Program Overview

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Key Information

Start Date

September

Duration

1 year

Attendance Mode

Full-time or part-time

Location

On Campus

Fees

• Home: £12,220
• International: £25,320

Course Code

T6U4

Entry Requirements

We will consider all applications with 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher. In addition to degree classification, we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement. References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

International Entry Requirements

• Afghanistan: Master's degree, 80% or 3.3/4.0
• Argentina: Titulo / Grado de Licenciado, 7/10
• Australia: Bachelor degree, 2:2 or Credit or 65%
• Austria: Bachelor degree, 2.5/5.0 and overall Pass (Bestanden)
• Bahrain: Bachelor degree, 75% or GPA 3.0/4.0
• Bangladesh: Bachelor’s from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or Master's degree, 60% or GPA 3.0/4.0
• Belgium: Licentiaat or Licencié, 13/20 or 65%
• Botswana: Bachelor degree (5-year) or Master's from University of Botswana, GPA 3.5/5.0 or 65% or B- or Good
• Brazil: Título de Bacharel / Título de Licenciado (4-year), 7/10 or 70%
• Brunei: Bachelor degree, Lower Second Class Honours with 50% overall
• Bulgaria: Bachelor degree, 4.3/6
• Cameroon: Diplôme d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme d'Études Supérieures de Commerce (5-year), 12-13 assez bien (fair); 70-74; or B+
• Canada: Bachelor degree, GPA 3.0/4.0 or 74-77% or overall B
• China: Bachelor degree (4-year), 73% or 2.6/4.0 (C9 unis), 75% or 2.8/4.0 (Double First unis), 80% or 3.25/4.0 (all other unis)
• Colombia: Licenciado / Titulo (4-year), 3.5/5.0
• Croatia: Baccalaureus / Baccalaurea (Bachelor degree), Overall score 3/5
• Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 6.5/10
• Czech Republic: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS), 1.75/4.0 or High C 'dobre’ (good)
• Denmark: Bachelor degree, 7/12 or 8/13 or grade C
• Egypt: Bachelor degree, 70% or 3.0/4.0
• Estonia: Bakalaurusekraad / University Specialist's Diploma / Professional Higher Education Diploma, 4.0/5.0
• Finland: Bachelor / Kandidaatti / Kandidat (180 ECTS credits), 3/5 or 2/3
• France: Licence or Diplôme from a grande école, 11.5 out 20
• Gambia: Master's degree (2-year), GPA 3.0/4.3 or 64% or B
• Germany: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS), 2.6/5
• Ghana: Bachelor degree, 2:2 (Second Class Lower Division) or GPA 3.25/5.0 or 60%
• Greece: Bachelor degree, 6.50/10
• Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, Upper second class or GPA 2.7/4.0 or 75% or B Minus
• Hungary: Bachelor (Alapfokozat) or Diploma (Egyetemi Oklevél), 3.5/5.0
• Iceland: Bachelor degree (Baccalaureus or Bakkalarprof), 7.0 out of 10
• India: Bachelor degree, CGPA: 55-60% or 5.5/10 - 6.0/10
• Iraq: Bachelor degree (Licence/Karshani), 0.7
• Israel: Bachelor degree, 70% or C+
• Italy: Laurea (180 ECTS), 100/110
• Japan: Bachelor degree, 70% or C+ or 3.0
• Jordan: Bachelor degree, 3.0/4.0 or 70%
• Kazakhstan: Bachelors (Bakalavr Diplomi) or Specialist Diploma, GPA 3.0/4.0 or GPA 4.0/5.0 or B
• Kenya: Bachelor degree, 2:2 or 60%
• Kuwait: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.67/4.0
• Kyrgyzstan: Bachelor's degree or specialist diploma (min 4 years) from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0 or 2.67/4.0
• Latvia: Bakalaura Diploms (Bachelor's) or Profesionālā Bakalaura Diploms (Professional Bachelor's) from a recognised institution, 6/10
• Lebanon: Bachelor's degree / Licence from a recognised institution, 70% or C or 2.7/4.0 or 12/20
• Liberia: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 75% or 2.8/4.0
• Libya: Bachelor's degree from selected institution, 65% or 2.8/4.0
• Lithuania: Bachelors/Bakalauro (180 ECTS) from a recognised institution, 7/10
• Luxembourg: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Macedonia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 7/10 or 2:2
• Malawi: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 60% or 2.4/4.0
• Malaysia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.6/4.0 or B- (Class 2 Division 2)
• Maldives: Bachelor's degree from the Maldives National University (MNU), 50%
• Malta: Bachelor degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class / 60% / Category IIB
• Mexico: Titulo de Licenciado from a recognised institution, 7.5/10
• Morocco: Licence/Licence d'Etudes Fondamentales/Licence Professionnelle from a recognised institution, 11/20
• Namibia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 60% or 2.5/4.0
• Nepal: Master's degree / Bachelor's (4-year) from select institutions, 55% or 2.4/4.0
• Netherlands: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 6/10 or 2.7/4.0
• New Zealand: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons
