Bachelor/Master Structure

The IUR has shifted from the old (1+3) into the new (3+2) programme structure. According to the new system, the degree programmes are divided into two parts: the bachelor's phase, which lasts three years, and the master's phase lasting one or two years depending on the degree programme. University students operating within the new system are expected first to take a three-year Bachelor programme (the undergraduate). After the Bachelor, students can enter a Master programme (the graduate). After three study years and examinations students are awarded with the title of Bachelor of Arts (BA) title and after the successful completion of the five year programme, they are then entitled to use the title of Master of Arts (MA) title.

Languages of instructions

The Islamic University of Rotterdam is attracting huge numbers of foreign students. Currently, there are students from different nationalities (Dutch, Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccans, Egyptian, Algerian, etc) following their studies at IUR. For this purpose, a number of Master programmes will be taught in the English language. With respect to the languages of instructions, Dutch, English, Arabic and Turkish are the languages for teaching depending on the subject being taught. The main language is the Dutch language.

Study Length

As mentioned above, study length is five years. In the first year the emphasis lies on gaining basic knowledge in the fields of Islamic Sciences, Islamic Arts and languages and Civilization depends on which faculty the student follows. In the second and the third years students study the subject that they studied during their first year in greater depth. In the last two years students can specialize in one of the main areas of the Faculty’s research. During these two years, students do not study the whole course but only the relevant parts of the course and into more depth.

Types of education

The IUR offers the following types of academic education: undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and Short-tailored Training.

Undergraduate education / Bachelor Degree Programmes

The undergraduate Bachelor programmes at the IUR lead to Bachelor degree, depending on the fields of study, i.e., the Sciences of Islam, Languages and Civilizations, and Islamic Arts. The Bachelor programmes at the IUR start in the academic year 2002-2003 and have duration of three years in total. The languages of instruction are Dutch, English, Arabic and Turkish and these can vary depending on the fields of study, faculties and departments. After the completion of a full three years academic programme, students receive a transcript (certificate) indicating the courses taken and the credits and grades obtained. If desired, students may also attend to a graduate certificate programme course (Master) for one or two years. Students with qualifications comparable to the Dutch university preparatory education (VWO) can apply for the regular study programmes.

Graduate education / Master Degree Programmes

Programmes in graduate education have been developed for students seeking advanced degrees. A master's programme lasts from one to two years. The graduate Master programmes at the IUR start in September 2002. A number of graduate Master programmes is expected to be taught in English. The titles students can obtain with these programmes are Master of Arts degrees; these can vary depending on the field of study. A Master of Arts degree is obtained after satisfactory completion of the course in addition to an official transcript indicating the courses taken and credits earned. If a student is unable to fulfill the requirements, he or she may obtain an official transcript only. Only students holding a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field can apply for these programmes. Students who have foreign Bachelor degree diploma can apply also for admission to the Master degree programmes, but they should at first obtain a certificate from the Nuffic, indicating the equality level of their study programme in the Netherlands. Students with a bachelor's degree and two years of relevant work experience can also apply. After successful completion the student earns an additional master's degree. The Master of Arts degree that can be obtained is equivalent to other European degrees that qualify graduates to enroll for Ph.D. programmes in all fields of Islamic Sciences, Islamic Arts, Languages and Civilizations.

Short-tailored Training

The Islamic University of Rotterdam also offers a wide supply of short academic courses and contract teaching (e.g. experts in theology, instructors of religion, imams, and spiritual guides). It is also possible that the faculties of the Sciences of Islam, Languages and Civilizations, and Islamic Arts offer short tailor-made programmes, the so often referred to as  in-company executive programmes, that offer accredited certificates

New Style Credit System

To work under the same education system all over Europe, credit system of the Netherlands has changed as well. Dutch credit system of 42 credits (1 study points stands for 40 hours) for each academic year has shifted to the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) of 60 credits (1 study point stands for 28 hours study) which means 1680 hours study just like the old system. According to the new credit system, students obtained 180 credits to complete their bachelor degree and students obtained total 300 credits conclude their master degree in the IUR. ECTS is part of the Socrates/Erasmus Programme. One of the main aims of this system is to promote academic recognition throughout the European Union so that it is easier for students to complete a portion of their studies abroad. The basic allocation of academic credits in ECTS is 60 credits per year of study, 30 credits per semester, and 15 credits per block. Credits are awarded only if a course has been completed and if all requirements have been met and examinations passed.

Credits and Degrees

The full-time studies in the IUR are 3+2 -year programmes. Students are required to accumulate 126 (180) credits or 84 (120) credits respectively; 42 (60) credit a year. The degree programmes consist of two phases:

·         The first part, called the Bachelor of Arts (BA), comprises the first 3 years and concludes with the BA examination.

·         The second part, the 2-year Master of Arts (MA) programme, concludes similarly with the MA examination. The student is allowed into this second part if she/he completes the first with good results.

The student is admitted into a (4-year) post-graduate research programme, which is usually geared towards obtaining a doctorate, a doctor degree (Ph.D.), if the student successfully complete a 210 (300)-credit degree programme. For more information, contact should be taken with the Students Affair Administration of the IUR.

Teaching methods

The IUR educational system is characterized by lecturing, group study and self-study. The lecturers determine in detail what the students have to do; they regularly give lectures and write syllabi, but this does not mean that they give everything to students. For some topics, students have to organize the learning process by themselves and students have to be able to determine the way in which they solve their problems by making individual and group researches. This kind of educational system helps students to be innovative and productive. The Islamic University of Rotterdam educates its students to become trained academics, emphasizing academic education on the interface of development and application of knowledge, and working from an interdisciplinary approach. The education system at the Islamic University of Rotterdam consists of various teaching methods, including:   

Lecture

Education in the academic level recognizes no national borders. It is an international venture. Succeeding through the communication of scholars every corner of the world. The IUR from its founding always practices this. The only reason for this is employing the best lecturers all over the world to increase the efficiency and the quality of the university. Therefore currently, there are Professors, Dr.`s and AIO`s coming from the Netherlands, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and some other countries who are really experts in their fields. A lecture is a broad presentation of a subject by the lecturer in oral form, while students listen, take notes and can ask questions at the end of the session. Normally a lecture lasts for one hour and 30 minutes with a 15-minute break.

Seminar
A seminar is an interactive, in-depth discussion of the subject matter between a tutor and a small group of students. Students are required to take an active role, on basis of the paper/essay they submit.

Essay/paper

A paper or essay is usually the course work for a seminar. Students should be able to show that they understand the subject matter that they have read the essential literature, that they are able to analyse the topic and that they can express themselves clearly and concisely.

Course work

During the semester, students are expected to participate actively in any course they take. This means preparing for lectures and seminars, doing the necessary homework and carrying out the appropriate assignments. All of this is referred to as course work.

 (Interim) examination

Courses are assessed in various ways, mostly by a written exam, a paper or an oral exam, to test the student's knowledge and understanding of the subject matter discussed in lectures or seminars. During a written exam, students have to answer open, multiple-choice and essay-type questions.

Assignments

Assignments are one of the most important aspects of the education in the faculties and the institutes of the Islamic University of Rotterdam. Assignments help students to be more effective in the process of learning the literature, teaching methodology, get use to the academic study, and participating the lectures in an active way. It is mentioned in which terms the assignments are presented and the credits of these assignment in the programme of each institute and faculty. One of the lecturers, who is appointed by the faculty dean is responsible with all aspects of the assignment and students can learn everything related to their assignments from him/her.