Villa College Launches Shariah and Law Degrees With Political, International Relations Specialisations

Villa College has introduced three new programmes combining legal studies with Political Science and International Relations, with applications now open for the September 2026 intake.

The programmes, launched by the college’s Faculty of Shariah and Law, comprise a Bachelor of Shariah and Law with Political Science, Bachelor of Shariah and Law with International Relations, and Master of Political Science and International Relations.

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The two bachelor’s programmes are three-year, six-semester courses designed to provide students with the core Shariah and Law modules required for practice in the Maldivian legal sector before specialising in Political Science or International Relations during their final year.

Core modules include Contract Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, the Maldivian Legal System, Islamic Family Law and Islamic Law of Inheritance.

Students specialising in Political Science will study subjects including Comparative Politics, Religion and Politics, and Development and Public Policy. The International Relations stream includes Counterterrorism and National Security, Maldivian Foreign Policy, and Foreign Policy of Major Powers.

Both programmes are accredited by the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) and approved by the Bar Council of the Maldives, with graduates eligible to meet the council’s national licensing requirements.

The programmes will be delivered through both e-learning and face-to-face modes and include practical opportunities such as mooting, pro-bono work and participation in the Law Student Society.

Villa College said Street Law, an experiential learning module, will also be incorporated directly into the law curriculum, describing it as a new initiative in Maldivian legal education.

Students will additionally take specialised modules including Employment Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Force, Fear, Crime and Punishment.

The Master of Political Science and International Relations will be delivered over three semesters through e-learning and face-to-face modes.

The programme covers Global Governance and International Organisation, Diplomacy and International Negotiations, Geopolitics and South Asia, and Security Studies, before concluding with a dissertation.

Villa College said the master’s programme is intended to prepare graduates for careers in foreign affairs and diplomacy, international organisations and NGOs, policy analysis and consulting, academia, research journalism and public administration.

Dean of the Faculty of Shariah and Law Ustadha Asna Ahmed said the programmes provide students with a legal foundation while expanding opportunities in policy and diplomacy.

Vice-Rector Dr Ali Najeeb said the programmes are intended to develop graduates with broader critical-thinking skills and expand employment opportunities.

Applicants for the bachelor’s programmes must have passed two GCE A-Level or HSC subjects, hold a related Level 4 qualification, or complete a designated Level 4 Foundation Study Programme.

Applicants for the master’s programme must hold a related bachelor’s degree or Level 8 Graduate Diploma, while alternative criteria based on relevant work experience are available.

Applicants to the law programmes must also meet the English-language qualification requirements set by the Bar Council of the Maldives.

Applications for all three programmes are open for the September 2026 intake.