• Norway: Bachelors/Bachelorgrad (180 ECTS) or Candidatus/a magisterii from a recognised institution, Overall C
• Oman: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.7/4.0
• Pakistan: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from HEC recognised institution or 2 year BA + 2 year MA from HEC recognised institution, CGPA 2.7 or 55%
• Palestine (State of): Bachelor degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 75% or or 2.7/4.0
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised institution, Class II Division B
• Peru: Licenciado or Professional Title from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Philippines: Master’s from recognised institution or Centre of Excellence; or Bachelor's from prestigious institution or Centre of Excellence, 2.5/4.0 or 80% or 2.5/5.0 or Cum Laude
• Poland: Licencjat or Inżynier from a recognised institution, 3.8/5.0
• Portugal: Licenciado (180 ECTS) from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Qatar: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.7/4.0 or 3.3/5.0
• Romania: Diplomă de Licenţă/Diplomă de Inginer/Diplomă de Urbanist Diplomat from a recognised university, 7/10
• Russia: Diplom Bakalavra or Specialist Diploma from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0
• Rwanda: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons; 60%; or 13/20
• Saudi Arabia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0 or 2.7/4.0 or 70%
• Serbia and Montenegro: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 7 / Good
• Sierra Leone: Bachelor's Honours degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons; 55%; 3.4/5.0; 2.75/4.0
• Singapore: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 3.3/5.0 or 2.8/4.0
• Slovakia: Bachelor's degree (Bakalár) from a recognised institution, 70%; or 2.0 overall; or C
• Slovenia: Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (University Degree) or Diploma o pridobljeni visoki strokovni izobrazbi / Diplomirani (Diploma of Professional Higher Education) or Diplomant or Univerzitetni diplomant (first degree), 7 out of 10
• Solomon Islands: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from the University of the South Pacific, B/3.0
• Somalia: Do not accept national qualifications for direct entry, N/A
• South Africa: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 60%
• South Korea: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.5/4.0; or 2.8/4.3; or 3.0/4.5
• Spain: Título de Grado / Título de Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Titulo de Arquitecto from a recognised institution, 6/10 or 1.5/4.0
• Sri Lanka: Bachelor Special Degree or Professional Degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 55% or 2:2 or 3.0/4.0
• Saint Kitts and Nevis: Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies, 2.7/4, B-, 60% or Lower Second Class Hons
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies, 2.7/4, B-, 60% or Lower Second Class Hons
• Sudan: Bachelor's degree (5-year) from a recognised institution, 60% or B
• Sweden: Bachelor's Degree/Kandidatexamen/Yrkesexamen from a recognised institution, Pass OR Godkänd (with a minimum of 90 credits at Good - C)
• Switzerland: Diplom/Diplôme;Lizentiat;Staatsdiplom/Diplôme d’Etat from a recognised institution, 4/6; or 6/10: or 3/5
• Syria: Bachelor's degree (Licence/al-ijaza-fi) from a recognised institution, 65%+ or 'Good' from a public university
• Taiwan: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 65-70% or GPA 2.6/4.0 - 2.8/4.0
• Tanzania: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2:2; or Lower Second; or GPA 2.7/5.0
• Thailand: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.6/4.0
• Trinidad and Tobago: Bachelor's Degree from UWI, B-, 60% or 2.5; or Lower Second Class Hons
• Trinidad and Tobago: Diplôme National d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme National d'Architecture/ Docteur en Médecine / Vétérinaire/ Licence/ Maîtrise from recognised institution, 11 out of 20
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi from a recognised institution, Top Unis: 2.5/4.0 All others: 2.8/4.0
• UAE: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.6/4.0 or 75% or C+
• Uganda: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2:2 (Lower Second) or 3.0/5.0 or B
• Ukraine: Bachelor's degree or specialist diploma from a recognised institution, 7 out of 12; or 3.5 out of 5
• USA: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.7/4.0
• Vietnam: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 6.0/10 or 2.5/4.0
• Yemen: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 70% or 2.7/4.0
• Zambia: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 65%; B; Credit; 1.7/2.5; or 2.7/4.0; or 3.3/5.0
• Zimbabwe: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) from a recognised institution, 2:2 (60%)

