Islamic Studies MA

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom, Birmingham

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Home/United Kingdom/Birmingham /University of Birmingham/Islamic Studies MA

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom , Birmingham

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Research

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Birmingham (Edgbaston)

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 27,090 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Islamic Studies MA

About

Course overview

Explore the study of Islam at Birmingham. You’ll work with our academic experts and the Al-Mahdi Institute to investigate contemporary research in Islamic Studies and explore a range of topics.

You don’t need any formal learning in Islamic Studies for this course. For students who do have a background in Islamic Studies, it provides an ideal foundation for further research. Pursue your individual interests through our flexible module choices. You'll cover topics like Islamic perspectives in psychology, and law and ethics in Islamic thought and practice.

Course structure

The course runs over 12 months full-time. You can also study this programme on a part-time basis.

September - December (11 weeks)

Full-time students normally take three modules per term in the first two terms.

There are two hours of seminar time per module per week, and an emphasis on guided independent learning.

One-third of your degree is your dissertation. You begin planning and submit a proposal for your dissertation during term one.

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Course information for prospective postgraduate students on our MA Islamic Studies taught masters degree programme at the University of Birmingham.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in the Saudi Arabia will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

English Program Requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

Career

Career opportunities

By studying a postgraduate degree in Theology and Religion at Birmingham, you’ll develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths. These skills include the ability to research and organise information, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to write to tight deadlines.

Our Theology and Religion graduates enter many roles, including:

Church Ministry
Modern Day Slavery Officer
Religious Minister

Employers our Theology and Religion graduates have worked for include:

National and international places of worship
Ministry of Justice
Cambridge University Press

The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits [The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report].
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.

Careers Network

Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

Careers and employability