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Master of Criminal Sciences Program

The Master of Criminal Sciences program is a comprehensive academic pathway designed to equip students with advanced legal knowledge and analytical skills. The program provides an in-depth study of criminal procedures, special criminal legislation, criminology and punishment, comparative legal systems, the general part of criminal law, and international criminal law and Islamic criminal legislation.

Program Details

• Duration: 1.5 to 4 years
• Credit Hours: 33
• Semesters: Fall and Spring
• College: College of Law
• Program Type: Master's Degree
• Language of Instruction: Arabic

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Law or any other directly related specialization from an accredited university recognized by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Education – United Arab Emirates.
• Students holding a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a field closely related to Law from an accredited institution recognized by the CAA may be exempted based on the evaluation of the College of Law Council.
• GPA requirements for admission:
  • CGPA 2.5 or higher (out of 4.0): Direct admission.
  • CGPA between 2.0 and 2.49: The student must complete three preparatory courses with a GPA of at least 3.0.
• English language proficiency certificate according to one of the following tests or their CAA-approved equivalents:
  • IELTS: 4.5
  • TOEFL ITP: 450
  • TOEFL iBT: 45
  • TOEFL CBT: 133
  • Linguaskill: B1
  • UAQU English Proficiency Test: 60
• Exemption from English Language Requirements:
  • Any other CAA-approved proficiency test.
  • Graduates from UAQU undergraduate programs within one year of completion are exempted.
  • Or by completing an online or on-campus English preparatory course offered by the University.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must complete 33 credit hours (core, elective, and thesis) with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0.
2. Successfully defend the Master's thesis (9 credit hours) with a minimum grade of 3.0/4.0.
3. Thesis registration is only permitted after completing all required core courses.
4. Core courses cannot be registered during intensive semesters.
5. Minimum period for completing the thesis is nine months from registration.
6. The College Council approves the thesis plan and supervisor.
7. All administrative procedures required at admission must be completed.
8. Minimum study duration: 1.5 years. Maximum: 4 years.
9. Students may repeat up to two courses to improve their GPA.

Program Objectives

1. Analyse and classify the nature and types of crimes.
2. Provide innovative legal and judicial solutions to issues on local, regional, and international levels.
3. Position the College as a leading academic and research institution in criminal law locally and internationally.
4. Enable students to contribute to the development of criminal legislation in the UAE.
5. Promote scientific research in all fields of criminal law and enhance students' research skills.

Career Opportunities

The Master of Criminal Sciences program opens diverse career paths in judicial, legal, academic, and international institutions, preparing graduates to assume advanced professional roles. Key sectors include:

1. Judicial Institutions:

• Legal advisor or criminal court judge in the UAE judicial bodies.
• Drafting legal opinions and judgments in criminal cases.
• Public Prosecution as a representative of justice and society.

2. Law Firms and Legal Consultancy:

• Providing specialised legal advice in criminal law to companies and individuals.
• Preparing legal memoranda and oral pleadings in criminal cases.
• Defending clients in various criminal proceedings.

3. Universities, Police Academies, and Research:

• Teaching criminal law (substantive and procedural) at universities and colleges.
• Conducting legal research and participating in scientific conferences on UAE criminal justice.
• Teaching in police academies due to the close link with criminal law.

4. International and Local Organisations:

• Working with international or local legal institutions, human rights organisations, and policy-making bodies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify key concepts and knowledge across various fields of criminal law.
2. Analyse legal cases and judicial rulings in criminal law.
3. Interpret and apply criminal law provisions effectively.
4. Link legal studies to contemporary social and legal issues.
5. Conduct advanced research in criminal law.

Mode of Delivery

The Master of Criminal Sciences is offered under the credit-hour system adopted by Umm Al Quwain University. Students are required to attend classes in person and participate interactively. The program follows a full-time study mode to ensure academic and professional excellence.

Program Structure

Umm Al Quwain University – College of Law – awards the Master's Degree in Criminal Sciences upon successful completion of 33 credit hours distributed as follows:

• Core Courses: 18 Credit Hours
• Elective Courses: 6 Credit Hours (two courses)
• Thesis: 9 Credit Hours
• Total: 33 Credit Hours

Course Structure

Master's Thesis

The student prepares a "Master's Thesis" on one of the Criminal Law topics, written in Arabic with an English abstract. A faculty supervisor is appointed from the concerned department, and a co-supervisor may be assigned from outside the College of Law when appropriate. Registration for the thesis is allowed only after successful completion of the 18 core credit hours.