Course Overview

The MA Islamic Studies programme offers students the opportunity to concentrate on the Qur'an, the Hadith and other Islamic texts, and so provides a unique training in the translation of Islamic religious material.

The degree is designed to benefit academics, teachers of Islam in other institutions, translators of Islamic material into English in research centres, government departments and da'wa centres. It provides excellent research training and is a useful qualification for those who wish to progress to higher postgraduate degrees.

Why Study MA Islamic Studies at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked 7th in the UK for African and Middle Eastern Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)
• Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021

Structure

Students take 180 credits, 60 credits from a dissertation and 120 credits from taught modules. From the taught modules 60 credits are selected as a major from list A. A further 60 credits are selected as the minor from list A or list B, or 30 credits from list A or list B and 30 credits of an approved open option.

The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which are optional.

Important Notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory

• Dissertation in the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East - 60 credits
• Qur'an and Hadith Studies Part A - 15 credits
• Qur'an and Hadith Studies Part B - 15 credits
• The Qur'an: Language, Style and Translation in English Part A - 15 credits
• The Qur'an: Language, Style and Translation in English Part B - 15 credits

Guided Options List A

30-60 credits from List A

• Islamic Texts: Language and the Synthesis of Classical Scholarship Part A - 15 credits
• Islamic Texts: Language and the Synthesis of Classical Scholarship Part B - 15 credits
• Translation of Islamic Texts (a project) - 15 credits

Open Options

Students can take a maximum of 30 credits from the School-wide open options list, including languages.

Teaching and Learning

One-year Masters programmes consist of 180 credits. 120 credits are taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks); the dissertation makes up the remaining 60 units.

Contact Hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes.

Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

• How to assess data and evidence critically from manuscripts and digital sources, solve problems of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations, locate materials, use research sources (particularly research library catalogues) and other relevant traditional sources.
• Systematic understanding of Arabic material from the Qur'an and Hadith as well as representative texts in theology, Islamic philosophy, law and mysticism.
• Ability to identify and explain stylistic features of the Qur'an and Hadith and understand the methodologies used for their authentication, interpretation and translation into English.
• Ability to understand technical terms and to place passages in their historical and intellectual context.
• Ability to understand current issues in Islamic thought and movements, relating them to their historical origins and contemporary world situations.

Intellectual (thinking) Skills

• Students will learn to become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence, and to understand through practice what documents can and cannot tell us.
• Students will learn to question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves.
• Students will acquire an ability to represent with intelligence, fairness and integrity views different from their own, show the basis on which they stand and discuss them.
• Students will learn to demonstrate sophisticated understanding of religious issues and intellectual flexibility, using various methods of study, such as the linguistic, historical, hermeneutic and social sciences.

Subject-based Practical Skills

• Communicate effectively in writing.
• Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources.
• Present seminar papers.
• Listen and discuss ideas introduced during seminars.

Transferrable Skills

• Write good essays and dissertations.
• Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
• Understand unconventional ideas.
• Study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates.
• Present (non-assessed) material orally.
• Be able to manage time.

Scholarships

• Tibawi Trust Award
• Felix Non-Indian Scholarship
• Felix Scholarships

Employment

Graduates of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with skills in written and oral communication, analysis and problem solving.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Africa Matters
• Amnesty International
• Arab British Chamber of Commerce
• BBC World Service
• British High Commission
• Council for British Research in the Levant
• Department for International Development
• Edelman
• Embassy of Jordan
• Ernst & Young
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Google
• Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
• Middle East Eye
• Saïd Foundation
• TalkAbout Speech Therapy
• The Black Curriculum
• The Telegraph
• United Nations Development Programme
• UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
• Wall Street Journal

Find out about our Careers Service.

Key Staff

• King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies
• Professor Muhammad A S Abdel Haleem, OBE
• Qur’an, Hadith, Tafsir; Islam in society; classical and modern Arabic literature