PROGRAMME OUTCOMES
The objectives of the programme are to:
- Build a balanced understanding of different schools of thought and core disciplines in the Islamic tradition, the contexts in which they have developed, and the ways in which they deal with contemporary issues and challenges;
- Provide the student with the opportunity to acquire deep and critical mastery of key foundational theories, principles and texts within the Islamic tradition;
- Present a broad understanding of key aspects of the natural sciences, the humanities, and the social and political sciences which intersect with the study of religion and its application to contemporary society;
- Equip students with intellectual and practical skills embedded in the Islamic tradition that will aid in the articulation and proper application of the Islamic tradition to contemporary issues and challenges;
- Develop independence of judgement, critical thinking and the ability to communicate effectively in ways that are relevant to the field of scholarship and the wider professional world;
- Prepare students for further study at higher levels and/or the pursuit of relevant professional pathways;
- Create a learning and research environment which provides both equal opportunity and tolerance of diversity.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The BA in Islamic Studies is a three-year full-time programme. Each year consists of three terms from September till June. Terms 1 and 2 offer ten weeks of teaching and one reading week, while term 3 has seven weeks of teaching, a two-week study break, and then 2 weeks of final exams. The contact hours are 24 hours a week on average. In addition, students are expected to spend up to 20 hours a week in personal study and assignments.
The programme opens for admissions every two years and successful admission is contingent upon the student’s proficiency in reading, comprehending, and analysing classical Arabic texts with the assistance of a dictionary. An assessment will be conducted to verify that students have attained the required minimum proficiency level prior to the BA commencing. Cambridge Muslim College offers a year-long prerequisite Arabic Abroad programme for the BA students to help them reach the required level of Arabic. Students are expected to attend and successfully pass this year to continue onto the BA programme.
ASSESSMENT
Students are assessed using different methods aligned with module objectives. These include essays, oral presentations, group projects and written examinations.
PROGRAMME DATES
The BA Programme will start at our campus in Cambridge in September 2024. The dates for each academic year are as follows:
Term 1: 25 September – 8 December 2023
Term 2: 8 January – 22 March 2024
Term 3: 15 April – 28 June 2024
The prerequisite Arabic year runs from September 2023 to June 2024.
In Year One, students gain foundational knowledge and understanding of underlying concepts and principles of the core disciplines of the Islamic scholarly tradition and acquire general knowledge and understanding of key social, cultural and political developments in Islamic History. Students acquire general knowledge and understanding of the Social Sciences, World Religions and Western Philosophy – each with a view to understand the modern context and to acquire tools for analysis and articulating the role of faith in this context.
In Year Two, students gain critical understanding of well-established principles and main methods of enquiry in the core disciplines of the Islamic tradition, giving consideration to the application of these principles and methods of enquiry to contemporary issues. Students also gain a sound understanding of Western Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, and a sound knowledge and understanding of contemporary Britain and British Muslim society.
In Year Three, students develop coherent, detailed knowledge as well as systematic, critical understanding of key aspects in the core disciplines of the Islamic scholarly tradition including selected topics or case studies that reflect awareness of the recent advances and limitations of the field of knowledge. Students undertake an independent research project to demonstrate this consolidation of their learning. Students also gain sound knowledge and understanding of global affairs and religion in the modern world.
MODULE DESCRIPTIONS
Programme modules cover Islamic disciplines within the modern context.
This course focuses on Qur’anic Studies through the text of the Qur’an, its exegesis (tafsīr) and the intellectual tools required for its study (ʿulūm al-qur’ān). Students read selected suras from all parts of the Qur’an, as well as major commentaries and contemporary discussions in the field, in order to cover its most important themes and topics of exegetical concern. The themes covered include the Qur’anic ethico-religious message, eschatology, prophetic stories, divine signs, legal rulings, and the Scriptuaries (ahl al-kitāb). Topics in ʿulūm al-qurʾān include revelation and its occasions, Meccan and Medinan suras, oaths, sura unity, Biblical materials in tafsīr, variant readings, Qur’anic compilation, abrogation, and principles of hermeneutics. Overall, students gain an extensive training in the disciplines required to understand the Qur’an soundly, practical exposure to the meaning of the Qur’an in Arabic, and the ability to navigate the major contemporary debates around it.
