MA Islamic Studies student Syed tells us why he chose the University of Birmingham to study Islamic Studies at Masters level.
Studying abroad for a postgraduate degree in Islamic Studies opened the door to a different domain of something that’s always been close to me: my religion, Islam. Deciding to pursue this as a career wasn’t easy—there were so many factors to consider: securing funding, living in a different country, and much more.
I had to absorb a lot of information, whether it was about the course content, funding, requirements for international students, or career opportunities. It took a lot of effort and time, but fortunately, everything I needed was available on the University of Birmingham’s official website. It was also shared in interactive ways on their social media platforms, like Instagram, which made the vast amount of information more practical and easier to understand. On top of that, the help and support from current students through the Unibuddy platform made a big difference.
Why I chose Birmingham for Islamic Studies
I chose Birmingham because the most interesting part of my course is the access to a critical Islamic scholarship platform, especially one that challenges your established foundations and then rewires them to fit into an academic sphere. I also had the opportunity to dive into traditional Imami Shi’i traditions in a nuanced way, along with a bit of seminarian experience, while also engaging with modern critical academic approaches.
The collaboration with the Al-Mahdi Institute brings a lot of expertise from scholars who have spent years in both academic and seminarian environments. The course puts a strong emphasis on developing one’s academic abilities and encourages you to start as an early career researcher.
It would’ve been impossible for me to study in the UK without the wide range of funding and scholarships offered by the University of Birmingham, which became the driving factor in my decision.
What I’ve learnt from my course
This course has taught me how to move beyond ritualistic practice and into an academic exploration of Islam and Muslim life, from historical to modern contexts. I’ve also learned about the complexities of classical and modern Islamic thought through debates, discussions, and examining the tensions and polemical nature of scholarship.
While studying Qur’an and hadith literature, I had the opportunity to visit the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript at the Cadbury Research Library. This manuscript, said to date back to the 8th century CE, made me feel incredibly lucky to witness something so personal from the early years of Islam.
The city of Birmingham
Birmingham is the perfect place for Islamic Studies for many reasons. The diversity of people, including a thriving Muslim community, has made me feel right at home, never like an outsider in a foreign country. Through the university, I’ve also had the opportunity to connect with Shi’i communities at the Al-Mahdi Institute, participating in events ranging from Friday prayers and other Islamic gatherings to academic research seminars.