​ PhD in Usul al-Din & Comparative Religion

The programme is designed to produce scholars and experts in Usul al-Din and/or Comparative Religion who are committed to spiritual, moral, intellectual and creative excellence. In handling the programme, the department emphasizes integration of knowledge by harmonizing the traditional and contemporary methods of study; considering both the Islamic heritage and relevant aspects of modern disciplines such as philosophy, ethics and hermeneutics. This is meant to prepare graduates in facing contemporary challenges and issues related to the creed, ideology, beliefs and religious practices.

Programme Description

This is a full time and a part-time programme that requires a minimum of 3 years (6 semesters) and  5 years (10 semesters) respectively to complete. The maximum period allowed for the programme is 6 years (12 semesters) for the former and 8 years (16 semesters) for the latter.

Candidates are trained in research methods, Islamisation of human knowledge and a specialised area in Usul al-Din or Comparative Religion to prepare them for the challenging task of producing original research in the form of a dissertation/thesis. The expected length of the dissertation/thesis is around 80,000 - 100,000 words and it can be written either in English or Arabic. Areas in which supervision is available include classical and modern Islamic thoughts, ethics, Da'wah, Sufism, Islamic sects, contemporary challenges to the Islamic faith, interfaith dialogue and comparative study between Islam and other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.

Curriculum Structure

Entry Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the relevant discipline with good grades from institutions recognized by the Senate of the University.
2. Master’s degree in relevant discipline or its equivalent with good grades.
3. Arabic and English proficiency levels at the following minimum score:
   
   IIUM's Arabic Placement Test (APT) : 7.0
   TOEFL (Paper Based) : 550
   IELTS : Band 6

Notes:

1. A good grade is normally interpreted as a minimum cumulative grade points average (CGPA) of 3.0 on the scale of 4 or its equivalent.
2. Candidates are required to provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting their proficiency certificates before the beginning of the programme. If they fail to do so, they will be required to sit for the IIUM-administered English Placement Test (EPT).
3. Candidates who fail to obtain the required proficiency but are still interested to join the programme must take pre-sessional English courses at the university's Centre for Languages (CELPAD) or other recognized institutions.