Admission and Application Requirements
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.
Applicants seeking admission to the PhD program in Islamic Finance and Economy program should have an MA, MBA, MS, LLM, or an equivalent degree from a recognized institution in any of the following areas: Islamic Finance, Islamic Economics, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, Management, Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, Shari’a, or Law.
PhD applicants should demonstrate strong evidence that they possess the qualities to become successful researchers and professionals. This includes outstanding performance in relevant coursework, as well as a proven track record of high motivation and commitment to innovative and original research. Applicants with prior research and work experience in financial services and related fields are preferred.
Applicants seeking admission to the masters programs should have a bachelor’s degree with a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent) from a recognized institution.
Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Certificate in Islamic Finance should have a bachelor’s degree in a related field from a recognized institution.
| Program | Required Field of Study | Language Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Program: MA in Contemporary Islamic Studies: Specialization in Fiqh and Society |
Required Field of Study: Shari’a, Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, or a related area within Islamic Studies, Usul al-Din and Qanun. | Must demonstrate proficiency in Arabic through studies (e.g. completing an undergraduate degree in which the language of instruction was Arabic or by completing a proficiency examination offered by CIS). In addition, students need to prove their English language proficiency by providing a score equivalent to: TOEFL 35-45 or IELTS 5. Exemption is possible if applicants have studied in English. |
| Program: MA in Counseling Psychology | Required Field of Study: Psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field. |
IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL: 79
|
| Program: MA in Contemporary Islamic Studies: Specialization in Contemporary Islamic Thought |
Required Field of Study: Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Religious Studies; or relatable areas within the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences with appropriate experience. |
IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL: 79
*Applicants, both native or non-native speakers of Arabic, will be required to take an Arabic language proficiency test that will be 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 “upper-intermediate” to be admitted to the program. Applicants who have completed university studies in Arabic and can provide a letter confirming so are exempt from this requirement. |
| Program: MA in Islam and Global Affairs | Required Field of Study: All fields | |
| Program: MA in Applied Islamic Ethics | ||
| Program: PhD in Islamic Studies* | Required Field of Study: All fields | |
| Program: PhD in Islamic Finance and Economy | Required Field of Study: Economics, Business, Finance, Accounting, Shari’a, or a related field | |
| Program: MS in Islamic Finance | ||
| Program: MS in Islamic Art, Architecture and Urbanism |
Required Field of Study: Art, History, Archeology, Interior Architecture/Design, Architecture, and Urban Planning | |
| Program: Graduate Certificate in Islamic Finance | All fields | 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. |
| Program: Graduate Certificate in Islamic Studies | All fields | Must demonstrate proficiency in Arabic through previous studies (e.g. completing an undergraduate degree in which the language of instruction was Arabic or by an interview-based test with CIS). In addition, students need to prove their English language proficiency by providing a score equivalent to TOEFL 35-45 or IELTS 5. Exemption is possible if applicants have studied in English. |
Application
A completed online application form: admissions.hbku.edu.qa
Academic transcripts
Official electronic copies of transcripts should be submitted as part of the online application. Final transcripts and graduation statements are required for all previous university studies. All transcripts submitted should include an explanation of the grading system. For those who have not completed their current studies, transcripts must include results from the last completed semester of coursework. Transcripts in languages other than English or Arabic must be accompanied with an official translation. Applicants who are admitted to the program based on copies of or incomplete transcripts will be required to provide original transcripts upon enrollment in order to register for courses.
Standardized test results
Official copies (where required) must be sent directly to HBKU. Please refer to the institutional codes below:
- GRE: 7551
- GMAT: H6S
- TOEFL: 4981
- IELTS: No code required. Students should ask the IELTS center where they tested to send the IELT TRF to HBKU
Applicants should also submit copies of their test scores with the online application.
Letters of recommendation
Applicants should submit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an academic referee. Referees should send their letters of recommendation from their professional email directly to recommendations@hbku.edu.qa and mention the name of the applicant and program they are applying to in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not directly written for this program or which are incomplete will not be accepted.
Personal statement of interest
Applicants should submit a personal statement as part of the online application. The statement should explain why the candidate is applying to the program, and how their studies will contribute to the achievement of their personal objectives, including information about the applicant’s research interests and achievements (minimum of 300, maximum of 500 words).
Resume/curriculum vitae
Applicants should submit a copy of their current resume or curriculum vitae as part of the online application. This should include the following information:
- Academic Qualifications
- Professional Experience
- Publications
- Research Projects
- Academic Awards or Honors
- Conference Presentations
Identification document
Applicants should submit an electronic copy of their passport as part of their online application. Nationals and residents of Qatar should also submit their valid Qatar ID.
Research Proposal
Applicants seeking admission to the PhD in Islamic Studies program are required to submit a research proposal with the online application. The research proposal should be written in English and should not exceed five pages. The research proposal should include the following requirements:
- A working title
- Abstract of 200-300 words
- Synopsis of the research project
- Aims and objectives of the research project
- Indicative bibliography
Writing Sample:
Applicants seeking admission to the PhD in Islamic Studies program are required to submit a writing sample with the online application. The writing sample should be 15-20 pages long and be written in English. The writing sample should be academic in nature, present a key argument, provide a holistic treatment of the subject, and conform to academic norms in terms of citation and referencing.
Tuition and Student Funding
The College of Islamic Studies provides opportunities for scholarships and funding on a competitive basis. Further information will be provided to applicants who are admitted to the program.
To view tuition fees, please click here.
Admission inquiries
- Please do not submit any additional application materials which are not on the list of required items. Any additional materials received will be automatically discarded.
- HBKU cannot return documents to the applicant once they are submitted.
- All documents submitted through the online application must be in PDF format. Any documents submitted in a different format will not be accepted
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