PROGRAMME OUTCOMES
The learning outcomes for students completing the programme are as follows:
- Articulate classical Islamic philosophical, theological, medicinal, and psycho-somatic paradigms of human psychology.
- Identify major psychological theories from the 19th century and the development of modern psychology from both secular and spiritual perspectives.
- Engage critically with modern psychology from an Islamic perspective and related developments in the 20th century.
- Analyse Islamic and secular models of the self and identify what is distinct about Islamic perspectives of lifespan development, personality and therapeutic approaches.
- Differentiate traditional Islamic legal, ethical and historical instantiations and realities of cultural and communal psychologies in contemporary contexts.
- Evaluate innovative approaches to integrating contemporary psychology and classical Islamic psychology in modern contexts.
- Discern the dynamics of counselling skills within a spiritual orientation informed by the Prophetic model and Islamic ethics.
- Formulate the development of self-examination practices informed by the Islamic contemplative tradition oriented toward one’s own self-transformation.
TEACHING METHODS
The programme is designed to be a transformational learning journey for students. Instructors use a learner focused orientation to teaching and provide opportunities for inquiry-based and experiential learning using synchronous online teaching, seminars, and case study sessions.
Students will also observe and monitor their own intellectual, psychological, relational, and spiritual development throughout the programme using a variety of individual and group activities.
This intentional design is meant to develop a rich and engaging cohort of students who interact as a group of learners and seekers, reflecting to one another the principles, practices and skills that they learn throughout the course of study. Thus, the cohort class size will be restricted to 30 students.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
- The programme will be delivered over three terms, each 11 weeks in length.
- Six hours contact time in class per week.
- Students should expect to spend nine additional study hours per week.
- Live online lectures take place Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays from 1-3pm UK time.
Students will be assessed using different methods aligned with module objectives. This may include, but not limited to class discussions, essays, critical dialogue, presentations, group projects, journaling progress or written examinations.
MODULE 1 (20 Credits)
MODULE 2 (20 Credits)
This Transformations module (encompassing three interrelated components: The Birth of Modern Subjectivity; Modern Psychology, Religion & Spirituality; and Modern Trends in Islamic Psychology) systematically introduces students to the profound intellectual and societal shifts that led from premodern, traditional worldviews to the modern era. It develops students’ complex knowledge and understanding of how modern psychology emerged against the backdrop of Enlightenment thought, industrialization, and evolving notions of the self—ultimately diverging from many classical Islamic approaches to the soul/psyche
MODULE 3 (20 Credits)
This Integrations module (encompassing the three interrelated components: Islam, Personality & Lifespan Development; Context of Islamic Psychology: Tradition & Reality; and Islamic Psychotherapy & Counseling) systematically introduces students to the practical and applied dimensions of Islamic psychology across diverse social, cultural, and clinical contexts. It develops students’ complex knowledge and understanding of how Islamic perspectives on human nature, personality, law, and spirituality can be integrated with or distinguished from modern psychological and therapeutic frameworks
Islam and Psychology Summer Programme
This will take place as a “short” workshop between 2-4 September, followed by graduation ceremony on 5 September.
MEET THE FACULTY*
*Subject to change
LECTURER & IPD PROGRAMME LEAD
Dr Abdallah Rothman is the Programme Lead of our Islamic Psychology Diploma and holds an MA in Psychology from Antioch University and a PhD in Psychology from Kingston University London. His clinical practice as well as his academic research focus on approaching counselling and psychotherapy from within an Islamic paradigm and establishing an indigenous Islamic theoretical orientation to human psychology that is grounded in the knowledge of the soul from the Islamic tradition. In addition to his academic training he has studied privately with a number of traditional Islamic scholars throughout the Muslim world. Dr Abdallah is visiting professor of psychology at Zaim University Istanbul, International Islamic University Islamabad, and Al-Neelain University Khartoum and co-founder, along with Professor Malik Badri, of the International Association of Islamic Psychology.
Dr Rania Awaad, M.D., is a practicing Psychiatrist based at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences where she pursues her clinical practice. She is also a researcher and the Director of the Stanford Muslims and Mental Health Lab where she mentors and oversees multiple lines of research focused on Muslim mental health. She is currently the Psychiatric Director of the El Camino Women’s Medical Group where she pursues her interest in women’s mental health and she serves as the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. Additionally, Dr. Awaad serves as the Clinical Director of the Bay Area branch of the Khalil Center. Prior to studying medicine, Dr. Awaad pursued classical Islamic Studies in Damascus, Syria and holds certification (Ijaza) in Qur’an, Islamic Law and other branches of the Islamic Sciences.
Dr. Samir Mahmoud is currently Academic Director of Usul Academy. Recently he was Assistant Professor at the Lebanese American University. He has a BA (Hons) in Anthropology & Politics with a focus on multicultural theory and comparative religion, and an MA in Architectural History, Theory & Urban Design with a focus on the traditional townscape from the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia. He also holds an MPhil in Theology & Religious Studies with a focus on comparative philosophy and aesthetics. He completed a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Cambridge.
