The full-time course is offered in two eighteen-week semesters each year. Beginners may join us at the beginning of any semester. More advanced students may, according to their ability and upon evaluation, join at an appropriate point in the semester.
National Holidays are followed as well as a day off for Easter and Christmas. Note: the Gulf Arabic Programme follows the UAE weekend which is Friday-Saturday rather than the Omani weekend which is Thursday-Friday. The sidebar on the right contains a Google calendar of the most up-to-date schedule dates.
The dates for the full-time course for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 terms are:
Monday, 5th September to Thursday, 19th January 2012
Sunday, 5th February to Thursday, 14th June 2012
The office is usually only open for business from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm when the full-time classes are in session. At other times, please call to confirm.
Classes are held five days a week, (Sunday to Thursday), and there are 4 periods of formal classes each day, making a course module of 330 hours. The full course will be four semesters lasting a total of two years.
A typical class schedule for someone starting at 8:00 a.m. might be as follows:
| 0800-0855 | First Class |
| 0905-1000 | Second Class |
| 1010-1105 | Third Class |
| 1105-1135 | Lunch Break |
| 1135-1230 | Fourth Class |
| 1240-1335 | No Classes |
| 1345-1440 | No Classes |
Besides the classes, students will need to spend another 4 hours a day of private study (in either homework and/or preparing for classes) and spending time with local people practising their Arabic.