Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Langauge: Dansk (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September and January / February (only applicants with a Danish Bachelor's degree) |
Islam is Denmark’s second-largest religion, something that is also true for much of Western Europe. The days are gone when it made sense to study the Arab and Islamic worlds as a distant ‘other’. Arab communities are to be found in Europe as well as in the Arab world, and Islam is a Western religion as well as an Arab one. The MA in Arab and Islamic Studies therefore focuses on today’s globalised and transnational realities, on Islam and Muslims in Europe as well as in the Arab world.
The MA in Arab and Islamic Studies is taught by faculty members from the Islamic Cultures and Societies Research Unit (ICSRU). The ICSRU is a trans-disciplinary research unit for all those at Aarhus University who are interested in the Islamic cultures and societies, both in the Islamic world and transregionally. The central mission of the ICSRU is to provide a stimulating research milieu for both senior and junior researchers by promoting discussion and exchange, and arranging events.
Admission to the Master’s degree programme in Arab and Islamic Studies requires a relevant Bachelor’s degree in accordance with the following subsections:
Other qualifications can provide admission to the Master’s degree programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to the degrees mentioned above. As a minimum, these must contain:
At least 20 ECTS credits in history, politics, society and culture in the Arab world.
Students with a Bachelor's degree programme in Arab and Islamic Studies at Aarhus University have the right to be admitted to the Master's degree programme in Arab and Islamic Studies on the condition that application is made for admission to the Master’s degree programme no later than three years after completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme. The legal right of admission requires receipt of the application by Aarhus University within the appropriate period of time. Read more about legal right of admission.
As the Master’s degree programme in Arab and Islamic Studies (due to government legislation) only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme.
In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the average mark (i.e. GPA) of the Bachelor’s degree at the time of application. Marks/grades obtained after the application deadline will not be included in the GPA.
The admissions committee assesses each applicant’s marks on the basis of the information provided by diplomas and transcripts.
Admission to the Master’s degree programme in Arab and Islamic Studies requires Danish at upper-secondary school ‘A’ level or equivalent.
In addition, admission requires English at upper-secondary school ‘B’ level or equivalent (Danish upper secondary school level).
Read how to document your language qualifications
See the general documentation requirements.
Please note that applicants are NOT required to upload course descriptions.
General rules, requirements and how to apply
As a student it is important to know the regulations for your chosen subject: what is the content, how is it structured and what does it require from you. You can find this information in the academic regulations.
The Arab and Islamic Studies programme is taught at the School of Culture and Society. The programme is small enough for close contact between students and teachers to be possible. The study environment also offers opportunities for you to attend research seminars and guest lectures, for example those run by the Islamic Cultures and Societies Research Unit or the student-run Arab Studies Society.
Student-to-student is your opportunity to ask about being a student at the Faculty of Arts and about Aarhus and Denmark in general to another international student who has already taken the leap and now lives in Denmark and studies for his/her Master's degree at the Faculty of Arts.
You can read more about the student-to-student service and find the list of AU international student ambassadors at Arts here.
The main Aarhus University campus is unique, with buildings closely grouped together and surrounded by nature. The campus is conveniently situated close to the city centre, and student accommodation is readily available as long as you apply on time. There are a range of activities, ranging from running to regatta on the lake, as well as guest lectures, film screenings, and university events taking place throughout the year. To ensure student well-being, counselling services are available for students, to offer support and guidance during their time at Aarhus.
As the second-largest city in Denmark, Aarhus is a young and dynamic place with plenty of opportunities. The 40,000 students at the university make up 17.5% of the city’s population, which leaves its mark on city life. An attractive feature of Aarhus is that there are beaches and woods a short bike-ride away, as well as cultural events taking place throughout the year, including the Aarhus Festival in September. The theatres in the city and the ARoS international art museum offer many events that enable you to experience the Danish culture.
Why choose Aarhus? See studyguide.au.dk and get all practical information about being an international student.
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This data is derived from AU's 2016 employment survey. This data should not be considered a completely accurate representation of the labour market and job functions for all graduates of the individual degree programmes. It exclusively represent the responses submitted to the survey in the years in question.
All Western organisations working with the Arab world or with Arab or Muslim communities in the West – from travel agencies to security services – need people with expertise in Arab and Islamic studies. Possible opportunities include working in the public sector – for a local administration department, or for aid organisations. There are also many opportunities in the private sector, as many Western firms operate in the Arab world. Previous graduates of MA Arab and Islamic Studies have also gone on to pursue careers in the fields of journalism, academia, and politics.
Please contact the Student Counselling Office for advice about employment opportunities and the subject profile options of your degree programme.
You can read more about the career services that are available from Arts Karriere who provide information about employment opportunities as well as arranging various events and workshops.