This module introduces students to one of the two revealed sources of Islam, the hadith. In addition to reading through hadith texts and commentaries (e.g.: Kitāb al-Arbāʿin of al-Nawawī and readings in the canonical hadith collections), the module develops students’ familiarity with the foundational tools, methods, and disciplines used to study them (ʿulūm al-ḥadīth). The module introduces the basic historiography of hadith and some of its major genres, offers an introduction to the classical science of hadith classification (muṣṭalaḥ), examines the application of hadith methods in-depth (e.g.: ʿilm al-rijāl, jarḥ wa-taʿdīl, takhrīj), and introduces students to critical debates in contemporary hadith studies. The module introduces students to essential primary texts and presents them with the opportunity to develop foundational knowledge and skills in an essential field of study in classical and contemporary Islamic Studies, including Islamic Theology, Law, and Qur’anic studies.
In this course, students will study the discipline of Islamic Law, one of the primary disciplines among the Islamic religious sciences. Studying the chapters on ritual, commercial, family, and criminal law from a classical Ḥanafī legal text, this course allows students to explore key rulings, concepts and principles within Islamic law, the broader historical and social contexts of their formation, and the contemporary application of Islamic law in complex modern contexts. The course aims to give students the knowledge to articulate what fiqh is, what a madhhab is, how fiqh relates to ‘law’, how a training in fiqh reflects an approach to being faithful to the Islamic revelation, how people have lived this understanding through the ages, and to encourage students to reflect on the consequences of these questions for Muslims in modern Western societies.
In this course, students study both Islamic creed (ʿaqīda) and philosophical theology (ʿilm al-kalām) with a dual focus on historical contextualisation and contemporary application. By reading a complete early creedal text followed by a classical theological manual in Arabic, alongside significant secondary literature, all the main debates in the field of kalām are covered. During the course, the development of different schools of thought within the Islamic theological tradition is studied in detail along with characteristic topics, such as epistemology, ontology, natural theology, the divine nature, prophethood, human action, faith and sin, eschatology, and political theology. The result is that students learn to think like a theologian, to understand how kalām forms a single coherent system for the rational clarification and justification of Islamic belief, and to bring this grounding in the tradition into conversation with contemporary debates in theology and philosophy.
The core modules of our BA in Islamic studies offer students a unique exposure to the Islamic studies through an in-depth analysis of key Arabic classical texts. This module serves to improve students’ reading competency through the application of Arabic grammar (naḥw), morphology (ṣarf), and rhetoric (balāgha) to classical texts. It also develops familiarity with styles of composition employed in classical Arabic scholarly writing. It focuses on parsing selected Qur’anic chapters and Arabic texts as a way of consolidating students’ command of Arabic grammar, morphology, and rhetoric.
This module introduces students to two inter-linked Islamic rational disciplines, Arabic logic (manṭiq) and ontological categories (ma‘qūlāt). It presents an Islamic view of the interconnection between epistemology and ontology and surveys the attempt of traditional Muslim scholarship to harmonise these two realms. By studying the reason-based methodologies embodied in these disciplines, students are introduced to an essential part of Islamic intellectual tradition, crucial for the proper understanding and mastery of classical texts in all the religious sciences. As such, this module introduces students to logical modes of thinking and develops their ability to analyse arguments.
This module is an introduction to Islamic History, exploring key political, social and cultural developments in societies of the Islamicate world from the rise of Islam in the sixth century CE to the fall of the Ottoman empire in the early twentieth century CE. By familiarizing students with historical events, figures, and developments from the rise of Islam to the modern period, this module provides the foundations for the study of core Islamic disciplines within their historical context.
In this module, students are introduced to the history, philosophical foundations, and methodology of the social sciences. Focusing on the study of sociology and anthropology, the course introduces the major theories and schools of thought within each discipline. Specific attention is paid to the study of religion (notably Islam) and the secular as the epistemological root of several discourses, such as naturalism and humanism. Through this module, students are provided important tools and contexts for the study of the practical application of the Islamic tradition to contemporary issues.
At the heart of Islam lies its vision of spirituality and human character. This module introduces students to the key concepts, practices, and historical developments of spiritual discipline and ethics across various Islamic traditions. Questions of asceticism and mysticism, the emergence of Sufism and its institutions, and the teachings of major figures such as al-Junayd, al-Ghazālī, and Rūmī will all be explored. The topics discussed will also be tied to other modules — such as Islamic Theology, Law, Quranic Studies, and Hadith Studies — in order to understand how the spiritual and ethical traditions of Islam both shaped and were shaped by these disciplines.
