategies designed to help an

organisation deal with a sudden and significant negative event posing any potential risks to the

profitability or existence of the company.

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SOCIAL SCIENCES The Social Sciences basically consist of subject areas that involve the study of the society and its

institutions, and of how and why people behave as they do, both as individuals and in groups within

society. If you progress onto any of these degree programs that fall within the areas mentioned below,

you will be provided with the opportunity to gain core knowledge about a certain area or areas and

(further) develop communication, interpersonal, teamwork, technical, analytical, critical thinking,

organizational, and problem solving skills – all these so-called ‘generic’ skills are in demand by employers

and/or are even required if you are planning to start up your own business.

Law and/or Criminology In general, anyone who studies Law (a BA Law or LLB degree program) will gain an insight into how social

order has evolved, how conflict can be resolved and how order is maintained. Studying Law will also help

you learn how to write and speak very precisely and help you develop some key transferable skills such as

analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. A Law degree can be the first stage in qualifying for

entry into the legal profession, however, not everyone who studies Law will decide to move onto a legal

career. Subject to availability, and this may vary per study destination, you may combine Law with

Criminology or study Criminology as a standalone subject which involves the study of crime including

why people commit crimes plus the effects and social reactions to crime. Topics usually include criminal

justice, explanations of crime and punishment, and other responses to the phenomenon of crime.

Economics In general, Economics is the study of how people choose to use resources; it is concerned with the

production and consumption of products and goods. Topics as part of the available courses within this

area usually include at least macroeconomics, which covers the study of the economy as a whole and

microeconomics, which focuses more on buying behavior, production and costs. Issues you may study,

and this may vary per the specific course at the different selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),

could include economic growth & sustainable development, emerging market economies, financial and

monetary crises, environmental and natural resource problems, international trade and aid to poor

countries. You may also study the market behavior of businesses, economic thought and policy, social

statistics, accounting, econometrics and mathematics. Studying Economics will help you develop analytical

and technical thinking skills and enable you to solve problems. You are expected to have relatively strong

(pure) mathematical skills in order to competitively apply for a scholarship in this particular subject area.

Political Science (or Politics) and/or International Relations The study of Politics, Political Science and/or International Relations helps you understand the forces

shaping international and national politics and within this context, why our world is as it is today.

Depending on your specific major/course, you might study the relation between states based on real

case-studies; explore the ideas, theories and values that shape policy and examine how government

institutions and their political processes work at domestic and international levels. Political Science will

help you develop critical thinking and communication skills and help you gain an understanding of history

and culture. However, Political Science is not a pre-professional program; it does not prepare you for a

specific career (e.g. someone who studied Politics is not specifically trained to become a ‘Politician’). You

may move onto careers that are not directly related to the subject but which make use of their

‘transferable’ skills such as problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.

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Psychology Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental functioning; in general, psychologists are

interested in how people think, act, react, interact and feel; it is concerned with all aspects of behaviour

(normal and abnormal) and the thoughts, feelings and motivations underlying such behaviour.

Psychologists should not be confused with Psychiatrists. Studying Psychology will also help you develop

important communication, team-work and analytical thinking skills. You may have to choose between a

BA degree or a BSc degree while not all Psychology graduates might become professional or clinical

psychologists, but they usually do work in other people-focused roles. Most Psychology courses include

subjects such as experimental design and statistics.

Special (Needs) Education Some children may have special educational needs due to a disability and/or other challenges (think of

ADHD, ADD, autism or dyslexia) that affect their ability to learn and you may want to become an expert in

how to teach these children.

Translation & Interpreting Develop a fluency in English and Arabic, along with skills in translating and interpreting

COMMUNICATION STUDIES Journalism; Media and/or Communication Studies

Are you interested in the news and you like to write, under pressure of serious deadlines, in order to

inform people about certain topics of common interest and/or concern? Journalism generally prepares

students for a range of professional writing careers. The broad (Mass) Communication and/or Media

Studies are usually based on an interdisciplinary curriculum and topics could include subjects such as

advertising, marketing, mass media, management, public relations, public affairs, consulting and could

(please note that this depends on the Higher Education Institution offering the program) even include an

introduction to other areas such as Law, Psychology, Political Sciences or Economics.

Graphic/Media Design; TV, Media and/or Film Production or Museum Studies Are you creative while you have technical skills as well? Media and/or Graphic Design; Digital Arts & Media

or Design are examples of courses that usually equip students with key skills in graphic and multimedia

design. Graphic Design is about the visual communication of ideas and helping others to convey

information or instructions by the use of visual means. Think for example of the cover and inside pages of

a magazine or newspaper which are all designed by graphic designers. Within TV, Media and/or Film

Production courses, students can usually focus on video, television, feature film or short film production.

Broadcasting concerns the practice of creating audio and video program content and distributing it to

the mass audiences of radio, television and Internet media. Museum Studies usually cover all aspects of

museum and/or art gallery operations.

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Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising or Events Management

Are you interested in programs that would help you further develop certain business as well as

communication skills? Public Relations programs are usually focused on the planned promotion of goods,

services and images of organizations. Advertising courses will give you an introduction to the business of

advertising while Marketing is more concerned with how to sell goods and services and the maintenance

of the interest and satisfaction of clients. Event(s) Management involves the creation, direction,

coordination and planning of all kinds of events. Event planners choose meeting locations, arrange

transportation, and coordinate other details. Although mathematics is among the compulsory subjects

(one of the options), some good basic mathematical skills may be useful in view of the course content of

some of these courses.