Hawza Studies
Certificate, Diploma, and Non-Award
To qualify for our Certificate, students must complete both the Hawza Studies and Arabic programmes. This amounts to completing 440 credits in total, i.e. all 80 credits of the Arabic Programme, and all 360 credits of the Hawza Studies Programme.
Certificate students must do Arabic alongside of their Hawza Studies modules. An exception is made for students joining for the first time in Semester 2 (February). Such students must take Arabic in the following September, i.e. in Semester 1 of the new academic year. This is because the Arabic course can only be started in Semester 1.
Certificate students pay half the fees for the modules and can apply for a scholarship by contacting us in strict confidence.
Duration
Students will progress through the 3 levels at different speeds. Typical time frames are as follows:
- Level 1 (Introductory): 1-2 years
- Level 2 (Intermediate): 2-4 years
- Level 3 (Upper): 3-5 years
Each academic year is divided into two 12-week semesters, beginning on the first Monday of September and the first Monday of February, respectively.
Hours
A 10-credit module consists of 26 hours of class contact, and a 20-credit module consists of 48 hours of class contact. ‘Class contact’ refers to sessions that are teacher-led, i.e. lectures and tutorials.
In addition, students will need to set aside time for private study and assessment.
On average, with everything put together (class contact, private study, and assessment), students will require approximately:
- 5 hours a week to complete each 10-credit module.
- 10 hours a week to complete each 20-credit module.
To qualify for our Diploma, students must complete 220 credits from the Hawza Studies Programme on its own or in combination with the Arabic Programme.
Diploma students pay full fees for the modules and cannot apply for a scholarship.
Duration
Students will progress through the 3 levels at different speeds. Typical time frames are as follows:
- Level 1 (Introductory): 1-2 years
- Level 2 (Intermediate): 2-4 years
- Level 3 (Upper): 3-5 years
Each academic year is divided into two 12-week semesters, beginning on the first Monday of September and the first Monday of February, respectively.
Hours
A 10-credit module consists of 26 hours of class contact, and a 20-credit module consists of 48 hours of class contact. ‘Class contact’ refers to sessions that are teacher-led, i.e. lectures and tutorials.
In addition, students will need to set aside time for private study and assessment.
On average, with everything put together (class contact, private study, and assessment), students will require approximately:
- 5 hours a week to complete each 10-credit module.
- 10 hours a week to complete each 20-credit module.
Non-award students choose individual modules as stand-alone courses.
They pay full fees for the modules and cannot apply for a scholarship.
Duration
Students will progress through the 3 levels at different speeds. Typical time frames are as follows:
- Level 1 (Introductory): 1-2 years
- Level 2 (Intermediate): 2-4 years
- Level 3 (Upper): 3-5 years
Each academic year is divided into two 12-week semesters, beginning on the first Monday of September and the first Monday of February, respectively.
Hours
A 10-credit module consists of 26 hours of class contact, and a 20-credit module consists of 48 hours of class contact. ‘Class contact’ refers to sessions that are teacher-led, i.e. lectures and tutorials.
In addition, students will need to set aside time for private study and assessment.
On average, with everything put together (class contact, private study, and assessment), students will require approximately:
- 5 hours a week to complete each 10-credit module.
- 10 hours a week to complete each 20-credit module.
Programme of Study
Lectures are pre-recorded, allowing students to watch them at a time that suits their personal schedules. All lecture notes and presentation slides used by the teachers are made available to students. Essential texts that are not accessible online are provided at no additional cost.
To complement the pre-recorded lectures, live tutorials are held throughout the semester. Each module includes 4 tutorials per semester, offering students ample opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussion, and receive guidance directly from their teachers. These sessions also allow teachers to monitor students’ progress and provide support throughout their learning journey. Please note that tutorials are not recorded.
Flexibility is central to our approach. Students are not required to take all available modules in any given semester. They may enrol in 10 to 60 credits per semester (excluding Arabic), progressing through the programme at a pace that suits them. This applies to all students, whether they pursue the Certificate, Diploma, or Non-award study path.
The tables below illustrate the programme of study undertaken at each level.
Level One
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
| Islamic Theology 1 | 20 |
| Islamic Law 1 | 20 |
| Islamic Ethics | 10 |
| Life of the Prophet (s) – Before Hijra | 10 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
| Semester 2 | |
| Islamic Theology 2 | 20 |
| Islamic Law 2 | 20 |
| Life of the Prophet (s) – After Hijra | 10 |
| Logic | 10 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
TOTAL CREDITS FOR LEVEL 1
120 Credits
Level Two
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
| Principles of Jurisprudence | 20 |
| Qur’anic Sciences | 10 |
| Hadith Studies | 10 |
| Arguments and Responses | 10 |
| Al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyah and other Supplicatory Texts | 10 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
| Semester 2 | |
| Introduction to Demonstrative Jurisprudence: Verses on Islamic Law | 20 |
| Lives of the Imams (a) | 20 |
| Introduction to Qur’anic Exegesis | 10 |
| Nahj al-Balaghah | 10 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
TOTAL CREDITS FOR LEVEL 2
120 Credits
Level Three
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
| Demonstrative Jurisprudence | 20 |
| Sequential Exegesis of the Qur’an | 20 |
| Narrator Evaluation | 10 |
| Overview of Islamic Philosophy | 10 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
| Semester 2 | |
| Jurisprudential Maxims | 20 |
| Thematic Exegesis of the Qur’an | 20 |
| Pioneering Muslim Scholars and Their Works | 10 |
| Readings in Pivotal Jurisprudential Texts | 10 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
TOTAL CREDITS FOR LEVEL 3