Cambridge Muslim College is delighted to announce that two of its pioneering academic programmes – Islam and Psychology, and Contextual Islamic Studies and Leadership (CISL) – have been approved for validation by The Open University after the successful completion of validation events. As such, both programmes are on course to join our BA (Hons) in Islamic Studies in being validated by The Open University.
Formerly known as the Diploma in Islamic Psychology, Islam and Psychology is a groundbreaking one-year online programme that reorients conventional psychological paradigms around a Qur’anic understanding of the human self. From September 2025, students who complete the programme will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate of Higher Education (PgCert HE) at Level 7 — issued by The Open University. This unique programme, the first of its kind to be validated by The Open University, offers a unique one-year online experience, with an in-person retreat, that brings together classical Islamic understandings of the self with modern psychological theories and practice. With live weekly sessions and an intimate, dynamic cohort, it’s designed for professionals seeking to integrate a deeper spiritual dimension into their work – whether in healthcare, education, chaplaincy, or community leadership.
The Contextual Islamic Studies and Leadership (CISL) programme, also entering validation through The Open University, is a full-time, in-person residential course uniquely designed for graduates of traditional Islamic studies programmes. Graduates from the 2025-2026 academic year onwards will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) at Level 4. The programme is crafted for ‘alimiyyah graduates looking to contextualise their learning within the contemporary British setting. Alongside modules in theology, society and pastoral care, students engage in national and international field trips, including a highlight visit to the Vatican. This validation marks a significant step forward in the College’s mission to offer transformative, academically rigorous education grounded in the Islamic tradition.
These crucial developments enhance the career and further education opportunities available to our students upon graduating and strengthen the College’s position as a leading, specialist institution dedicated to the Islamic Sciences.