Globalised Muslim World, The MSc

This dynamic taught MSc programme explores the inherent diversity of the world's Muslim societies and encourages students to critically analyse some of the major global, international and transnational trends and movements that cut across borders and connect Muslims across the world.

The programme is truly interdisciplinary, bringing together Area Studies, Politics and International Relations, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Studies and History to explore the unique characteristics of contemporary Muslim societies in our increasingly globalised world.

Muslim societies across the globe

Unlike the majority of Masters programmes available to students with interests in contemporary Muslim societies, the MSc Globalised Muslim World offers a genuinely global perspective, pushing the boundaries of enquiry beyond the Middle East to South Asia, Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as a number of key Muslim-minority contexts.

Beyond considering this wider geographical scope, we will teach you to critically analyse and interrogate major global, international and transnational interactions and movements which operate across borders and geographies, shaping Muslim imaginaries and their representations.

Bridging disciplines and boundaries

The programme takes an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on research-led teaching based on empirical investigation. It also promotes comparative perspectives both within the core regions of the Muslim world and across Muslim/non-Muslim boundaries.

The Alwaleed Centre

The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, a research and teaching Centre based within the School of Literatures, Languages & Culture, developed this program.

The Alwaleed Centre is offering generous student scholarships for the 2025 to 2026 academic year - see Scholarships and funding.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

This programme aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to pursue PhD research on a wide variety of Muslim-majority and Muslim-minorities states and societies.

It will also provide you with crucial insights into the interactions producing a globalised Muslim world which would be extremely useful in many professional roles, including:

• global/international/national NGOs
• private sector organisations
• international business
• foreign policy and diplomacy roles