MA Intellectual Encounters of the

Islamicate World

Aim of the one-year, English-taught MA program Intellectual Encounters of the Islamicate World is to provide international graduate students with a thorough understanding of the deep and diverse links between the Muslim, Jewish and Christian intellectual contributions during the Medieval period. The program is characterized by a strongly research-driven, interdisciplinary and interreligious approach with an emphasis on primary texts in their original Arabic language. Program teachers and mentors are internationally acclaimed experts in their respective fields of research.

The blended-learning program is primarily web-based. Weekly classes are held via our interactive online-learning platform facilitating direct, synchronous communication between participants irrespective of their physical locations. It also includes three in-class sessions per academic year, during which students and teachers meet for discussion, teaching and exams, as well as for the final presentation and defence of the MA thesis. The MA program is realized in close collaboration with bilateral regional partners in Israel and Palestine. Freie Universität Berlin offers the one-year full-time MA program of 60 ECTS to an expected 20 students, many of whom are from the Middle East. No tuition fees are raised for the MA program. There is merely a small enrolment and re-registration fee of approximately 60 Euros per semester.

Entry Requirements

• Above-average university degree proven by a transcript of records
• 240 ECTS credit points, at least 80 of which must be in one or more of the following disciplines: Islamic, Arabic, Jewish or Religious Studies, Philosophy and/or equivalent fields
• Excellent language proficiency in English and Arabic (C 1 level according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

The application period for the academic year 2014/15 is 15 April to 31 May 2014.