The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies offers students a unique opportunity to enjoy a strong multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary graduate education across a range of core subjects, while also enabling them to pursue a specialization in one of a number of important areas within the field of modern Islamic scholarship. The program is tailored to examine traditional Islamic knowledge and place such knowledge in the context of the challenges faced by modern society. Islamic Studies is a discipline that is widely taught in universities across the world. However, the blended combination of specialties and research offered at HBKU is especially unique.

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Islamic Studies should have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution. They must also have a strong undergraduate academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent). Applicants who wish to pursue the Contemporary Fiqh or Contemporary Qur’anic Studies concentration should have a bachelor’s degree in Shari’a, Islamic Studies, or a related area. Applicants who intend to pursue a concentration in Contemporary Fiqh or Contemporary Qur’anic Studies must demonstrate proficiency in Arabic through previous studies (e.g. completing an undergraduate degree in which the language of instruction was Arabic or by completing a proficiency examination offered by CIS). Applicants should submit at least two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an academic referee. Applicants should submit a personal statement that explains why they are applying and how their studies will contribute to the achievement of their personal objectives, including information about past achievements and challenges they have faced in their academic or professional life (minimum of 300 words, maximum of 500 words). Applicants who intend to pursue concentrations in Islamic Thought and Applied Ethics, Islamic Civilization and Societies, or Comparative Religions should submit a personal statement in English. Applicants who intend to pursue a concentration in Contemporary Fiqh, or Contemporary Qur’anic Studies should submit a personal statement in Arabic. Applicants should submit a copy of their current resume or curriculum vitae with the online application. Applicants should submit an electronic copy of their passport as part of the online application. Nationals and residents of Qatar should also submit their Qatari ID.