Doctorate in Islamic Studies

Islamic studies is an academic field encompassing the study of Islamic theology, law, history, philosophy and the interpretation of foundational religious texts. This doctorate in Islamic Studies, delivered in English at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities in Abu Dhabi, is intended for scholars pursuing the highest level of academic specialization in this discipline. Doctoral coursework and research in Islamic studies typically address subjects such as Quranic exegesis, hadith studies, Islamic jurisprudence, the history of Islamic civilizations, and contemporary debates within Muslim thought and society. Students engage closely with primary sources in their original languages and contexts, alongside secondary scholarship spanning classical and modern approaches to Islamic thought. A central part of doctoral study in this field is the production of original research, typically culminating in a dissertation that makes a substantive scholarly contribution to a specific area of Islamic studies, whether historical, textual, legal or philosophical. Programs at this level emphasize advanced research methods, critical textual analysis and the ability to situate Islamic intellectual traditions within broader historical and comparative religious contexts. Doctoral candidates often work closely with faculty advisors, participate in seminars, and present their research to academic audiences as their projects develop. Graduates of doctoral programs in Islamic studies commonly pursue careers as university faculty, researchers, religious scholars, policy advisors on religious affairs, or leaders within educational and cultural institutions. Based in Abu Dhabi, a center of Islamic scholarship in the region, this program offers advanced training for those seeking to contribute new knowledge to the study of Islamic thought and tradition.