BA Islamic Studies with Pastoral Care

BA Islamic Studies with Pastoral Care

This pathway provides students with an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of Islamic studies together with a grounding in pastoral care and counselling theory and practice. The programme has been designed to develop students’ knowledge and academic skills to enable them to critically analyse a range of perspectives and debates surrounding Islam and pastoral care and counselling in the contemporary, and Muslim professional context in particular.

Level 4 (Year 1) of the programme is common for all undergraduate pathways as this provides strong foundations in the core Islamic sciences. Levels 5 and 6 of the programme provides students, in addition to Islamic studies modules, an opportunity to develop more in-depth knowledge and understanding of pastoral care and counselling theory, and the academic skills required to critically analyse and evaluate issues, research, engage with policy and improve practice, targeting Muslim communities in a range of contexts. It will draw on the knowledge and experience of researchers and professionals operating in the field. Students will have an opportunity to access work settings through study visits enabling them to learn directly from professionals in the field and their experiences. 

For those students graduating from recognised Islamic seminaries (Dar al-‘ulum or Jamia) may be awarded exemptions from Level 4 of the programme through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and can enter the programme at Level 5, shortening the degree duration to two years.

At the Markfield Institute, students benefit from small class sizes, individual attention, personalised teaching support and access to an extensive range of both English and Arabic resources housed within our Islamic library. The course employs a range of teaching and learning methods both in and outside the classroom. As students’ progress in their studies, they will be encouraged to choose from optional modules to specialise in areas of their interest.

Entry Requirements

A minimum of two ‘A’ levels (or equivalent such as BTEC National Diploma, and BTEC Extended Diploma) are normally required, plus GCSE's (which includes a pass in English) or equivalent. Mature applicants or applicants who do not have conventional Level 3 qualifications may be admitted, normally if they have successfully passed a relevant Higher Education ACCESS qualification. Applicants can also be considered on the basis of their professional level experience in accordance with the Institute’s Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

In addition, the course opens a pathway for those with an Islamic Studies background, especially those graduating from Dar al-‘ulum or Jamia as mentioned above, who may gain exemptions from year one of the programme through recognition of prior learning (RPL), thereby shortening the length of time spent on the degree programme from three to two years.

International applicants will be expected to achieve school leaving qualifications which are equivalent to those achieved by British students, and will need to ensure they also have at least a Level B2 in English as specified by the UKVI (this will be an IELTS qualification). International applicant will need to take an IELTS test from a UKVI approved test centre. They will need to have achieved an average score of 5.5 in their IELTS test (with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four sub-components of language learning (reading, writing, speaking and listening).

Programme Structure

This is a three year full-time course which offers the options of completion at three levels:

• 120 credits      Certificate in Higher Education (Islamic Studies)
• 240 credits      Diploma in Higher Education (Islamic Studies with Pastoral Care)
• 360 credits      BA (Hons) in Islamic Studies with Pastoral Care

Level 4 (Year 1) Modules (Year 1 is common to all undergraduate pathways):

Level 5 (Year 2) Modules:

Level 6 (Year 3) Modules:

Contact Hours

For 20 credit module:

• Scheduled: 48 hours
• Independent: 152 hours
• Total: 200 hours

For the normal route, each taught 20 credit module will have 4 hours/ per week scheduled contact time for one semester (12 weeks) which includes blended learning activities. The modules will be delivered by blended learning, which employs multiple methods to deliver learning by combining face-to-face interactions with online activities. Face-to-face interactions include lectures, seminars/tutorials, student presentations, and one-to-one support. In addition, students will be expected to engage in independent study to prepare for weekly classes, formative assessments, and examinations/coursework for each module.

Our staff

You are taught by a highly qualified, enthusiastic team of academics with wide-ranging research interests. Their research is used in lectures and seminars so you learn about the latest issues impacting on the subject area.

Career Paths

The programme opens up a number of career paths related to pastoral care and chaplaincy including in education, prison and probation services, and social and health care professions; youth and community work; policy making roles in pastoral care at local and national governmental level, and advisory/consultative positions in NGOs, the charitable sector, international corporations, interfaith relations, media and research. Those graduating from this programme can also go on to pursue Masters level studies at the Markfield Institute, or an Introductory Certificate in Counselling, followed by an MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies at Newman University Birmingham, or similar courses at other universities, if they wish to pursue professional careers in counselling related fields.

How to Apply

If you wish to join any of our programmes, please complete an online application from the website www.mihe.ac.uk, mentioning details of your academic qualifications and outlining your motivation for applying for your chosen course. You will also need to include two references.  Applications for the February intake should be received by mid-January, and for the September intake by mid-August.  If you need any further advice or assistance please email us at admissions@mihe.ac.uk.

Fees and Funding

Please see details for the tuition fees for both UK and overseas students at: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS on this website