Dr. Mariam Sheibani is a scholar, educator, and researcher. She is an Assistant Professor of Islamic Thought at Brandeis University and a globally-recognized scholar who is passionate about public education and community building. Dr. Sheibani holds an MA in Legal Studies, a second MA and a PhD in Islamic Thought from the University of Chicago and a postdoc training from Harvard Law School. Over the past two decades, she has studied the classical religious sciences with Muslim scholars from Turkey, Syria, Jordan, North America, and West Africa. Dr. Mariam offers paradigms and frameworks for coherently integrating religious commitment with lived experience. She empowers people to think through critical issues, co-construct solutions to shared challenges, and offer practical tools for cultivating a God-centered and meaningful spiritual life. Learn more at https://www.mariamsheibani.com
Dr Mazen Atassi is a doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and the founder of Forward To Health, a holistic medicine clinic and educational initiative. Dr Mazen graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and from the National University of Health Sciences with a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. He practices traditional naturopathy and homoeopathy, with a focus on somatic (body-mind) trauma therapy. He has studied with Hakim Archuletta for several years and taken transmission from him. Mazen has also spent time in Jordan studying Arabic at Qasid Institute.
Dr. Najah Nadi is a traditionally trained academic with over two decades of learning experiences and over a decade of teaching experience. Her research focuses on Islamic classical theories of knowledge across disciplines of philosophy, theology, law, and spirituality, as well as fatwas and fatwa institutions. Dr. Najah holds a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford, focusing on the scholarship of the immanent Persian polymath Saʿd al-Dīn al-Taftāzānī (d. 792/1390). She also holds an M.A. in Religious and Theological Studies from Boston University, as well as a B.A. in Islamic Studies from al-Azhar University in Cairo. Dr. Najah has completed several years of traditional training at al-Azhar Mosque, receiving teaching licenses (ijāzāt) in various Islamic sciences. Dr. Najah has served as a junior fellow at the Holberg seminar on Islamic history at Princeton University from 2015-2019, a fellow of peace and reconciliation at Virginia Theological Seminary from 2017-2021. Her teaching courses include Islamic legal theories, classical logic and ontology and Islamic spirituality and ethics.
Dr Yusuf Jha currently works as a translator and trainee Mufti at the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (AWQAF), Abu Dhabi. He provides Islamic spiritual guidance to the English speaking community across the UAE in a pastoral role. Dr Yusuf has undergone training in trauma-informed counselling modalities such as Neuro Affective Relational Model (NARM). Prior to this he was qualified as an AAOIFI-certified Sharia Auditor and Advisor. He has published numerous papers on the topics of Islamic Psychology, Islamic Finance, Sacred Economics and Ecology, the Islamic conception of Selfhood and is the author of the book, ‘The Way of Return: Responding to Economic and Environmental Injustice Through the Wisdom Teachings of Islam’. Dr Yusuf holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham. His doctoral research explored intersections between Transpersonal Psychology and the concept of spiritual wayfaring (Suluk) as articulated within a classical text of Islamic spirituality.
Is Islam and Psychology right for you?
This programme is designed for academically inclined professionals who seek to integrate Islamic psychological frameworks into their work. It combines classical Islamic principles with modern psychology, exploring the unique frameworks for human development from an Islamic perspective.
No therapeutic qualification is required, making the programme accessible to a broad range of professionals, including:
- Chaplains
- Community leaders
- Counsellors
- Educators
- Healthcare professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, occupational therapists)
- Life coaches
- Managers
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Religious leaders
- Social workers
- Therapists
Participants will gain grounding in Islamic theoretical frameworks for psychology, exploring how concepts of the self and soul from the Islamic tradition can inform practical applications. These include advancing psychological research, designing curricula, enhancing early childhood education, fostering community development, and cultivating leadership rooted in enduring Islamic values.
This blend of theory and practice equips professionals to create meaningful change in their fields and communities.
This programme requires a high level of commitment, and students are expected to attend all live lessons wherever possible. We understand, however, that exceptional situations can arise. In cases of extenuating circumstances, students may request access to a lesson recording. Recordings are not routinely provided and are only made available for approved absences. To request a recording, students must have extenuating circumstances and follow the formal process by submitting a recording request form.
Please Note: This degree does not lead to a practicing qualification to work as therapist and is not aimed at practitioner training. Psychologists or counsellors who wish to apply to the programme should be interested in theory and research.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
The Programme Specifications document provides information on the programme and learning outcomes as well as credit hours breakdown.
The Module Specifications document provide detailed descriptions for all modules taught on the programme.
The Student Handbook provides information on the programme of study, College policies and procedures, and the rights and responsibilities of students.
The information has been prepared with reference to The Open University’s Handbook for Validated Awards, and Regulations for Validated Awards.
Please refer to The Open University Student Guide.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Academic Criteria
- A minimum of BA /BSC or equivalent qualification.
