- Overview
- Entry Requirements
- Teaching & Learning
- Arabic Refresher Course
- Term Dates
- Modules
- Assessment
- Progression
- FAQs
- Fees
Quran Study Programme Overview
The Quran Study Programme is a three-year course designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Quran and its teachings. The programme is aimed at students who are committed to a focused study of the Quran, wish to deepen their understanding of Islamic scripture and improve their Quranic literacy..
A core feature of the QSP is a broad study of the entire mushaf on a verse by verse basis. In addition, students will examine selections of key verses in greater depth, study sciences of the Quran (‘Ulum al Qur’an) and be exposed to a range of classical tafsir works in the final year. Students will also be enhancing their command of Arabic as the language of Islamic scripture.
Opportunities will also be available in which students will have the chance to share their reflections on the Quran and what they have studied. In addition, provision will also be given to students who may need to work on improving the accuracy of their recitation of the Quran (tajwid) under the guidance of a qualified instructor.
This unique opportunity allows students to spend three profound years with the Book of Allah, guided by a variety of teachers.
Certificate
Certificate in Quran and Quranic Studies
Students who successfully complete the Quran Study Programme will be issued with a Certificate of Completion. This certificate will attest to the completion of the syllabus and will depend on successful completion of all assessments throughout the programme.
Entry Requirements for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
Classical Arabic Language
Students will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in Classical Arabic to the level of a Foundation Year student, or equivalent. This will include having sound understanding of introductory Arabic grammar and basic comprehension of Arabic sentences with diacritics (tashkil).
Students will be required to complete a placement test in order to assess their Arabic language proficiency. If they do not have proficiency they will be eligible to apply for the Foundation Year or Arabic Immersion Year instead.
Time Commitment
Students are expected to spend approximately 3 – 4 hours per week during term time in independent study. As a general rule, we recommend students complementing each hour of teaching with approximately half an hour of personal study.
There may also be some scheduled tutorials and/or online classes for students to additionally benefit from.
Teaching & Learning
Teaching is delivered through lecture and/or seminar format which students are required to attend. Independent learning will be required for all modules through students engaging with weekly readings for each module, completing weekly homework to consolidate their learning and preparing for assessments. Lectures and seminars are accessible for revision via the ASI Portal for students to review at their own convenience.
Students will also have the opportunity to further their studies by attending UK-based student retreats and our Arabic Summer School abroad. These opportunities are highly recommended for students who have the time and means to attend, benefit from suhba with teachers and like minded peers, as well as further develop their knowledge and understanding.
Course Delivery
Approaches to Teaching & Learning
ASI utilises the following study methods:
- Formal lectures which outline themes of study, textual analysis and critical analysis where applicable. These lectures are based on core reading material and may be supplemented with supporting material from the reading list.
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Independent study
- Assignments
Objectives
By the end of the programme, students should:
- Have attained a broad and comprehensive familiarity with the Surahs and verses of the Quran as a whole
- Be able to explain and summarise the intent of the verses of the Quran at a basic to intermediate level
- Understand the role of language, context and coherence in the interpretation of the Quran
- Have gained a deep appreciation of the transformative force of the Quran
- Be able to effectively draw upon the Quran and its teachings for the purposes of their own lives and the lives of others
- Have gained an appreciation of various sciences associated with the study of the Quran (‘Ulum al-Quran)
- Have developed an awareness of the main works of the classical tafsir tradition and their authors
- Have developed some of the skills needed to draw upon the Quran as a religious source in future Islamic learning
- Have enhanced their understanding of the Arabic language as it pertains to the Quran
Arabic Refresher Course
Al-Salam Institute will be teaching a live online 4-day intensive Arabic Refresher Course in July. This carefully crafted double-weekend course is intended to assist students who have previously completed foundational Arabic either at ASI or elsewhere to refresh and enhance their knowledge. The course is ideal for prospective students of the Quran Study Programme or Arabic Immersion Year.
This £300 course is available for free for students who enrol onto the Quran Study Programme or Arabic Immersion Year and require a refresher.
The course aims to cover key rules of Arabic grammar and morphology to help students reconnect with their previous studies. Additionally, students will practice applying these rules through in-class activities and homework exercises. With many students losing touch with their Arabic language skills, this course offers an excellent opportunity to refresh their memory and resume their studies.
