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A day in the life of an international student at the University of Nizwa, Oman

Chloe Lane

Updated Oct 11, 2022

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Introduction
A busy morning routine
Using time management to hit deadlines
Extracurricular activities

Rayyan, student at the University of Nizwa

Discover more about student life in Oman at the University of Nizwa

Sponsored by the University of Nizwa

Known as ‘The Pearl of Islam’, Nizwa is the largest and one of the oldest cities in the Al- Dakhiliyah Region in Oman, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Western Hajar Mountains. Nizwa is located just 140km away from the capital Muscat.

This historic city features a whole host of attractions, including the 17th century Nizwa Fort, the stunning Jebel Akhdar mountains and plenty of souks (Arab marketplaces). The town’s central location and transport links make it the ideal location to visit and explore other areas in Oman.

But what is it like to be an international student in this exciting, diverse city? Rayyan Sultan Said Al-Harthy, a second-year BA Architecture student at the University of Nizwa, runs us through what an average day looks like for a student in Nizwa.

A busy morning routine

Rayyan was initially attracted to the University of Nizwa because of its reputation as an excellent university with globally recognised degrees.

With more than 7,000 students and a wide array of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level, Nizwa University offers lots of opportunities for students to grow. This may be through its extensive range of extracurricular activities or during lectures, where students are encouraged to express their opinions, ask questions and develop creative solutions to problems.

“The hospitality is amazing,” added Rayyan. “For an international student, new to the country in a lot of ways, I appreciated that greatly.”

Rayyan’s days at the University of Nizwa are often extremely busy. She enjoys an unconventional schedule, choosing to wake up before sunrise at 3am to make the most of her day.

“I like to take at least an hour to work out, shower, and pray. I then do some studying or finish some assignments until 8am – that's when my classes usually start,” she said.

Using time management to hit deadlines

Although her workload is often heavy, Rayyan really enjoys her degree. She says that studying architecture at the University of Nizwa presents lots of new challenges, which he likes solving.

She said: “The best part of my degree is getting to know more about how important my job as an architect is: the hidden roles I play, that every beautiful feature has significance, and that even the smallest details are well thought out.

“I like to think of my work as a puzzle; the higher the level, the harder the puzzle, the better your work, and the bigger the achievement. That's when you feel your skills grow.”

When Rayyan is finished with her classes for the day, she goes home, has a quick nap and starts work on her assignments. She often has a substantial workload, with lots of assignments, projects and deadlines – so time management is important.

Rayyan uses a journal which she reviews throughout the day to stay on top of her assignments. She tries to get all of her University work completed during the weekdays to give her time to dedicate her weekends to extracurricular activities.

“That way I'm well rested and refreshed for the coming week and it prevents me from procrastinating,” said Rayyan.

Extracurricular activities

There are plenty of ways to spend your free time in Nizwa. Popular activities in the area include hiking in the neighbouring wadis (valleys), off-roading, caving and touring historical sites.

Students at the University of Nizwa will get the opportunity to get involved at the University and in the local community with numerous student-run clubs, groups and organisations.

Rayyan fills her spare time with a diverse set of activities, such as bowling, swimming, drawing, painting, and baking classes.

“I recently got into epoxy and resin works and acrylic pouring and I'm trying to master acrylic painting,” she said.

She is also registering to take part in a public speaking competition.

“Student life in Nizwa is fun, busy, and quite interesting to say the least,” said Rayyan.

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