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Master of Criminal Sciences Program

Duration: 1.5 to 4 years
33 Credit Hours
Fall and Spring Semesters
College of Law
Program Type: Master’s Degree
Language of Instruction: Arabic
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Enhance Your Future with a Master of Criminal Sciences

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Welcome to the Master of Criminal Sciences program, a comprehensive academic pathway designed to equip you with advanced legal knowledge and analytical skills.

The Master of Criminal Sciences is one of the most prominent legal specialisations aligned with legislative and judicial developments in the UAE and the region. 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.

The program also highlights cybercrimes, the admissibility of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, legal responses to human trafficking, money laundering, and terrorism financing. It further discusses contemporary developments in national and international laws and emphasises the pivotal role of criminal law in achieving societal stability and effective justice.

The Master of Criminal Sciences program meets the needs of the labour market and contemporary legislative developments, preparing legal leaders who possess academic competence, practical experience, and a strong commitment to justice and social responsibility.


Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Law or any other directly related specialisation 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.           
           *  Note: The Ministry of Education must attest the degrees obtained from outside the UAE.


  • Applicants must submit an English language proficiency certificate according to one of the following tests or their CAA-approved equivalents:

 

Score Test Type
4.5 IELTS
450 TOEFL ITP
45 TOEFL iBT
133 TOEFL CBT
B1 Linguaskill
60 UAQU English Proficiency Test

 

 

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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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

 

Program Structure
Course Type Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
Core Courses (18 Credit Hours) LAWCR1 Criminology and Penology 3
LAWCR2 Penal Code 3
LAWCR3 Special Penal Legislation 3
LAWCR4 Criminal Procedure Law 3
LAWCR5 Comparative Legal Systems 3
LAWINT2 Legal Research Methods 3
Elective Courses (6 Credit Hours)
(Select two only)		 LAWCR7 International Criminal Law 3
LAWCR8 Environmental Criminal Law 3
LAWCR9 Islamic Criminal Legislation 3
LAWCR11 Economic Penal Law 3
LAWINT5 Criminal Protection of Information Technology and AI Applications 3
Thesis LAWSER7 Master’s Thesis (after completion of 18 core credits) 9
Total Program Credits 33

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.

 

  

 

 

 

Graduation Requirements
  1. Complete 33 total credit hours (core, elective, and thesis) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0.
  2. Successfully defend the master’s thesis (9 credit hours) and achieve at least a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 for the thesis.
  3. The minimum duration for completing the thesis is nine months from the date of registration.
  4. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 for the entire program.
  5. The minimum study period for the program is 1.5 years, and the maximum is 4 years.
  6. Students may repeat up to two courses during the study period to improve their GPA.

 

Study Plan
Semester Course Code Course Title Credits
First Semester LAWPB1 Constitutional Law 3
LAWPB2 Comparative Administrative Law 3
LAWINT2 Legal Research Methods 3
Total for First Semester 9
Second Semester LAWPB3 Criminal Law 3
LAWPB4 Public International Law 3
LAWPB5 Financial and Economic Legislation 3
Total for Second Semester 9
Third Semester
(Elective – Select Two)		 LAWPB7 International Humanitarian Law 3
LAWCR7 International Criminal Law 3
LAWCR3 Environmental Law in Public Law 3
LAWPB10 Special Penal Legislation 3
Total for Third Semester 6
Fourth Semester LAWSER7 Master’s Thesis (requires completion of 18 core credits) 9
Total Program Credits 33

 

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