‘Islamic Legal Theory’ introduces the theoretical foundations and methodology of Islamic law and moral theology (uṣūl al-fiqh). Students learn how jurists interpret the language of revelation in order to arrive at the Lawgiver’s intent; how transmitted knowledge can be ascertained; how apparent conflicts between theological texts may be resolved; and what considerations are borne by jurists when they formulate legal and moral rules. By explaining how the fiqh was and continues to be derived and defended, students are encouraged to contemplate how these methods, principles, and tools might be brought to bear on contemporary moral and ethical questions.
This module presents an introduction to a wide variety of Western philosophical systems and intellectual traditions as well as an introduction to its conceptual tools and methods, including, but not limited to, methods of reasoning and tools for philosophical analysis . It explores the key concepts and schools in the history of western philosophical thought.
In this module, students study religion and religious practice, as well as the various historical conditions that impact it within modern society, such as secularism, capitalism, neoliberalism, scientism, and racism. Building on their knowledge of the social sciences, students focus on conceptualizing the ‘religious’, the ‘modern’, and ‘secularisation’. By doing so, students will develop the analytical skills relevant to study and research pressing sociological and societal questions of modern life that relate to the classical Islamic disciplines.
In this module, students are introduced to the modern study of religion. It focuses on the concept of religion itself and surveys the major theories and trends in Religious Studies. The history, key teachings, practices and texts of all major world religions are covered. By introducing students to a variety of belief systems and theories related to religion, this module provides students with important context for studying the application of the classical Islamic tradition to contemporary issues.
This module introduces students to the classical methods of argumentation and debate known as the art of dialectic and research (ādāb al-baḥth wa-l-munāẓara). Stemming out of the logical tradition (mantiq), this module aids students in applying the methods of logical reasoning they learned in Level 4 module ‘Logic and Ontology’, disclosing a practical dimension to the theory learnt in the logical and philosophical disciplines. It also provides the etiquettes and art of dialectic debate, and how to apply this in one’s oral and written scholarly disputations with others.
MEET THE FACULTY
LECTURER & ISBA PROGRAMME LEAD
Dr Salman Younas’ research focuses on Islamic law in the classical and modern periods. Dr Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After completing his undergraduate degree, he moved to the Middle East where he spent half a decade studying Arabic and the traditional Islamic sciences. In 2013, Dr Younas completed his MA in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford with honours. He then went on to complete a DPhil in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford in 2018. He was previously a researcher at the Oxford Department of International Development and the Hamad bin Jassim Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR
As Academic Director of Cambridge Muslim College, Dr Talal Al-Azem heads the College’s academic programmes, leads in the development of curricula, and oversees research. He was educated at the University of Michigan and at Oxford, and studied the disciplines of Islamic learning in Syria and Turkey. Dr Al-Azem has served as fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and lecturer in the Faculties of Theology and Religion and of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on Muslim moral theology, law, and education.
LECTURER IN ISLAMIC STUDIES
Dr Ramon Harvey lectures in Islamic theology at Cambridge Muslim College. He undertook his postgraduate studies at SOAS, University of London, and also holds an ʿalimiyya qualification. His publications include monographs and articles in both Islamic theology and Qur’anic studies. Currently, his research focuses on kalām in early Māturīdism and on constructive Islamic theology, especially in conversation with Christian theology, analytic philosophy and phenomenology. He is Series Editor of Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Scripture and Theology, which is published by Edinburgh University Press.
LECTURER
Dr Omar Qureshi is a lecturer in Western and Islamic Philosophy and serves as the head of the Diploma in Contextual Islamic Studies & Leadership (CISLD) at Cambridge Muslim College. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology and subsequently completed his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction – Science Education, both from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies with a specialization in the Philosophy of Education from Loyola University Chicago in 2016. His dissertation, titled “Badr al-Dīn Ibn Jamāʿah and the Highest Good of Islamic Education,” explores the topic of educational institutional identity in the United States. Before joining Cambridge Muslim College, he served as the provost and assistant professor of Liberal and Islamic Studies at Zaytuna College. Dr Qureshi also held the positions of principal and dean of academics at a parochial school located in the western suburbs of Chicago for seven years.
