Islamic Studies Research and Study Opportunities

Islamic Studies is an academic discipline that focuses on the history, culture, society, and religion of Islamic society from its inception in the 7th century to today.

While some scholars, such as Marshall Hodgson, have advocated for the term "Islamicate" to describe several socio-cultural phenomena of the Islamic world that were not necessarily related to Islam's religion directly, many have not accepted this term. 

The first studies of Islamic civilization were first done within the field of Oriental Studies in the 19th century.

Most of these earlier scholars did not question the veracity of the accounts of Islam's early history. In this regard, the field of Islamic Studies has progressed significantly, and books that challenge the early accounts, such as Muhammad and the Believers, have been written and taken seriously in recent years.

Earlier academic studies of Islam and the Islamic World suffered from "orientalism," a term coined by Edward Said in his essential work of the same name.

Euro-centric academia's skewed view of the "east" often caused scholars to misinterpret or misconstrue ideas that came from Islam.

In addition to Said's work, another landmark book, The Venture of Islam by Marshall Hodgson is another critical work that ushered in a new era in Islamic Studies. In three volumes, it covers the history of the development of Islamic civilization. 

Islamic Studies is often conflated with Middle Eastern Studies. This does not seem right for two reasons. First, the geographical spread of Islam is far more expansive than merely the Middle East's borders. Second, many ethnic groups in the Middle East do not practice Islam. Arabic StudiesIranian Studies, and Turkish Studies in many aspects of interdisciplinary research related to the broader field of Islamic Studies. 

Today, there are many departments worldwide that offer Islamic Studies. It is often included within broader departments, including Middle Eastern and South-East Asian studies departments and theology and philosophy departments. Many universities worldwide offer bachelor's, master's, and PhDs in Islamic Studies, often within broader programs such as Theology.

Thousands of study and academic opportunities in Islamic Studies are available internationally. Conferences and summer schools in Islamic Studies are organized regularly in the best academic centers of the world. The majority of universities and many foundations also offer BA, MA, and Ph.D. programs in Islamic Studies and postdoctoral research grants, awards, and fellowships. Below find the updated list of international opportunities available in Islamic Studies.

Conferences in Islamic Studies

Oxford Center for Islamic Studies Conferences

Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS) Conferences

British Association for Islamic Studies Conferences

Departments that Offer Islamic Studies

Islamic Studies at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago

Islamic Studies at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley

Islamic Studies at the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University

Islamic Studies at Cambridge University's Faculty of Divinity