(Full time) 2022 start
Arabic and Islamic Studies BA
Overview
Arabic is one of the world’s major languages and this Arabic and Islamic studies degree allows you to become proficient while you build your understanding of the cultural, religious, political and historical contexts that have shaped the region.
You’ll benefit from a firm grounding in spoken and written Arabic – which you’ll strengthen by spending a year in an Arabic-speaking country – while gaining insight into the religious, cultural, social and political issues that have shaped the Middle East and wider Muslim world.
This degree offers you teaching of the highest standard, in a research-intensive environment where leading scholars and students come together to explore the rich and variegated landscape of Islam, the Islamicate, Muslim societies and cultures.
We combine a number of academic perspectives throughout the degree, including theology, history, philosophy, sociology and political science. The complex and evolving nature of our field of enquiry demands dynamic tools of analysis, meaning that you'll study the conventional analytical tools applied in Islamic Studies alongside other approaches such as decoloniality and Critical Muslim Studies.
You’ll have the option to study Turkish or Persian.
You'll also be able to access a wide range of activities offered by the School's Iqbal Centre for Critical Muslim Studies.
This four-year course includes a year abroad.
Part-time study
Year 1 can be studied part-time over two years through the Lifelong Learning Centre. The remaining years will be completed full-time through the School.
Specialist facilities
At Leeds we have a wealth of resources to help you make the most of your studies.
Our School archive holds Arabic manuscripts and as many as 10,000 archaeological artefacts ranging from Pharaonic to early Palestinian eras. It’s a fantastic research resource – as is the University Library, which has extensive collections relating to Middle Eastern, North African and Islamic studies. The University Library runs free classes and workshops so you can learn how to use them.
You’ll have access to the University's Language Zone with free learning resources, including space for personal study, language learning software, and video, audio, books and magazines.
With four libraries on campus, you’ll find space for study, group work and research. The world class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscript, archive and early printed material in its Special Collections – valuable assets for your independent research.
Course content
Core modules in your first year will include intensive Arabic language classes, which you will then build on and refine as you spend your second year in an Arabic-speaking country, and an introduction to Islamic Studies.
When you return from your year abroad, you’ll be able to work on your language skills in areas such as essential skills in Arabic, advanced grammar and translation, and you’ll choose from a range of optional modules to focus on the areas that interest you. Topics such as Arabic media and Arabic stylistics are offered in years 3 and 4.
In Islamic Studies, you'll study all the traditional subjects you would expect, with modules covering Muslim theology, Shari’a law, Islamism, Qur’anic Studies and contemporary intellectual trends.
You'll also have the opportunity to explore intellectual traditions, social formations and political discourses that are too often marginalised or excluded altogether from the discipline. Examples include Sunni-Murji’ite theology, proto-Shi’i theology, Hanafi legal thought, sexual ethics, emancipatory readings of the Qur’an by women and Black Muslim liberation theology.
Throughout your degree, you'll benefit from many opportunities to explore your own intellectual curiosities, especially from your second year onwards, when you will be able to formulate your own essay questions within certain modules.
In your final year, you'll be able to put the research skills you have gained into practice in your Final Year Project – an independent piece of research on a topic of your own choosing. You’ll also have the option to develop your Arabic skills further by choosing a Final Year Translation project, where you can explore issues in translation studies in relation to an extended translation on a topic of your own choosing.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Discovery modules
Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.
This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.
Learning and teaching
You’ll benefit from a variety of teaching and learning styles, including lectures, small-group seminars and tutorials. Workshops may also be involved in some subjects. However, independent study is also a crucial part of the degree, allowing you to develop your research skills and think critically about different sources. Our tutors are all experts in their subjects and we have a wealth of resources to help you.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
We use various types of assessment. Exams and essays are a significant part of this, but some modules will include group work or presentations. We offer support in these areas as well – for example, we run extra classes on skills such as public speaking, structuring essays and exam technique that you’ll be able to attend throughout your time at Leeds.
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: ABB
Other course specific tests:Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be BBB at A Level and grade A in the EPQ.
We welcome applications from mature students with Access qualifications, and from students with a wide range of qualifications.
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Access to HE Diploma
Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. An interview and a piece of written work may also be required.
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BTEC
DDM
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Cambridge Pre-U
M1, M1, M2
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International Baccalaureate
34 points overall including 16 at Higher Level.
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Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)
H2, H2, H2, H3, H3, H3
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Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers
BB in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers, or B in Advanced Highers and AAABB in Highers, or AABBBB in Highers.
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Welsh Baccalaureate
The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.
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Other Qualifications
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the Schools Undergraduate Admissions Team.
Alternative entry
We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.
Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.
Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.
Typical Access to Leeds offer: BBC at A Level and pass Access to Leeds.
If you don't have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to this course, you may be able to progress through our Arts and Humanities foundation year.
https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/g294/arts-and-humanities-with-foundation-year-ba
International
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.
International Foundation Year
International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
How to apply
Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.
Read our guidance about applying.
It is also possible to study this programme part time. The programme content is the same but you will study at a lesser intensity. Find out more about how to apply, support available and the part-time student experience at the Lifelong Learning Centre.
International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024
Fees
UK: See fees section below
International: £20,750 (per year)
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.
The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.
Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.
Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.
Read more about paying fees and charges.
Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.
Career opportunities
A degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies equips you with a wide range of skills for a variety of careers, as well as deep linguistic, theological and cultural understanding of one of the world’s most influential faith traditions and a region of global significance.
Your knowledge and skills could lead to a career in media (television, radio, online and print); education; non-governmental organisations; business and commerce; translation and interpreting; Civil Service; FCO; local government; law and Islamic banking and finance.
Our graduates have gone on to CELTA courses which have led to teaching posts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and other parts of the Gulf, with both universities and language institutes.
Increasingly, graduates with specialist knowledge of Islam, Muslim communities, Islamic law, theology and contemporary trends in Islamic thought are being sought by policy institutes and think-tanks, international development organisations and the Ministry of Defence.
Others continue to postgraduate study, either at Leeds or elsewhere, to develop translation skills or further explore topics in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, which can lead to PhD study and a career in academia.
We are committed to helping you achieve your career ambitions. The School of Languages, Cultures and Societies careers and employability support includes promoting internships, providing opportunities to work for the School and employer-led workshops and events.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.
Study abroad and work placements
Residency abroad
You’ll spend your second year in an Arabic-speaking country.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture, and when you’re not in your intensive language classes there will be plenty of time to travel and explore. For many of our students, it’s the highlight of their course.