The Hawza Programme at AMI is taught over four years, with two 17-week semesters in each year. Students can choose to study the Hawza Programme full-time over four years or part-time for as long as it takes to graduate. In addition, students also have the flexibility to study the Hawza Programme in-house at the Institute or via distance learning. For more information on distance learning, please click here. NEW Students enrolling on the Hawza Programme must be able to read basic Arabic for entry on the programme.
As an added bonus, from September 2018; students who successfully complete the first three years of the Hawza Programme will now have the opportunity to obtain a Postgraduate Masters degree in Islamic Studies awarded by and studied at the University of Birmingham (UoB), in the fourth year of the Hawza Programme. Find out more here.
FULL-TIME STUDY: Students who wish to study full-time on the Hawza Programme will study all the modules listed in the course structure below and will typically study from Mondays to Thursdays, 9:00am to 4:30pm. Full-time students studying via the distance learning route can either study online by joining classes live via Skype or offline by watching class recordings at their own convenience.
PART-TIME STUDY: Students who wish to study part-time on the Hawza Programme can enrol on a maximum of five modules per semester. Click here to view the timetable of entry-level modules available this September.
NEW Part-time students can choose from a variety of entry-level modules identified by an asterisk (*) in the Year One tables below. Students must be able to read basic Arabic to enrol on entry-level modules. Students who wish to apply for non-entry level modules will need to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to demonstrate that they fulfill the Module Prerequisites required to undertake their desired modules.
EXISTING Part-time Students must ensure they fulfill the Module Prerequisites of their chosen modules to gain entry on their modules of choice.
Below is the Hawza Programme Course Structure outlining the Modules taught over the four years.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE MODULE CODES TO VIEW THE MODULE CURRICULUMS.
YEAR ONE - SEMESTER ONE (SEPTEMBER TO FEBRUARY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
USLINT* | Introduction to Shi'i Legal Theory (أصول الفقه: مبادئ الأصول) | 10 | 2 |
THEINT* | Introduction to Muslim theology & Shi'i belief | 15 | 2 |
ULMQUR* | Qur'anic Sciences (علوم القرآن) | 30 | 2 |
HISONE* | Pre-Islamic History and History of Prophet Mohammad | 20 | 2 |
FIQINT* | Introduction to Islamic Law | 5 | 2 |
ARBONE* | Arabic Level One | 10 | 10 |
PHIINT* | Introduction to Philosophy in the Islamic World | 10 | 2 |
Total: 100 | Total: 22 |
YEAR ONE - SEMESTER TWO (MARCH TO JULY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
ULMHAD* | Hadith & Rijal Studies (علوم الحديثو رجال) | 30 | 2 |
FIQTAH | Ritual Purity and its Juristic Evidence (فقه: الطهارة) | 5 | 2 |
USLHAL* | Introduction to Baqir al Sadr's Legal theory (علم الأصول: حلقة الإولى) | 10 | 3 |
LOGTAW | Logic: Conceptual Discussions (منطق: التصورات) | 20 | 2 |
HISTWO* | Post-Prophet and Ummayad History | 20 | 2 |
ARBTWO | Arabic Level Two | 10 | 8 |
IRFINT* | Introduction to Muslim Mysticism | 10 | 2 |
Total: 105 | Total: 21 |
Modules marked with an asterisk (*) are Entry-level Modules which require students to be able to read basic Arabic. Students who wish to apply for non-entry level modules must contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . A pre-assessment in Arabic Level 1 may be assigned to determine the students capability in Arabic Language and Grammar.