In the field of Islamic sciences, Dr Qureshi has studied various subjects, including Islamic Law (Shāfiʿī), Logic, Kalām theology, Islamic Philosophy, Islamic Legal Theory (usūl al-fiqh), Qurʾānic sciences and exegesis, Ḥadīth nomenclature, Prophetic Biography, and Islamic History.”
VISITING LECTURER IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
Amin El-Yousfi completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge looking at how everyday Muslim pieties encounter and operate through processes of secularisation and neoliberlisation. His research was based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork in France and the UK looking at the intersection between Islam, neoliberalism and secularism. He is presently a Research Associate in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Chester. In addition to studying privately a traditional curriculum of Islamic sciences with ‘ulama in Morocco and the UK, Amin completed an MPhil in Economics and an MPhil in Sociology. He then worked for two years as a Research Associate at the Moroccan Centre for Social Sciences (MC2S) before joining the University of Cambridge with a full Cambridge Trust doctoral scholarship. Amin worked also for two years as a Research Associate at the Groupe Société, Religion et Laïcité (attached to the CNRS).
VISITING LECTURER
Muhammad Husain Kazi is a visiting lecturer at the Cambridge Muslim College where he teaches the Quranic Studies module. Muhammad serves as a Community Imam and Liaison Officer at Ashford and Staines Community Centre and is reading for a PhD in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Cambridge. He is particularly interested in the theme of the Prophet’s exemplariness and the complex interplay between the temporal and timeless dimensions of the Qur’an. Muhammad completed an MSt at Oxford, an MA at SOAS, has spent more than a decade studying the Islamic sciences with traditional scholars in the UK and Jordan, and has also memorised the Noble Qur’an.
VISITING LECTURER
Dr. Wim Sulayman Van Ael, a distinguished academic, boasts a rich expertise in Islamic Sciences, Quran studies, and mental health. With a steadfast commitment to education, he serves as a dedicated educator, lecturer, and chaplain, earning recognition for his invaluable contributions to Islamic education, spiritual guidance, and mental health advocacy. Dr. Van Ael earned a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Theology and holds a wealth of certifications, including Master NLP, Neuropsychology, CBT, and CBT based Mindfulness. In addition to his scholarly achievements, he is a practicing psychotherapist and proudly holds a Doctorate in Islamic Sciences from R. Sorbon, France. Throughout his career, Dr. Van Ael has held significant positions in various prestigious institutions, his influence, and impact are recognized globally, as evidenced by his consistent inclusion in the “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World” since 2017, under the category of Spiritual Guides.
Is the BA in Islamic Studies right for you?
This programme combines an intensive weekly load that runs for the three years of the programme along with an intellectually challenging environment where students are pushed to question their own assumptions, consider various points of view and develop their critical thinking and argumentative skills.
The programme is ideal for those who are:
- interested in exploring new ideas and assessing conflicting points of view;
- regularly engaged in reading contemporary writings that have a bearing on questions of faith in modernity;
- competent at or, at least, interested in developing competency in articulating their thoughts through the written medium, as essays form the basis of much of the course’s assessments;
- interested in forming a healthy fraternity with co-students to support the mutual aim of benefiting from the course and forming lasting ties.
*The College is particularly committed to supporting and developing female scholarship, and we thus strongly encourage female applicants to apply to our programmes
BA in Islamic Studies Programme & Arabic Abroad
Cambridge Muslim College offers a year-long Arabic programme to help them reach the required level of Arabic for the BA programme. This is a residential programme developed and run in conjunction with our partners Lisan Institute in Istanbul, Türkiye. For full information on the Arabic Abroad programme content click here.
The Arabic Abroad programme is meticulously crafted to cultivate students’ proficiency in Classical Arabic, preparing them for an immersive exploration of traditional Islamic disciplines. While the programme warmly welcomes all individuals, priority consideration is given to those who have received offers for our esteemed BA (HONS) in Islamic Studies programme.
Information for Prospective BA Offer Holders:
Upon receiving an offer for our BA programme, you will receive invited to enrol in the Arabic Abroad programme. This invaluable opportunity allows you to delve into the richness of Classical Arabic, laying a solid foundation for your academic journey in Islamic Studies. BA offer holders are entitled reduced fee of £6000 for the one-year/10-month program. See here for a comprehensive breakdown of what the fees cover.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Applications for the BA in Islamic Studies opens a year in advance. We recruit every two years and not every year.
Admissions have closed for Spring 2023.
Entry Requirements for BA in Islamic Studies:
General Requirements
- Minimum age of 18 years at the point of enrolment.
