Dual MA Program in Islamic Studies and Muslim Cultures

Columbia University and Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations

Application Deadline: 2025 Application Deadline TBA

At a time of heightened world interest in Islam, this degree brings together two leading institutions to focus on studying Muslim cultures and civilizations, past and present, to enable a more nuanced understanding. The dual degree offers a 21st Century Muslim Cultures degree that will provide students with new interdisciplinary frameworks and tools to understand Muslim cultures in a comparative and historical context.

You can find a breakdown of the program tuition here

THE Aku-ismc / COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DUAL DEGREE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP

The AKU-ISMC/Columbia dual degree scholarship will recognize and support outstanding students in carrying out innovative scholarship in Muslim and Islamic studies. The scholarships will award students with strong academic credentials, leadership potential, and the capability to share knowledge about Islam and Muslim cultures in the societies in which they live. 

DESCRIPTION

AKU’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations and CU’s Middle East Institute will automatically consider all applicants to the Dual Degree program to be candidates for the AKU/CU Student Fellowship, a full funding opportunity.

The Fellowship provides multi-year full funding support to a select student in the Islamic Studies and Muslim Cultures Dual Degree Masters Program awarded by AKU & CU. Applicants will be notified of their funding award upon admission to the program. Award decisions will be made on the basis of academic merit.

ELIGIBILITY

Open to all applicants to the Dual Degree MA program, providing they meet admissions criteria. All applicants to the dual degree program will be automatically considered for this fellowship. No additional application materials are required.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

The award term for this fellowship is two years (4 semesters). The fellowship will cover tuition, fees, living expenses and summer language instruction for program. Travel costs to New York and London are not covered. This scholarship includes:

• Tuition at Columbia University (2 terms) and Aga Khan University (2 terms) and related university services fees. 

• Health insurance in the US and UK.

• A stipend for living expenses covering all academic terms.

• Tuition fees for summer language instruction.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR DUAL DEGREE STUDENTS

• AKU- ISMC Financial Assistance: Through its Financial Assistance Program, the University ensures that no individual be denied entry because of inability to pay. Assistance will be provided through loans or scholarships to supplement personal resources based on an evaluation of a student's need.

• FLAS Fellowship: MEI is designated by the U.S. Department of Education to award Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. Academic Year awards for graduate students consist of $15,000 tuition and a $20,000 stipend.

• GSAS Fellowships: GSAS administers a number of fellowships internally, including matching funds of up to $300 if an MA student receives funding from the MA program to conduct research for the final thesis or project.

• External Fellowships: MEI curates a list of available scholarships pertinent to the interdisciplinary study of the Middle East and North Africa.

• Fulbright opportunities: This Department of State program enables graduate students from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. Approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year.