YEAR TWO - SEMESTER ONE (SEPTEMBER TO FEBRUARY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
LOGTAD | Logic: Syllogisms (منطق: التصديقات) | 20 | 2 |
HISTHR | Post-Umayyad & Otomon History | 20 | 2 |
FIQSAL | Prayer and its Juristic Evidence (فقه: الصلاة) | 5 | 2 |
FIQSZK | Fasting, Prescribed Alms & Taxes and their Juristic Evidence (الصوم، الزكاة والخمس) | 5 | 2 |
ARBTHR | Arabic Level Three | 10 | 8 |
USLALF | Linguistic discussions in Shi'i Legal theory (أصول الفقه: مباحث الألفاظ) | 5 | 4 |
PHICON | Issues in Contemporary Philosophy | 10 | 2 |
Total: 75 | Total: 22 |
YEAR TWO - SEMESTER TWO (MARCH TO JULY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
ARBFOR | Arabic Level Four | 10 | 8 |
FIQHJA |
Pilgrimage, Religious Warfare & Enjoining Good and their Juristic Evidence (فقه: الحج، الجهاد والأمر بالمعروف) |
5 | 2 |
FIQBIJ | Financial Transactions & Leasing and their Juristic Evidence (فقه: البيع والإجارة) | 5 | 2 |
LOGFIV | Logic: Five Arts (منطق: الصناعات الخمسة) | 20 | 2 |
USLALF | Linguistic discussions in Shi'i Legal theory (أصول الفقه: مباحث الألفاظ) | 5 | 4 |
IRFISH | Philosophy of Mysticism | 10 | 2 |
FIQNKT | Marriage & Divorce and their Juristic Evidence (فقه: النكاح والطلاق) | 5 | 2 |
THEEXI | Theology: Existence & Attributes of God (كلام: إثبات واجب الوجود والصانع) | 15 | 2 |
Total: 75 | Total: 24 |
YEAR THREE - SEMESTER ONE (SEPTEMBER TO FEBRUARY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
PHIBID | Sadrian Philosophy: Existence and its Properties (فلسفة: الوجود وأحكامه) | 10 | 2 |
IRFQAY | Theoretical Mysticism: The Unity of Existence and the Sufi Path of Knowledge (عرفان: الوجود ومراتب الكشف) | 10 | 2 |
FIQSMB | Equity Partnerships and Trustee Financed Partnerships ( فقه: الشركة والمضاربة) | 5 | 2 |
ARBFIV | Arabic Level Five | 10 | 4 |
USLHUJ | The Authority of Evidence in Shi'i Legal theory (أصول الفقه: مباحث الحجة) | 5 | 4 |
USLAQL | Rational Discussions in Shi'i Legal theory (أصول الفقه: الملازمة العقلية) | 5 | 4 |
FIQHUT | Criminal Law & Punishment and their Juristic Evidence (فقه: الحدود، القصاص والطذرات) | 5 | 2 |
FIQASI | Consumables & Inheritance & their Juristic Evidence (فقه: الأطعمة، الأشربة والإرث) | 5 | 2 |
THEPIM | Theology: Prophethood & Imamology (كلام: النبوة والإمامة) | 15 | 2 |
Total: 70 | Total: 24 |
YEAR THREE - SEMESTER TWO (MARCH TO JULY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
ARBSIX | Arabic Level Six | 10 | 4 |
IRFQY2 |
Theoretical Mysticism: The Five Divine Presences and the Perfect Human (عرفان: العوالم الخمسة والإنسان الكامل) |
20 | 2 |
PHIBD2 | Sadrian Philosophy: Quiddity and its Properties (فلسفة: الماهية وأحكامه) | 20 | 2 |
USLHUJ | The Authority of Evidence in Shi'i Legal theory (أصول الفقه: مباحث الحجة) | 5 | 4 |
USLAQL | Rational Discussions in Shi'i Legal theory (أصول الفقه: الملازمة العقلية) | 5 | 4 |
THEMAD | Kalam: Eschatology (كلام: المعاد) | 15 | 2 |
FIQIJT | Legal Derivation & Emulation and their Juristic Evidence (فقه: الاجتهاد والتقليد) | 5 | 2 |
FIQMAK | Fiqh: Readings of Makasib al-Ansari (فقه: مكاسب الشيخ الأنصاري) | 5 | 2 |
Total: 85 | Total: 22 |
YEAR FOUR - SEMESTER ONE (SEPTEMBER TO FEBRUARY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
PHIBD3 | Sadrian Philosophy: The Neccessary Existence and its Properties (فلسفة: واجب الوجود وأحكامه) | 20 | 4 |
USLAML | Procedural principles in Shi'i legal theory (الأصول العملية) | 10 | 4 |
USLCON | Conflict of evidence in Shi'i legal theory | 10 | 4 |
Total: 40 | Total: 12 |
YEAR FOUR - SEMESTER TWO (MARCH TO JULY) | |||
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
DISS | Dissertation | 30 | N/A |
Total: 30 | N/A |
Please note: Upon completion of the first three years of the Hawza Programme, students who achieve 450 credits out of 510 credits and qualify to continue on the MA degree in Islamic Studies (awarded by UoB), will study on the MA programme alongside the Hawza modules listed in the table above. The MA in Islamic studies programme by UoB is currently only available to study on-campus (not via distance learning) and consists of six modules (taught at AMI and UoB) with a 15,000 supervised dissertation to be submitted at the end of the year. To find out more about the MA programme, course structure, fees and scholarships available, click here.
Other optional modules available as part of the Hawza Programme include;
Module Code | Module Name | Credits | Units |
ILMTAF | Ilm al-Tafsir | 10 | 2 |
QAWONE | Qawaid al Fiqhiyya (i) | 10 | 2 |
QAWTWO | Qawaid al Fiqhiyya (ii) | 10 | 2 |
ARBBL1 | Balagha | 10 | 2 |
ARBBL2 | Balagha (ii) | 10 | 2 |
PHILFQ | Philosophy of Fiqh | 10 | 2 |
ISLPLU | Islam & Religious Pluralism | 10 | 2 |
ISLINT | Islam & International Law | 10 | 2 |
Please note:
To graduate from the Hawza Programme, students must achieve a total of 520 credits out of a total of 580 credits over the four years.
For more information on Fees and Finance for the Hawza programme, please click here.
To apply, please click the 'Apply Online' button below.
For more information on the Hawza Programme and different modes of studying available, please email our Educational Programmes Manager on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.