- UK citizenship or permanent resident status (non–EU nationals must have relevant visa status).
- Two references sent directly to Admissions department, please see referee guide for further information.
Academic Criteria
- Successful completion of at least three B grades at Advanced ‘A’-Level qualifications, or equivalent.
- At least 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C grade), or above, including English.
English Language Skills
- If English is not your first language, you 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 you possess a transcript confirming that your higher education course was both taught and assessed in English, you are exempt from taking an English language proficiency test.
Classical Arabic Language Skills
- Ability to read and understand texts in classical Arabic with the aid of a dictionary is expected.
- Applicants lacking this level of Arabic proficiency are expected to attend a year-long prerequisite Arabic Abroad programme arranged by the College.
Additional Notes:
- Applicants still studying for A-Levels are welcome to apply.
- We welcome applications from mature students who already have a university degree.
Please follow this link to our online application portal complete the application form and upload all relevant documents.
References
Referees will need to send their letters directly to Admissions department, please see referee guide for further information.
Application Guidance
All applicants should read the below documents carefully and send a copy of the Reference Guidance Notes to their referees.
Fees
Tuition fees for the BA (Hons) in Islamic Studies is £6,000 per annum. Successful candidates must confirm their place on the programme with a one-off non-refundable deposit of £450. As per Terms & Conditions, there is a cooling off period of 14 days.
Once committed to the programme, students can pay for their fees in one-lump sum, or over three equal instalments, paid termly.
Scholarships & Bursaries
- The College endeavours to support successful students, regardless of their financial situation, and it is with emphasis we state that one’s financial need will not impact the admissions process.
- We work closely with individuals and institutions who are keen on funding students of knowledge. Examples of such institutions ranges from the National Zakat Foundation, Zouq Foundation, and many more.
- Students will be able to apply for financial assistance once they are offered a place on the BA programme.
- Offer holders will be asked to complete a financial aid application which will be assessed by our finance department before a decision on the level of assistance (if any) is made.
- For further information about scholarships and bursaries see here or email admissions@cambridgemuslimcollege.ac.uk.
Applications Open
Applications Close
Shortlisting
Interviews
Offers
*Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a 20-minute interview with the recruitment panel who will assess the applicant’s aptitude and commitment.
The College can provide limited single gender accommodation in shared housing, on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information please see our accommodation page.
The Programme Specifications document provides information on the programme and learning outcomes as well as credit hours breakdown.
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.
Eligibility
- When can I apply?
The enrolment window for the BA in Islamic Studies opens one year ahead of the programme start. We admit students every two years, not annually. The upcoming BA programme is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with the prerequisite Arabic Abroad programme starting in September 2025. - I am an international student, can I apply?
Unfortunately, the College is currently only able to accept UK nationals and EU nationals who have been accepted onto EU Settlement Scheme. Non-EU nationals can only be considered if they already have the relevant visa status demonstrating the right to full-time study in the UK. Such evidence must be shown and discussed at the time of application, and again at the interview. - I am a mature student (over 21), can I apply?
Yes, we welcome applicants from mature students and value the life and practical experience they bring.
Finance & Accommodation
- Does the College provide accommodation for couples or families with children?
No, the College does not provide accommodation for couples or families with children. The College can provide limited single-sex accommodation in shared housing, on a first-come, first-served basis. - How do I apply for financial assistance?
You can apply for finance after you have been offered a place on the BA. The admissions team will send you the application form and further details. - What information will I need to provide?
You will be asked to provide details of income and expenditure for main household earner. This may be you, your parent(s), or other family member who is responsible for your household.
- What is the expected living cost in Cambridge?
We estimate living costs for a Cambridge Muslim College student to be in the region of £350 – £400* a month, excluding accommodation. *Subject change in prices over time.
About the Programme
- How many students are expected to be on the programme?
There will be up to 20 students in the BA cohort.
- What is the average class time per week?
Classes run Monday – Friday, from 9AM – 5PM. Students are encouraged to attend occasional research seminars and lectures arranged by the College in the evenings.
Visiting & Interviews
- Can I come and visit the College before applying?
The College holds Open Days where you can visit the College to meet faculty and current students. Registration is required. - Will I need to come into the College for an interview?
If your application is shortlisted, you will be notified and invited to attend an in-person interview.
Any questions? Email us at admissions@cambridgemuslimcollege.ac.uk