- A basic understanding of Islamic concepts, including familiarity with key theological principles and Arabic terminology, is also required. This should be demonstrated through the application documents, including personal statement.
- Certificates or transcripts from relevant courses, programmes, or workshops in Islamic studies Arabic language or therapeutic services are desirable.
English Language Skills
- If English is not the applicant’s first language, they will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification.
- Exemption for English speakers from UK Visas and Immigration list of English-speaking countries.
- If applicants possess a transcript confirming that their higher education course was both taught and assessed in English, they are exempt from taking an English language proficiency test.
To apply, visit our application portal.
Fees
Tuition fees for this programme are £4,500. Successful candidates must confirm their place on the programme with a £450 non-refundable deposit. As per Terms & Conditions, there is a cooling off period of 14 days. For more details please refer to our Fees & Refund policy.
Cambridge Muslim College admits students once a year, with all programmes beginning in September 2026.
For entry in September 2026, the College admits students through two application rounds for the same start date. Both rounds lead to a single annual intake.
The academic year begins on Monday 15 September 2026.
Application rounds
Round 1
Round 1 applications open on Thursday 15 January 2026 and close on Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Decisions for Round 1 are issued on Wednesday 29 April 2026. This round provides applicants with an early outcome and allows sufficient time to prepare for the start of study in September 2026.
Round 2
Round 2 applications open on Wednesday 1 April 2026 and close on Tuesday 26 May 2026.
Decisions for Round 2 are issued on Monday 15 June 2026. Round 2 offers a further opportunity to apply for September 2026 entry, subject to the availability of places after Round 1.
All admissions decisions are normally completed by 15 June 2026.
Start of study
All students admitted through either round begin their studies at the same time. Induction and the start of teaching take place on Monday 15 September 2026.
Applicants must have accepted their offer and completed all enrolment requirements before the start of the academic year.
Important note for applicants
Both application rounds are for the same September 2026 start date. Round 1 provides an earlier decision; Round 2 is a later, time-limited opportunity within a fixed admissions timetable.
Cambridge Muslim College reserves the right to amend the content and timing of the programme or discontinue the programme. Where possible, notice of any changes will be communicated.
Eligibility
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- Can I apply if English isn’t my first language?
Yes. You are required to submit proof of English language skill. Please refer to the entry requirements above. - Do I still need an IELTS if my degree was taught in English?
No. If your degree or higher education course was taught and assessed in English, then you do not need to take an IELTS or English language assessment. Please make sure to include proof that you have studied in English as part of your application. - Can I apply if I am still studying or haven’t finished my BA/BSC?
A BA degree is a requirement for the programme. You will be required to submit a copy of your certificate and final results before starting the programme if an offer is made. - Do I need an academic background in psychology or Islamic studies to apply?
No. You must have a minimum of a BA in any discipline. Additionally, you must demonstrate a familiarity with basic Islamic terms and concepts. - Can I apply if I live outside of the UK?
Yes. The programme is taught online allowing students from all over the world to apply.
- Can I apply if English isn’t my first language?
Application Requirements
- My attached documents are in a different language, will they still count?
No. All submitted documents must be in English. Translated documents must be provided by either an official at an embassy, consulate or a recognised translator. The translation must be stamped and include the translator’s details. - I have been out of education for a long time, would you accept two professional references?
At least one of your references should be academic. However, if you are unable to provide one, use your personal statement to communicate your academic capacity to undertake the programme. - Can I apply if I am working full-time?
Yes. Please refer to the programme outline and term schedule to ensure you are able to organise your work schedule around the live classes each week (1-3pm UK time) and can allocate at least nine hours each week to undertake the coursework. Please note recording will not be provided in the event classes are missed due to work commitments.
Programme
- Will this programme run next year?
Yes. We plan to run this programme again each year, inshaAllah. - Can I defer a year?
For enquiries about deferral, please contact student services at: studentservices@cambridgemuslimcollege.ac.uk - Are the live lectures (1 pm UK Time) available as recordings afterwards?
Students must attend live sessions and are not permitted to miss more than three per module. However, live sessions are recorded for review and those who could not attend due to extenuating circumstances..
Assessment
- How will the programme be assessed?
Students will be assessed using different methods aligned with module objectives. This may include, but not limited to class discussions, essays, critical dialogue, presentations, group projects, journaling progress or written examinations. Students are not permitted to miss more than three live sessions per module. In lieu of missed classes, students must watch recordings of the missed lecture. - What happens if I fail?
If you failed an assessment, please refer to the Assessment policy for details on resits and retake options.َ
Qualifications
- Can cohorts that received the IP diploma certificate in previous years get retrospective PgCert HE from The Open University once the programme is validated?
Unfortunately not. Only students who will register on the course from September 2025/26 onward will receive the PgCert HE in Islam and Psychology degree- Level 7.
Any questions? Email us at admissions@cambridgemuslimcollege.ac.uk
