Studying Islamic Studies in the UAE

You can study Islamic Studies or Sharia in the UAE through a broad undergraduate degree or a specialised master’s. Options include Islamic Studies at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities in Abu Dhabi, and undergraduate and postgraduate Sharia programmes at the University of Sharjah. Sharjah explicitly lists its Sharia programmes as Arabic-medium; an English-language admissions website is not evidence of English-medium teaching.

Where to look for bachelor’s and master’s programmes

Use these examples as starting points, not a ranking or a complete directory. Check programme publication, accreditation and availability separately for your intended intake.

These examples come from university pages and the Commission for Academic Accreditation’s programme register. Before applying, match the advertised name to the registered award and ask whether the programme accepts your applicant category.

For a wider search, use the CAA accredited-programme register. Search several terms, including “Islamic”, “Sharia”, “Jurisprudence” and “Religion”; relevant awards do not all share the same title.

Choose the subject, not just the degree title

Distinguish between studying religious texts and interpretation, studying jurisprudence and its methods, and preparing for an applied professional field. University of Sharjah’s separate awards in Foundations of Religion, Jurisprudence, Exegesis and Hadith, and Sharia Supervision and Auditing show why these choices are not interchangeable.

When comparing study plans, look for the balance between:

• Quranic studies, interpretation and Hadith.
• Islamic jurisprudence and the methods used to derive rulings.
• Arabic reading, writing and analysis of primary texts.
• Research methods, contemporary questions and applied work.

Ask the department which areas are compulsory and which depend on electives. The Islamic Studies curriculum guide provides a framework for comparing modules.

Do not assume every degree is entirely classroom-based. Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities describes an internship and graduation project within its Islamic Studies bachelor’s, alongside text analysis and the application of Islamic legal principles. Ask how placements are arranged and assessed, particularly if you already work full-time.

For a master’s, request the complete assessment structure. Establish whether it includes a thesis, a supervised project or another substantial final assessment. If doctoral study is your goal, ask prospective doctoral departments whether the proposed master’s provides suitable research preparation.

Arabic versus English: establish the real requirement

The University of Sharjah lists the Sharia bachelor’s and master’s programmes described above as taught in Arabic. Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities also specifies Arabic proficiency requirements in its admissions criteria. Assess your academic Arabic before applying.

Ask separately about the language of lectures, required reading, examinations and the dissertation. A bilingual prospectus or an English-titled qualification does not answer those questions. Request a sample reading list and, if available, a sample assessment to judge your readiness.

If you need English-medium study, obtain written confirmation for the exact award. The sources checked here do not establish an English-medium equivalent of the listed Sharia degrees. Do not substitute an English-taught short course for a recognised bachelor’s or master’s without checking the qualification awarded.

Arabic-medium study can still involve an English admission requirement. For example, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities lists an IELTS Academic requirement for master’s admission as well as an Arabic test. Confirm the accepted alternatives and any exemption before booking an examination.

For preparation, distinguish everyday conversation from the Arabic needed to read academic and religious texts. The guides to learning Arabic in the UAE and university English-language requirements address these different needs.

Bachelor’s admission: check your school system

Undergraduate entry varies by institution. University of Sharjah publishes different qualification rules for UAE secondary certificates and international school systems, and states that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Use the criteria for your actual certificate rather than converting grades yourself.

Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities requires a secondary-school qualification, an interview, and either the specified school Arabic result or success in its Arabic test. Its published entry thresholds vary by school system and stream. Additional Quran-related criteria appear under a route for applicants who do not meet the usual grade requirements; they are not universal conditions for every applicant.

Before applying, request confirmation of:

• Whether your certificate and subjects meet the programme’s requirements.
• Which transcripts, translations, attestations or equivalency documents are needed.
• Whether an interview, Arabic assessment or Quran assessment applies to you.
• Whether nationality, residency or scholarship conditions affect your application.
• Whether any preparatory study is available, and whether passing it guarantees progression.

Keep admission and funding questions separate. Ask for a formal scholarship decision rather than assuming that an admission offer includes tuition or accommodation.

Master’s admission: academic background and research fit

At Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, the published master’s requirements include a related bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent, an Arabic test, IELTS Academic 4.5 or equivalent, and a written assessment and interview. These are institutional requirements, not a UAE-wide rule. Recheck the official admissions page for your application.

If your first degree is in another field, send the department your transcript and relevant module descriptions before paying. Ask whether it considers your background sufficiently related and whether prerequisite courses would be required.

University of Sharjah’s master’s admissions page also requires recognition/equivalency for bachelor’s qualifications obtained outside the UAE. Follow the university’s instructions for your case; the guide to degree recognition and certificate attestation explains the questions to resolve.

For research-led study, ask about supervision in your intended topic, access to source materials and the required proposal. Discuss a specific research question rather than relying only on the broad label “Islamic Studies”.

Verify accreditation before paying

Check the exact programme, not merely the university name. The CAA register distinguishes degree levels and programme statuses, including active, inactive and teach-out entries. A historical listing alone is therefore insufficient evidence for a new enrolment.

Use this sequence:

1. Confirm the institution’s legal name and campus.
2. Find the exact qualification and level in the official programme register.
3. Read its current status and resolve any discrepancy with the regulator.
4. Ask the university to confirm the approved delivery mode and awarding institution.
5. Check acceptance with the employer, professional authority or overseas university that will ultimately assess your degree.

For Dubai institutions, also consult KHDA’s official directory and guidance. KHDA describes a quality-assurance and certification role for international branch campuses; do not assume a KHDA permit and a CAA programme entry mean the same thing. Obtain confirmation of the recognition route relevant to your intended use.

The university accreditation checklist helps organise these checks. Save the register entry and written replies with your offer documents.

Career paths and additional qualifications

University of Sharjah identifies education, religious affairs, Islamic banking, media and legal-related work among potential fields for its jurisprudence graduates. Treat these as career directions, not automatic professional entitlements or promises of employment.

For each direction, investigate the next requirement:

• School teaching: the UAE government specifies relevant academic qualifications and professional licensing requirements. A subject degree alone does not complete the appointment process.
• Religious affairs and community work: ask the recruiting authority about role-specific eligibility, assessments and appointments.
• Islamic finance: compare the degree with actual vacancies in Sharia review, audit or compliance. Investigate financial knowledge and practical experience alongside religious scholarship; see Islamic banking and finance qualifications.
• Research and publishing: compare opportunities requiring source analysis, academic writing or further postgraduate study.
• Legal or judicial work: obtain the relevant authority’s entry criteria before assuming a Sharia qualification provides a professional route.

Compare cost and attendance before accepting

Request a written total-cost estimate covering tuition, application charges, preparatory courses, thesis registration and any placement expenses. Check refund conditions and scholarship renewal rules separately.

University of Sharjah lists full-time and part-time modes for the relevant master’s programmes. That does not establish evening or weekend attendance: obtain the actual timetable from the department. Use its master’s admissions page to find current programme, fee and application information.

Before paying a deposit, keep written confirmation of the award title, teaching language, accreditation status, outstanding admission conditions, timetable and total financial commitment.