StudyQA — Master: Islamic Studies and History

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The MPhil in Islamic Studies and History is a two-year course intended primarily for students who desire an intensive introduction to Islamic history and thought in the pre-modern period. The course would be an excellent preparation for subsequent doctoral study.

Graduate destinations

Oriental Studies graduates have found employment in many diverse fields including business, finance law, civil service, journalism, government and industry.

Many graduates have also undertaken further research into subjects linked with Oriental studies and have pursued successful careers in the academic world, education and in museums.

The course focuses on the political, social, and intellectual history of the central Islamic lands (Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Central Asia and Anatolia) up until c. 1500, and differs from analogous MPhil courses at other universities in the significance it places on language instruction in classical Arabic, Persian and Turkish, and the study of primary sources.

If you are already capable of carrying out research in one of these languages, you will be strongly encouraged to take up a second. Instruction and supervision are carried out by several members of the faculty’s teaching staff. You will be assigned a supervisor who is responsible for offering academic guidance throughout the course.

The first year of the course is devoted to intensive language instruction, six to eight hours per week, and an introduction to Islamic history (AD 570-1500) and religion taught through a combination of weekly lectures and classes. By the end of the first year you will have begun to read texts in the original language; if you are following the elementary course you will have sat a qualifying exam in whatever language you have been studying.

The second year is devoted to continuing language instruction, more focused work on two elective papers and a thesis. The year ends with a set of examinations. You will normally spend the summer between years one and two in the Middle East for language study and/or research connected with thesis work.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any subject.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Applicants from the US and others who hold Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended to submit these with their application. GMAT scores are not sought.

Official transcript(s)
CV/résumé
Statement of purpose/personal statement: Up to three pages
Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

est	Standard level scores		Higher level scores
IELTS Academic Institution code: 0713	7.0	Minimum 6.5 per component	7.5	Minimum 7.0 per component
TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0490	100	Minimum component scores: Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24	110	Minimum component scores: Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)	185	Minimum 176 per component	191	Minimum 185 per component
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE)	185	Minimum 176 per component	191	Minimum 185 per component