BA (Hons) Islamic Studies

BA (Hons) Islamic Studies, provides you with an opportunity to study the foundation and development of Islamic knowledge from a broad and multidisciplinary perspective. Arabic Language modules will equip students with the necessary skills required to access primary Arabic sources in order to perform their independent reading and research. Students are also exposed to a variety of Sunni, Shia, Orientalist and other views and encouraged to engage in critical thinking and to adopt an academic approach to their studies. At the same time The Islamic College emphasises the spiritual aspects of Islam and wishes to inspire students to endeavour to moral and ethical excellence. The course includes core modules on Islamic studies, while giving you the flexibility to choose from a broad selection of related courses on Islam and Muslim society. The course is suited for students who plan to continue their education at the graduate level in Islamic studies or related disciplines, as well as for those interested in obtaining a BA before going on to other fields or professions. Our dedicated lecturers provide expertise in areas ranging from Qur’anic sciences, Islamic law and jurisprudence, and Islamic economics to current issues in the Muslim world with special reference to Muslims in Europe. We aim to:

• Train students in skills that are essential for understanding Arabic texts.
• Provide students with an opportunity to broaden, deepen, and enrich their understanding of Islam.
• Promote the appreciation of Islamic ethics and code of personal practice.
• Prepare students to contribute in Islamic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural environments.
• Equip students with the skills they need to pursue lifelong learning.
• Develop critical and analytical thinking skills in students.
• Provide students with an opportunity to develop the capacity for independent learning.
• Enable students to develop their academic potential.

The Islamic College as an academic institution intends to provide the learners with the opportunity to study Islam and to engage in Islamic studies. The Islamic College welcomes all applicants regardless of background, culture, religion, sect, or gender (mature students are welcome).

Course Outline

The Islamic College course in Islamic Studies aims to familiarize students with the key topics, sciences and concepts pertinent to Islam, studying such things as Arabic Language, Islamic Art, Hadith, History, Law, Philosophy, Qur’an, Theology and modern issues. The variety of designated modules offered in years 2 and 3 allow students to pursue specific interests and gain deeper insight into certain fields, or to explore new ones. Due to the wide scope and great depth of the Islamic sciences, the in-house lectures will mostly introduce students to the main issues relevant to the module, which is why students are expected to perform independent reading and individual research in order to cover the width and breadth of the topic. For every 10 credit module students will have 20 hours of class contact which they are expected to complement with at least 80 hours of private work. A full-time student will be expected to study an equivalent of normally 120 credits of modules in each year of study. A module can be described as an independent self-contained component and the building block of a degree course. It consists of a series of lectures, seminars and assignments covering the syllabus of the particular subject, with an assessment at the end. BA (Honours) in Islamic Studies is normally studied full-time over 3 years. Each academic year includes two semesters. It can also be studied as part-time over a period of 5 years. Successful completion of a module in each semester earns students credits – depending on the scope of the module – totalling 60 credits per semester, 120 per first academic year, 120 for the second year, 120 for the third year totalling 360 credits in 3 years, including the completion of the project (30 credits). Each module is allocated a fixed credit weighting which gives an indication of the workload associated with that module. Credit points can be regarded as the currency for modular degrees and are instrumental in determining whether a student has studied and passed sufficient modules to qualify for a degree.

Course Structure

The BA (Honours) course at the Islamic College operates on a modular/credit structure, as shown below.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

All Islamic College Students are encouraged to be active and independent learners and to acquire all the necessary skills through a variety of methods of learning such as lectures, seminars (led by staff and students), presentations, tutorials, private study, individual research, and so forth.

Each module within a course has a different assessment weighting. Assessment is by a combination of written examination and essays unless specified otherwise.