Raidha Ismail Shafeeg
Fashion alumna, graduated 2010
Launched her own brand, Raidha's Maldives, was named Best Young Woman Professional 2016 by Women on Boards, and showed at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways in Sri Lanka.
Make your way to global creative industries, from Colombo.
AOD welcomes Maldivian students into Northumbria University UK design degrees. Finished O-Level? Start with Design Foundation Plus (Year Zero). Finishing A-Level or HSC? Apply before your results and start in March 2027.
Discover your kind of design
Each degree is a Northumbria University UK BA (Hons), taught at AOD in Colombo.
BA (Hons) Fashion & Textile DesignBuild your own design handwriting and brand
BA (Hons) Fashion Design & MarketingForecasting, styling, media and promotion
BA (Hons) Interior DesignSpace, light and surface, from homes to hospitality
BA (Hons) Visual Communication DesignBranding, packaging, interface and web
Maldivian talent at AOD
Maldivian students and alumni study design in Colombo, bring their island roots into their work and build careers back home.
Aishath Manva
Fashion Design and Marketing
Sri Lanka allows me the freedom to express myself and use my individuality in a way which creates an impact.
Mahuroos Ismail Shafeeq
Interior Design
I get a healthy amount of inspiration by studying at AOD as we have a great mix of students who all have such strong personalities and different backgrounds.
How bridging works for Maldivian students
The Maldivian system runs on O-Level (IGCSE or SSC) at the end of Grade 10 and A-Level (Edexcel, Cambridge or the local HSC) at the end of Grade 12. We match your exam point to the right AOD entry point, so no year is wasted.
| Where you are | Your exams | Your AOD entry point | Next intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed Grade 10 | O-Level (IGCSE or SSC) | Design Foundation Plus (Year Zero), then direct entry to a BA (Hons) degree of your choice | Ask us for the Foundation start date |
| In Grade 12 now | A-Level or HSC, sat in October/November | Apply now with pending results. A conditional offer is confirmed when results arrive, then you enter Year 1 of the BA (Hons) | March 2027 |
| Finished A-Level earlier | Results in hand, including May/June Edexcel retakes | Direct entry to Year 1 of the BA (Hons) | Next available intake |
- Oct to Nov 2026Sit A-Level or HSC. Apply to AOD during exams.
- Dec 2026Receive your conditional offer and plan your move to Colombo.
- Mid-January 2027Maldivian A-Level and HSC results are usually released. Send them to us.
- March 2027Start your degree at AOD.
Entry requirements depend on your subjects and grades, and our admissions team confirms them for you personally. Exam and results dates are set by the Maldives Ministry of Education and Department of Public Examinations and can change, so check with us before you plan.
Design Foundation Plus (Year Zero)
The way in after O-Level. Not sure which design field suits you? Year Zero lets you try them before you commit, then moves you into a Northumbria University UK degree at AOD.
- Hands-on projects across fashion, interior and visual communication design
- A guaranteed route into a BA (Hons) at AOD once you complete it
- Taught by AOD's international faculty, with access to the design library and computer labs
Take the next step
Talk to our team about your exam year and your path.
Questions from Maldivian students and parents
I am finishing A-Level or HSC in October/November. Can I apply now?
Yes. You can apply before your results are released. We can issue a conditional offer, and your place is confirmed when your results arrive in January, in time for the March 2027 intake.
I only have O-Level (IGCSE or SSC). Can I study design at AOD?
Yes. Join Design Foundation Plus (Year Zero), which leads into a Northumbria University UK design degree at AOD.
Is the degree awarded by a UK university?
Yes. AOD delivers Northumbria University UK design degrees in Colombo, so you study a UK BA (Hons) without leaving the region.
Which programme should I pick?
Choose Fashion if you love clothing and brands, Interior Design if you love space and hospitality, and Visual Communication if you love branding and digital. Unsure? Start with Year Zero.
Tell us your exam year and we will map your path
Message us your name, school, exam board (O-Level, Edexcel, Cambridge or HSC) and the programme you are curious about. We will reply with your entry point and next steps.
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