Islam in the Modern World

Meet the growing demand for expertise in Islamic politics and Muslim societies with a unique degree from the ANU's Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies.

The Master of Islam in the Modern World will take you on a journey through the various dynamics and debates surrounding and influencing contemporary Islam. The degree covers the relationship between Islam and dynamics such as politics, culture, political economy, and international relations. It exposes you to the great debates on Islam, such as its compatibility with democracy, its views towards modern economic and development ideas, and its role as an ideological and political force on the world stage. The degree also gives you expertise on Islam in various parts of the world, with courses focusing on, or using case studies from, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and elsewhere.

You will also have the opportunity to learn one of the languages most relevant to the study of the Muslim world; Arabic, Persian or Turkish.

Career Options

Employment Opportunities

A Master of Islam in the Modern World will start or advance your career in international organisations, government, non-government organisations, development agencies, media organisations, or private sector companies. It is also good grounding for further study and a research career.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. explain factors shaping contemporary Islam, in particular the complex interactions of key institutional structures, historical events, religious tenets, and political and sociological dynamics;
2. form, explain and defend analyses of the impacts of Islam on contemporary Muslim-majority nation-states around the world, including in the realms of politics, societal dynamics, culture, and international affairs;
3. assess the role of Islam in various Muslim-majority nation-states and other nation-states with significant Muslim populations, contrasting the role of Islam both across nation-states and relative to other factors that shape these polities and societies; and
4. conduct detailed and complex research into issues related to contemporary Islam, applying a range of advanced approaches, methodologies, and explanatory frameworks.

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 65 per cent.

All applicants must meet the University's English Language Admission Requirements for Students

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (1 semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (1 year) of credit.

Cognate disciplines

Politics, including political science, international relations, political economy, security studies, strategic studies; sociology; modern history; religious studies/Islamic studies; other social sciences and humanities disciplines and fields where there is significant coverage of a relevant aspect of Middle Eastern, Central Asian or Islamic Studies and where similar approaches and methodologies are used; and modern languages relating to the Middle East and/or Central Asia region such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Russian or French.

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 65 per cent.

All applicants must meet the University's English Language Admission Requirements for Students

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (1 semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (1 year) of credit.

Cognate disciplines

Politics, including political science, international relations, political economy, security studies, strategic studies; sociology; modern history; religious studies/Islamic studies; other social sciences and humanities disciplines and fields where there is significant coverage of a relevant aspect of Middle Eastern, Central Asian or Islamic Studies and where similar approaches and methodologies are used; and modern languages relating to the Middle East and/or Central Asia region such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Russian or French.

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.