This course is free for all prospective Quran Study Programme students who need to refresh their Arabic language skills to pass the respective programme placement test.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Arabic Refresher Course, students must first complete the application form for either the Quran Study Programme or the Arabic Immersion Year. They must then complete the respective placement tests, which will be emailed to them upon submission of the application.
Dates
15th – 16th July and 22nd – 23rd July
Fees
£300 – deductible from the Quran Study Programme fees for students wishing to progress onto the QSP.
Term dates for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
Spring 2024: TBC
Term dates may be subject to change.
*No live Sunday classes on 10th December due to Winter Retreat. See dates above
**Residentials are elective programmes and are priced separately
Overview: Year 1
- Unit 1: Al-Fatiha to al-An’am
- Unit 1: Al-Fatiha to al-An’am
- Unit 1: Al-Fatiha to al-An’am
- Unit 1: ‘Ulum al-Quran
Overview: Year 2
- Unit 1: Al-A’raf to Al-Mu’minun
- Unit 1: Al-A’raf to Al-Mu’minun
- Unit 1: Al-A’raf to Al-Mu’minun
- Unit 1: ‘Ulum al-Quran
Overview: Year 3
- Unit 1: Al-Nur to Al-Nas
- Unit 1: Al-Nur to Al-Nas
- Unit 1: Al-Nur to Al-Nas
- Unit 1: ‘Ulum al-Quran
Quran Cover to Cover
Overview
In this module students will spend their mornings studying the Quran from cover to cover. This module will read and review ayat in light of:
• The language of the Quran
• The historical and cultural context of the verses
• The coherence of the Quran
• The meaning and interpretation of Quranic verses
• Quranic teachings and lessons contained within the verses
The module is designed to focus on breadth rather than depth to enable students to look at the Quranic message in its entirety and thereby accomplish having completed a live study of the whole Quran with qualified teachers
It seeks to cover substantial ground each week which will increase year on year. Students will explore the Qur’an in an unmediated manner. As such, the module does not aim to cover a work of exegesis.Though the module is characterised by a somewhat sustained study pace, it aims, thereby, to equip students with the confidence to faithfully access the Quran as it unfolds for them over the programme.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module students should be able to:
• Have attained a broad but rigorous familiarity with the whole of the Quran
• Be able to explain and summarise the intent of the verses of the Quran
• Understand the role of language, context and coherence in the interpretation of the Quran
• Have developed a deep appreciation of the transformative force of the Quran
• Be able to effectively draw upon the Quran and its teachings for ones own life and the lives of others
In-Depth Tafsir
Overview
This module aims to cover a selection of key verses taught in the Quran Cover to Cover (QCC) module. The level of discussion and exegetical analysis, however, will be deeper than that of the QCC. Students will study a range of verses exploring spiritual, legal, theological, eschatological and polemical themes. Pausing on selected ayat will allow students to access some of the nuances and intricacies contained within the Quran through reflection and analysis. This module is a deeper dive into the meaning and implications of certain verses, uncovering new realisations for students to later reflect upon.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Have attained a deeper appreciation of a selection of key verses in the Quran
• Be able to understand the deeper exegetical and/or religious import of these verses
• Be familiar with scholarly discussions around selected verses
• Have gained a deeper appreciation of the technicalities and principles surrounding exegesis
Quranic Arabic
Overview
In this module, students will study selected elements of grammar, morphology, rhetoric and lexicology pertinent to selections of verses taught in the Quran Cover to Cover module. Students will reinforce and later expand upon their knowledge of Arabic grammar (nahw) and morphology (sarf) whilst also developing their Quranic vocabulary.
Uncommon or unique words will initially be explored in order to develop an appreciation for the language of the Quran. This will also be achieved through an understanding of Arabic rhetoric (balagha) in the Quran as a way of appreciating the depth of meanings conveyed. This module will demonstrate how Arabic and the Quran are inextricably linked.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:
• Understand how numerous rules in Arabic grammar and morphology apply to the Quran
• Have an appreciation for the language of the Quran
• Know how to linguistically investigate and analyse ayat in the Quran at an intermediate level
Quranic Studies
Overview
This module will introduce students to a range of subjects, both classical and contemporary, within Quranic Studies. This will include topics such as the compilation of the Qur’an, abrogation, occasions of revelation, case studies in approaching the Qur’an as Islam’s primary source, an exploration of the principles of applied tafsir through a study of a short surah among other areas of study. In their final year, students will also study extracts from important works of tafsir in the Arabic language..
