Al-Maktoum Institute For Arabic and Islamic Studies, Courses, Study Programme

Study Programme

The programme offered at the Institute draws on the range of expertise available at the Institute. There are two main fields of study - Arabic and Islamic Studies and Islamicjerusalem Studies. The taught course in Islamic Studies is distinctive in that it is not focused narrowly on a specific field. It is designed in such a way that it is not linked to the study of a specific area (e.g. Middle Eastern Studies) or a particular topic (e.g. Islamic History). The course will cover a range of topics related to Islamic Studies and will allow students to develop a strong grasp of the subjects. Students will study the field from a wide angle, thus enabling them to acquire the knowledge and skills befitting those undergoing postgraduate training.

The taught course in Islamicjerusalem Studies is unique to the Institute and was pioneered by the Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi himself. The course structure reflects the Institute's commitment to create an exciting and multi-disciplinary approach to a relatively new field of inquiry. Indeed the course is a major attraction not only due to the centrality of Islamicjerusalem Studies to all those interested in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, but also because of the importance of looking back in order to face the current situation in the region.

Both courses will be a unique development in Scotland. The latter course is, in fact, unique globally. It is an exciting development in the world of academia in Scotland, and even in Britain as a whole.

The main features of the programme are:

• Contemporary - It is based on current and progressive research; and takes into consideration the needs and preferences of students.
• Flexibility - It allows students to transfer between the Certificate, Diploma and Masters; and part-time students to transfer to full-time and vice versa.
• Quality - The quality of teaching inputs and outputs are assured and maintained by regular reviews undertaken by the Institute.
• Diversity - The programme does not seek to offer Islamic Studies training within a single methodology. Rather, an inter-disciplinary approach will be used so that students will appreciate and understand the various schools of thought within a specific line of study.