About Us

The Islamic College represents the fusion of the classical with the modern. It was founded in 1998 to promote a new approach to the study of Islam and Muslims by providing a unique `insider's perspective` on Islam and fostering a non-sectarian outlook. The College is fast becoming an important academic centre for Islamic Studies: It offers fully accredited degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and has to date published more than twenty major texts in the field of Islamic studies and now releases a quarterly academic journal. It is also a multi-faceted institution, offering certificate level courses in practical Islamic subjects, such as Qur'anic Arabic and Islamic Banking, not to mention having just launched a momentous new programme to train Muslim scholars for the West. The Islamic College is one of the few Muslim institutions in the West today able to boast such an impressive contribution to the study and future of Islam. The Islamic College is a subsidiary of Irshad Trust, a UK registered charity (1056468).

Our Vision

As an institution dedicated to, and specializing in, a particular field, the Islamic College is more single-minded than a multi-faculty university. Our staff and students all share a passion for the study and teaching of Islam, which is why many of our new students find that joining the College is very much like joining a community. Because of this focus, all of our resources are dedicated to promoting Islamic Studies

As an institution committed to a non-sectarian outlook, diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Our students come from all over the world and adhere to different interpretations of Islam. value and cherish our location close to the heart of London, which gives our students access to some of the best resources for research in the world, not to mention the sights and sounds of a thriving, cosmopolitan metropolis.

Our Mission

In our programmes and research, we aim to provide more than just an academic understanding of Islam, as it is taught in most universities today. We want to present an `insider's view` of Islam and allow students to understand it as a living, breathing way of life, as well as a system of belief. This means they will not only study academic theories about Islam, but they will become acquainted with scholarly debates going on within Islam and what these mean for Islam's future. In this way, we bring together education and spirituality, the classical and the modern, the academic and the practical.

History

1998
The college was founded as Islamic College for Advanced Studies (ICAS) in 1998.

1999
Publications department (ICAS Press) established, begins publishing translations of important Islamic texts.

2001
Traditional subjects offered as part of a Hawza syllabus.
Department of Distance Education launched, offering a selection of non-degree courses to students worldwide.

2002
College begins partnership with Middlesex University to offer an accredited BA Islamic Studies.

2007
New level of cooperation begins between the College and Middlesex University with the introduction of MA Islamic Studies.*
College offers certificate courses in Islamic Banking and Qur'anic Arabic

2008
To reflect its growing course provision and its emergence as the center for the study of Islam, ICAS was renamed simply: The Islamic College.
MA Comparative Philosophy launched.*
MA Islamic Studies (Distance Education) launched.*
Islam and Human Rights added to the College's certificate course provision
Construction begins on a new campus building.

2009
BA Muslim Culture and Civilization launched.*
MA Comparative Philosophy: Islam and the West (Distance Education) launched.*

* Accredited by Middlesex University