This module allows for a nuanced appreciation of the Quran, including its history and reception, demonstrating an evolving engagement with the Book of Allah by key Quranic scholars.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit students should:
• Have a broad awareness of salient discussions in Quranic Studies
• Be able to understand key aspects of ‘Ulum al-Quran that inform Quranic exegesis
• Have an awareness of the mufassirin and the tradition of tafsir as a literature
Assessment
This programme has been designed to be considerably less demanding in its assessment requirements compared to our other Islamic Scholarship Programmes. Students on the Quran Study Programme will be required to prepare for the upcoming week by reading and reflecting on the relevant portion of the Quran and reflecting on their previous week’s study. They will also be required to complete any Arabic homework set by their teachers. From time to time, additional readings or homework may also be set. Students will be assessed via examinations for certain modules and will need to demonstrate a basic level of proficiency in tajwid by the end of the programme.
Progression
Students completing the Quran Study Programme will be eligible to enter the Arabic Immersion Year or Alimiyyah Programme (if they successfully complete the placement test). These programmes both require an additional time commitment from the students and will enable them to deepen their studies of the Arabic language and Islamic Sciences.
For further information on these programmes, please do visit our Admissions page.
Where and when do the classes take place?
The classes are held online on Sundays between 10am – 6pm.
Are the programmes taught in English?
Yes. All of the programmes are taught in the English language. Many of the texts are studied in the original Arabic with translation, explanation, and tuition in English.
I have a very busy schedule and cannot always dedicate an entire Sunday to my studies. Are the classes mandatory to attend?
Yes, students are expected to attend all classes held on a Sunday. For one-off absences, students are required to inform us of their absence ahead of time where possible.
Can I study entirely online?
Yes. Each of the programmes can be studied online from start to finish. Further, recorded access is available for all core lectures until the end of the academic year.
Does Shaykh Akram Nadwi teach the entire programme?
No. There are over 20 faculty members teaching the Islamic Scholarship Programmes who are experts in their respective fields. Shaykh Akram teaches certain modules in each programme and teaches the Advanced Islamic Sciences Programme exclusively. The Shaykh ultimately authorises the graduation from ASI, but he does not teach everything!
How will I be assessed?
Students may be assessed by a mixture of quizzes, group work, written assignments and examinations.
Are the Residential programmes included?
Yes and no. The Residential programmes – including the Knowledge Retreat and Sacred Sciences Journey – exist in order to enable students to spend time in intensive study: visiting and gaining ijazah from some of the leading scholars of the Muslim world. However, they are elective programmes and are priced separately. Find out more.
Is there any financial assistance available?
Alhamdulillah, subject to approval there are a number of options available for students who are unable to pay the entire tuition fees upfront.
Al-Salam Institute have partnered with the National Zakat Foundation for a limited number of tuition fee scholarships. Click here to apply.
What are the tuition fees?
Tuition starts from £2,100 per annum. For further details please visit: www.alsalam.ac.uk/fees
Can I enrol one year at a time, instead of the entire programme at once?
Yes.
How many teaching hours are there per week?
There are 7-8 hours of core lectures on a weekly basis, as well as an average of 7 hours per week in seminars and tutorials.
How many hours of independent study is recommended?
For the Quran Study Programme we recommend 4 hours of independent study per week, in addition to the core lectures on Sundays.
What are the entry requirements to join my intended programme?
Entry requirements for each programme are detailed on their respective pages. Generally, the entry requirements for each programme is successful completion of the preceding programme (or equivalent).
How can I determine which level I should enrol onto?
Contact admissions@alsalam.ac.uk or + 44 (0) 20 8090 1623.
Will I automatically be enrolled onto the following year?
No. Entry onto the next year of your chosen programme is subject to satisfactory results in the end of year examinations.
Where do I sign up?
Visit our Islamic Scholarship Programmes page to find the right programme for you and apply.
Tuition Fees for 2023/2024 academic year
Over 3 consecutive months
*Ramadan Discount Ends: 11th May 2023
Apply Now Online
The online enrolment option is available for all students who wish to study the Quran Study Programme. The classes are streamed live online to students all over the world via the ASI Virtual Portal. Lessons are streamed at high-definition with a multi-camera setup, facilitating an interactive learning environment for dynamic student engagement and participation.
