Program Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma Program in International Commercial Arbitration was submitted to the Academic Accreditation Authority at the Ministry of Education, where it received initial academic accreditation status as of May 10, 2024. The program consists of 24 credit hours and is offered at the university's campus in the Emirate of Ajman. The program is delivered through a credit hour system, utilizing interactive education and self-learning.
Educational Objectives of the Program:
- Create and maintain an academic program that is dynamic and adapted to the local and international market.
- Providing the labor market with qualified and specialized arbitrators who can continuously develop their professional skills.
- To enable students to attain high career goals and occupy leadership roles in Emirati society with the ability to conduct high-impact research.
- Establish and maintain meaningful links with local, regional, and international parties in order to enhance our graduates' academic and professional careers.
- Develop dynamic plans to attract and retain bright and diverse students who wish to pursue careers related to arbitration.
Job Opportunities:
- The programme provides its graduates with the opportunity to join arbitration centres inside and outside the country.
Criteria for admission:
The following conditions must be met in order for students to be accepted into the program:
First, the following conditions must be met by graduates of law schools or their equivalents:
- Completion of a Bachelor's degree in Law from a university recognized by the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3 out of 4 or its equivalent.
- Passing the TOEFL exam in English with a minimum score of 550 or 6.0 points according to the IELTS certificate, or 1400 in the EmSAT exam.
- A minimum of two years of professional experience in the field of law is required for the applicant.
Secondly, other colleges or equivalents may be accepted if they meet the following conditions:
- Obtaining a bachelor's degree in one of the university specializations that qualify the candidate to work as an arbitrator in a legal dispute, from a university recognized by the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3 out of 4 or its equivalent.
- Passing the TOEFL exam in English with a minimum score of 550 or 6.0 points according to the IELTS certificate, or 1400 in the EmSAT exam.
- The applicant must have at least four years of professional experience in the specialty in which he obtained his bachelor's degree. If the student does not possess the required professional experience, his admission depends on the decision of the selection committee formed at the College of Law after he has been interviewed personally for the purpose of evaluating his legal knowledge.
If the student does not meet the English language test requirement, they will be conditionally accepted, subject to the following admission criteria:
- Achieving a score of 1400 on the EmSAT test or its equivalent by the end of the student's first semester.
- The student may register for a maximum of 6 credit hours in the first semester of study and is not allowed to register for courses taught in English.
- The student must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the first 6 credit hours of the accredited courses taken in the program.
Applicants with a cumulative GPA in the Bachelor's degree of 2.5 to less than 3 out of 4 or its equivalent will be conditionally accepted, provided that:
- The student enrolls in a maximum of 6 credit hours in the first semester, and they are not allowed to enroll in courses taught in English.
- Achieving a cumulative GPA of 3 out of 4 in the registered credit hours.
For applicants with a cumulative GPA in their undergraduate studies between 2.0 and less than 2.5 out of 4 or its equivalent, or those who do not meet the professional experience requirements (two years for law graduates and four years for non-law graduates), the following conditions apply:
- The applicant must study one or two remedial courses, which will not be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA or the graduation requirements specified in the approved study plan, and the duration of these courses will not be counted within the maximum period for completing the program.
- The student must complete the remedial courses by the end of the first semester of their enrollment in the program, with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3 out of 4.
Third, differentiate students applying to the program
If the proposed program is subject to competition, the following comparisons will be made between students applying
- GPA for bachelor’s degree.
- Priority will be given to those with more professional experience when the above-mentioned GPA is equal.
- In the event that the above factors are equal, preference will be given to the candidate who obtained a higher score on the EMASAT test or an equivalent test.
- Priority is given to the date of application to the program when all of the above factors are equal.
- There will be a personal interview conducted by the college that students must pass.
- Other requirements may be applied if necessary, based on the academic status of the applicant.
Note: Graduates of the program who do not hold a bachelor's degree in law or its equivalent will not be eligible to practice judicial functions or the legal profession in the country.
Experience Requirements Criteria:
- Academic Background: Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution, preferably in a field relevant to potential future roles such as business, social sciences, finance, engineering, urban planning, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, natural resources, risk management, and insurance.
- Relevant Arbitration Experience: Applicants must possess a minimum number of years of experience as specified in the admission requirements, with work preferably in the field of the applicant's major, involving roles in negotiations, contracts, or alternative dispute resolution.
- Practical Training: Participation in internal training sessions, practical training programs, or workshops related to law, specifically arbitration, mediation, or dispute resolution.
- Additional Qualifications: Possession of any additional qualifications, such as certificates in arbitration, negotiation, or related fields, demonstrating the applicant's commitment to continuous learning and skill development.
- Letters of Recommendation: Submission of recommendation letters from employers or professionals in the field attesting to the applicant's relevant skills, work ethics, and potential for success in the program.
- Interview Committee: An interview committee will assess candidates to evaluate their possession of sufficient experience qualifying them for success in the program, reserving the right to reject any candidate or request additional documents to prove experience.
Distribution of grades and mentions:
Except for the practical training course, the grades in the Postgraduate Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration are distributed as follows:
- Final exam: 40%
- Education Court: 20%
- Classes work: 20%.
- Midterm exam: 20%
For the “Practical Training” course, the distribution of course grades is as follows:
- Report on final training: 40%
- Grade of the supervising body: 30%
- Education Court: 30%
A student must receive at least 70% of the total grade to succeed.
Program Completion Requirements:
To successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma Program in International Commercial Arbitration, a student must:
- Successfully complete 24 credit hours.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0 out of 4.0 upon fulfilling the graduation requirements.