Program Overview
Home Study Postgraduate Taught home Courses Arab and Islamic Studies Islamic Studies MA Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. MA Islamic Studies UCAS code 1234 Duration 1 year full time 2 years part time Entry year 2026 Campus Streatham Campus Typical offer View full entry requirements We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above (or equivalent). Contextual offers Why study MA Islamic Studies at Exeter? Advanced study of Islam with leading scholars in the field A broad and flexible programme which you can tailor to your particular interests and conduct independent research You will investigate key issues and debates in Islamic studies and receive training in the methologies of Islamic studies research IAIS is one of the foremost academic departments in Middle East, Islamic Studies and Arabic. Get involved in a variety of IAIS activities and join our vibrant research community Your advanced knowledge and expertise in Islam and contemporary debates in Islamic Studies will be valued by public and private sector employers and open doors to further academic study Fast Track (current Exeter students) Open Days Get a prospectus Contact Programme Director: Professor Sajjad Rizvi Web: Enquire online Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72 4th in the UK for African & Middle Eastern Studies The Complete University Guide 2026 Top 3 for student satisfaction in six out of seven themes National Student Survey 2025 Home to Europe's most important research collection on the Arab world Masters Excellence Scholarships available I enjoy having the freedom to explore a huge range of topics and areas - – there are modules offered on literature, politics, gender studies, language, media and specific conflicts, but with the flexibility to apply those studies to different situations around the world.
Key Program Features
Why study MA Islamic Studies at Exeter?
- Advanced study of Islam with leading scholars in the field
- A broad and flexible programme which you can tailor to your particular interests and conduct independent research
- You will investigate key issues and debates in Islamic studies and receive training in the methologies of Islamic studies research
- IAIS is one of the foremost academic departments in Middle East, Islamic Studies and Arabic. Get involved in a variety of IAIS activities and join our vibrant research community
- Your advanced knowledge and expertise in Islam and contemporary debates in Islamic Studies will be valued by public and private sector employers and open doors to further academic study
Career Opportunities
Careers
Graduates from this programme may find professional employment in a wide range of sectors both in the UK and internationally. A comprehensive background in Islamic Studies is relevant to careers in:
- academia and education
- international agencies such as the United Nations or the European Union
- international development
- print and broadcast media
- politics
- private sector companies with interests in Islamic countries
- business and risk analysts
Further study
The academic skills developed on the MA Middle East Studies will enable to you to pursue doctoral study. The Institute has an international profile for our pioneering regional focus on the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula and expertise in Islamic Studies providing an ideal place in which to undertake an MPhil/PhD.
Employment and professional development Our excellent Career Zone provides invaluable support, advice and access to graduate employers. Visit the employment and professional development pages for more information, including podcasts and profiles, about the range of support available. In addition, the location of this programme within a hub of renowned academia will offer you the possibility of connections, networking opportunities, advice and guidance from others with extensive academic and career-related experience in this field.
Program Curriculum
Course content
The MA Islamic Studies will equip you with the general research skills, sources and tools relevant to the study of the Middle East, North Africa and the Muslim world in general, and introduce you to a broad range of key theorists whose work has underpinned scholarship in several key fields of study.
You will learn how to make self-conscious choices around your own work and promote forms of theoretically-aware and interdisciplinary work found in some of the most successful research in Arab, Islamic and Middle East Studies.
Modules Please note that the module information displayed here is from a previous year and is subject to change. 135 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of option modules Compulsory modules Code Module Credits ARAM103 New Approaches to Islamic Thought 30 ARAM232 Theorising the Middle East 15 ARAM233 Dissertation skills 15 ARAM027 MA Dissertation 60 Optional modules Option modules can be viewed via the URL below https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=arabislamicstudies Code Module Credits IAIS PGT 25.26 ARAM054 State and Society in the Middle East 30 ARAM112A Independent Reading Course - Sem 1 15 ARAM112B Independent Reading Course - Sem 2 15 ARAM221 The Palestine Question: Past and Present 30 ARAM244 Politics and Economics of the Middle East 30 ARAM251 Esotericism and the Magical Tradition 30 ARAM090 Energy, Logistics, Infrastructure 30 ARAM091 Ecological Struggles 30 ARAM257 Philosophising Magic: From Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages 15 EFPM839 Transdisciplinary Collaborations for Creative Futures 30 HASM013 Mental Health in Social and Historical Context 30 ARAM147 The Kurds: History and Politics 30 UG option modules for IAIS PGT Programmes 2025-26 ARA3045 War, Violence and Revolution in the Modern Middle East 30 ARA3108 The Politics of Authoritarian Rule 30 ARA3129 Nationalisms in the Middle East 15 ARA3136 The History and Political Development of Iraq 15 ARA3158 Armed Islamist Movements: Jihadism and Beyond 15 ARA3162 Britain in the Middle East, 1798-1977 15 ARA3163 Politics and Reform in the Gulf 15 ARA3197 The Arabian Nights: Perception and Reception 15 ARA3200 Gender, Sexuality and Violence in Palestine/Israel 15
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above (or equivalent). We welcome students from any academic background.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications . Entry requirements for international students English language requirements International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B1 . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,500/year (international)
Fees
2026/27 entry
UK fees per year:
£ 12,650 full-time; £ 6,325 part-time
International fees per year:
£ 25,550 full-time; £ 12,775 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year , including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships * . We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page .
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year , including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships * . We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page .
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship towards the cost of your tuition fees. Full details can be found here.
*Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details. .
Find out more about tuition fees and funding »
About The University of Exeter
The University of Exeter
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-07-21
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)