Drexel's English Language Center (ELC) is proud to host its second cohort of 26 students through a multi-year agreement with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman – Cultural Division. The ELC is one of only three intensive English programs (IEPs) in the U.S. to host these students. These Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) scholarship recipients take English as a Second Language and application support courses at the ELC and math courses in the College of Arts and Sciences during the academic year. By the end of the summer quarter, the students must confirm at one of 130 colleges and universities approved by the MOHE for the STEM and ESAM (education, social science, arts and management) scholarships. All 26 students from last year’s cohort are studying in undergraduate programs in the U.S. Four of the students from the ELC's cohort and three more from Penn's ELP cohort selected Drexel.  

The matriculation rate for these students at Drexel can be attributed to the program created at the ELC, where the students receive so much more than just the core support with college searches, essay writing and application completion. The students have opportunities to interact with other international and domestic students as part of their acculturation activities, a way for the students to feel like they are part of the university. The program also allows the ELC to support Drexel’s efforts to be a more internationally engaged community. 

"This program has been an incredible foundation for my studies at Drexel," said Awab Al Kharusi, an alum of the program who is now a first-year computer science major at Drexel. "It not only improved my academic skills but also helped me transition smoothly into a university environment by building my confidence and preparing me for the challenges ahead."  

Any Drexel faculty, professional staff member or student interested in meeting the students and participating in some of the extracurricular activities may contact the ELC at elc@drexel.edu.