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The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Islamic Studies is an interdisciplinary program that cultivates a detailed understanding of Islamic studies and mastery of a chosen disciplinary pathway. This expertise is acquired by undertaking dynamic and innovative research that facilitates the analysis and production of contemporary Islamic discourses, engages with diverse themes and topics, and supports the human development goals of the State of Qatar and broader global needs.
The PhD in Islamic Studies program is highly versatile to accommodate students wishing to apply interdisciplinary research on a variety of specialties within the field of Islamic studies. Students develop essential contemporary epistemological and methodological skill sets for the analysis of Islamic discourses, while also synergizing with a solid foundation built on the rich and diverse teachings of the Islamic intellectual heritage.
- The PhD in Islamic Studies program draws on the expertise and skills of the college in an integrated manner, including diverse subjects such as Islamic art, architecture, and urbanism; global affairs; Islamic psychology; and applied Islamic ethics; as well as subjects that are more traditionally conceived under the broad umbrella of Islamic studies. Students develop a mastery of their chosen academic field and its applications to address current issues, advance knowledge, and facilitate positive social progress based on Islamic principles.
- The program comprises a strong language component, in which the primary languages of Arabic and English are supplemented by one subsidiary research language associated with Muslim societies, including but not limited to Persian, Turkish, Bahasa Indonesia, and Hausa. The multilingual proficiency enriches the undertaking of dynamic and innovative research that can produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications to advance regional and global scholarship in the areas of Islamic studies and cross-cutting disciplines.
A 72-credit degree program taught over four years in English that includes:
This component includes dissertation proposal seminars, dissertation progress workshops, and dissertation defense seminars, in addition to a pre-dissertation comprehensive examination.
- Six core courses (18 credits)
Course Name Research Methods in Islamic Studies Comparative Islamic Theology and Philosophy Comparative Theories in the Study of Religion Sources and Methodology of Islamic Law Comparative Quranic Exegesis Sources and Methodology of Hadith - Six elective courses out of eleven options (18 credits)
Course Name Comparative Applied Islamic Ethics Family and Society in Islam Globalization and Muslim Societies Graduate Seminar in Islamic Studies Islam and Modernity Islam, Environment and Sustainability Islamic Manuscript Studies Muslim Encounters with Other Societies Readings in Usul Al-Fiqh The Islamic City Translating Arabic-Islamic Texts - Dissertation (36 credits)
This component includes dissertation proposal seminars, dissertation progress workshops, and dissertation defense seminars, in addition to a pre-dissertation comprehensive examination.
Applicants seeking admission to the PhD program in Islamic Studies should have a master’s degree in a relevant field of study with a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA out of 4.0) from a recognized institution.
All applicants are required to submit a valid IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL score of 79 in order to demonstrate their proficiency in English. Applicants may be exempt from this requirement if they provide an official letter confirming that they obtained their degree from a university where the medium of instruction is English.
Applicants, both native or non-native speakers of Arabic, will be required to take an Arabic language proficiency test administered by the College of Islamic Studies at the time of application. Applicants must pass the Arabic language proficiency test with a minimum value of “upperintermediate” to be admitted to the program. Applicants who have completed university studies in Arabic and can provide a letter confirming this are exempt from this requirement.
Please refer to the following table for a summary of the admission criteria:
| Program | PhD in Islamic Studies |
|---|---|
|
Required Field of Study |
All fields |
|
Language Proficiency |
IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL: 79 Further details about the language proficiency requirement and the process to seek exemption (where this is an option) are available on the website: admissions.hbku.edu.qa |
Tuition Fees
| Program | PhD in Islamic Studies |
|---|---|
| Total Program Tuition Fees | QAR 162,000 |
| Tuition Fees per Credit Hour | QAR 2,250 |
| Total Program Credit Hours | 72 |
| Program Duration | 4 years |