Foundation Year 2026-27
Tuition Fees for the 2026-27 Academic Year
Over 3 consecutive months
For a detailed breakdown of our fees, please see our fees page.
Join us for a one-year course in Classical Arabic and Islamic Studies
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What is Foundation Year?
The Foundation Year in Classical Arabic and Islamic Studies is a year-long online course designed for those beginning their journey in Islamic knowledge. This programme offers a solid foundation in Islamic studies through part-time learning with qualified teachers in the UK, including Shaykh Akram Nadwi. It is ideal for students and working professionals seeking to study Arabic and Islamic studies at a beginner level online.
The course covers a wide range of subjects, including beginner-level Arabic, Hadith, Islamic law, Tafsir, and the principles underlying these disciplines. It also includes modules on Seerah (the life of the Prophet) and Tazkiyyah (spiritual purification), all taught by experienced scholars.
Classes are held online, part-time on Sundays from 10am to 6pm UK time, making it accessible to those with busy schedules. ...
Upon completing the Foundation Year, students can advance to our Arabic Language course (Arabic Immersion Programme) and eventually graduate from the Alimiyyah Programme as an ‘Alim or ‘Alimah, with a deep understanding of the fundamental Islamic sciences. Alternatively, students may choose to enrol in our Quran Study Programme to study the Quran from cover to cover.
This course provides an excellent opportunity to build a strong foundation in Islamic knowledge while accommodating other commitments.
Application Process
| MODULE | UNITS |
|---|---|
| Arabic Language |
• Technical Arabic • Applied Arabic • Workshop: Arabic Skills • Tutorial: Technical & Applied Arabic |
| Hadith Studies |
• Hadith Analysis (Text: Riyad al-Salihin) • Seminar: Introduction to Hadith and Chains of Narration |
| Islamic Law |
• Chapters of Worship (Text: Al-Fiqh al-Islami) • Seminar 1: Muslim Life in the Modern Era • Seminar 2: Imam Abu Hanifa: His Life and Legacy • Workshop: Zakah Calculation |
| Quranic Studies | • Quranic Exegesis |
| Prophetic Biography | • Prophetic Biography |
| Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence |
• Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (Text: Mabadi fi Usul al-Fiqh) • Seminar: Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence |
| Principles of Prophetic Traditions |
• Principles of Hadith Classification (Text: Mabadi fi Usul al-Hadith wa al-Isnad) • Seminar: Principles of Prophetic Traditions |
| Principles of Quranic Exegesis |
• Principles of Quranic Exegesis (Text: Mabadi fi 'Ilm Usul al-Tafsir) • Seminar: Principles of Quranic Exegesis |
| Skills and Training |
• Rules of Quran Recitation • Seminar 1: Book Tutorials • Seminar 2: Etiquettes of a Student of Knowledge • Seminar 3: Academic Writing and Research Methodology |
| Iman, Islam & Ihsan |
• Unit 1: Iman • Unit 2: Islam • Unit 3: Ihsan |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Induction Day | Sunday 27th September 2026 |
| Autumn Term | Sunday 4th October 2026 – Sunday 6th December 2026 |
| Winter Retreat | TBC |
| Winter Term | Sunday 3rd January 2027 – Sunday 28th February 2027 |
| Spring Retreat | TBC |
| Spring Term | Sunday 4th April 2027 – Sunday 13th June 2027 |
| Core Lectures | 30 full-day lectures on Sundays during term time |
| Workshops | 2–5 half-day practical sessions on Saturdays throughout the calendar year |
| Seminars | 8–15 one-day intensive seminars throughout the calendar year |
Term dates may be subject to change. Residentials are elective programmes and are priced separately.
Students are expected to complete a series of assessments in order to graduate from the Foundation Year. At ASI, we use a variety of formative and summative assessments throughout the duration of the course.
There will be weekly homework in the Arabic language, as well as termly examinations in Arabic and the Islamic Sciences. Exams take place online and must be completed within the assessment window.
Further information on assessments will be provided upon enrolment.
Students that successfully graduate from the Foundation Year will be eligible to apply for two programmes:
- Quran Study Programme – A unique opportunity to study the Quran over three years in order to deeply engage with the Book of Allah.
- Arabic Immersion Programme – The perfect programme for students that seek to progress towards fluency in the Arabic language, and from there enter the Alimiyyah Programme.
For further information on these programmes, please visit our Admissions page.
| Delivery Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Core Lectures | Compulsory 'Study Sunday' lectures held during term time over 30 weeks. These provide core content further applied in tutorials, essays and examinations. Streamed live and recorded for access via the ASI Portal. |
| Tutorials | Held on weekday evenings, usually no more than two hours. Students review answers, prepare for exams, and catch up on prior content. |
| Workshops | Practical study experiences covering topics such as Islamic funeral rites and essential study skills, providing a more holistic approach to learning. |
| Seminars | Day-long intensives introducing new areas of study. Topics include Etiquettes of a Student of Knowledge, Rules of Qur'an Recitation, and Introductions to the Principles of Islamic Sciences. |
Independent Study: Students are expected to spend approximately 6–7 hours per week in independent study during term time. As a general rule, each hour of teaching should be complemented with approximately an hour of personal study.
Why Study at ASI
Unique Syllabus
Our syllabus has been designed to provide students with a deep understanding of both Arabic and the Islamic Studies. Our courses are delivered by some of the UK’s leading academics and traditionally-trained scholars; we combine classical Islamic texts with contemporary works to enable students to graduate with an incisive understanding of the religion.
One Day a Week
For many it is not possible to spend years or even decades studying the Islamic Studies full time. Our programmes are structured so that students are only required to dedicate one day a week to their studies, making the programme ideal for both full-time students and working professionals, as well as homemakers.
Shaykh Akram Nadwi
Shaykh Akram Nadwi is a Hadith scholar of the highest calibre as well as one of the leading Islamic thinkers of our time. Our programmes are primarily authorised by Shaykh Akram Nadwi. Graduates from the Institute do so under his tutelage, receiving their Shahādah ‘Ālimiyyah upon completion of the programme.
Live Online Classes
All of our content is available live online for students all over the world. We currently have a global network of students from every continent – except perhaps Antarctica! – who connect with their teachers and classmates on a weekly basis. As a global community, we come together to learn, study and train in the sciences of the religion.
Key Information
1 year
Mode of Attendance
Part-time – Sundays only
Study Mode
- Online – live-streamed lectures and recorded access
- Optional in-person termly residential programmes
Start of Programme
October 2026
Progression
Arabic Immersion Programme or Quran Study Programme
Qualification
Certificate in Classical Arabic and Islamic Studies
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old
- Applicants must be able to read the Arabic script
- Fluency in the English language is required
‘One thing we have done with the ASI syllabus is chosen the works of those people who are imams and thinkers; those who impart knowledge with reason and deep understanding.’
— Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi | Principal of Al-Salam Institute
Although I’m studying the Foundation Programme, I’ve always felt that Al-Salam treated us as intellectual beings.
— Shehroze Khan
The Al-Salam Institute classes have been the highlight of my week for the past two years. I hope Al-Salam Institute provide continued benefit to the ummah, and to humanity in general.
Al-Salam Institute is an excellent institute that provides an exceptional teaching experience. They take into consideration everyone’s needs and requirements and help them in their studies.
I had never benefitted so much in doing a term of studying Islamic sciences as I had with Al-Salam Institute. ASI gives many like me the opportunity to combine studying Islamic sciences with work/study.
Testimonials
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more, have questions regarding the application process, or are unsure which programme is suitable for you, please contact our admissions team.