Arts & Humanities

Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Sharia

The Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Sharia is a four-year degree programme that provides students with comprehensive knowledge of Islamic law, jurisprudence, and legal theory.

The curriculum covers Quranic studies, Hadith sciences, Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), principles of Islamic law (Usul al-Fiqh), comparative law, Islamic legal theory, family law, commercial law in Islam, Islamic ethics, Arabic language, and research methods.

Students develop competencies in legal analysis, Islamic jurisprudence, comparative legal reasoning, ethical reasoning, research, and Arabic text comprehension. The programme combines lectures, seminars, research projects, and practical exercises.

Graduates pursue careers as Sharia legal advisors, Islamic education instructors, religious affairs officers, community development officers, interfaith dialogue specialists, chaplains, researchers, and university lecturers. They find employment in religious institutions, educational institutions, government departments, NGOs, legal advisory roles, and community organisations.

The programme is offered at the Islamic University of Kenya (IUK) through the School of Sharia and Islamic Studies. IUK is a private university located in Nairobi. The KUCCPS programme code is 3895642, with annual fees of KSH 96,000.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ or equivalent, following Islamic University of Kenya entry requirements. The programme emphasises Islamic values, ethical leadership, and market-ready education grounded in traditional Islamic scholarship.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 105,000
Job market: Low

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Quranic Studies
Hadith Sciences
Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh)
Principles of Islamic Law (Usul al-Fiqh)
Comparative Law
Islamic Legal Theory
Islamic Family Law
Islamic Commercial Law
Arabic Language
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Islamic Sharia
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of Islamic Sharia, including its sources, scope, and role in Muslim societies.
Quranic Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of the Quran as the primary source of Islamic law, including interpretation methods and sciences.
Hadith Sciences
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of Prophetic traditions (Hadith), their authentication, classification, and role in Islamic law.
Principles of Islamic Law (Usul al-Fiqh)
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations and methodology of Islamic legal reasoning and interpretation.
Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh)
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of Islamic legal rulings on acts of worship, transactions, and social relations.
Arabic Language for Sharia Studies
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Arabic language skills essential for understanding primary Islamic legal texts and classical scholarship.
Islamic Family Law
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Islamic Family Law: Islamic law governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and family relations. Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Comparative Law
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Comparison between Islamic law and other legal systems, examining convergence and divergence.
Islamic Commercial Law
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Islamic principles governing business transactions, banking, and financial contracts.
Research Methods in Islamic Studies
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods in Islamic Studies: Research design and methodology for studying Islamic law and jurisprudence. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and repor...
Contemporary Issues in Islamic Law
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Application of Islamic legal principles to contemporary issues including technology, bioethics, and governance.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 29 creditsCore
Final-year research project involving original research on an Islamic Sharia topic and a written dissertation.

Specialisations

Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh)
Study of Islamic legal rulings and their application to contemporary issues in family, commercial, and criminal law.
Principles of Islamic Law (Usul al-Fiqh)
Study of the theoretical foundations and methodology of Islamic legal reasoning and interpretation. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Comparative Law
Comparison between Islamic law and other legal systems, examining areas of convergence and divergence.
Islamic Family Law
Study of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and family relations under Islamic law. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Islamic Commercial Law
Study of Islamic principles governing business transactions, banking, and financial contracts. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary legal analysis. Morning sessions cover Quranic studies, Hadith sciences, or principles of Islamic law, while afternoons focus on jurisprudence, comparative law, and Arabic language. Students engage in case studies on contemporary legal issues from an Islamic perspective, group discussions on jurisprudential rulings, and research projects. The programme emphasises both traditional Islamic learning methods and modern academic approaches. Guest lectures by visiting scholars and religious leaders complement classroom instruction.

The trade offs

In its favour

Affordable fees at KSH 96,000 per year compared to other private university programmes.
Programme provides specialised expertise in Islamic law with limited competition in the field.
Kenya's significant Muslim population and Kadhi court system create demand for Sharia expertise.
Programme combines classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary legal analysis.

Against it

Programme is offered at only one university, limiting institutional choice.
Career opportunities are primarily within Muslim communities and institutions, limiting broader market access.
Programme requires proficiency in Arabic for full engagement with primary legal texts.
Limited awareness of the programme may affect employer recognition outside Islamic institutions.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private96k to 105k

96k at Islamic University of Kenya105k at Mount Kenya University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN BA 189,004/yr, KU 153,000/yr (KUCCPS). IUK 96,000/yr, MKU 105,000/yr (official).

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Islamic University of Kenya offers financial aid for needy students. Islamic charitable organisations may provide additional scholarships.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
Islamic University of Kenya Financial Aid

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Islamic University of Kenya Financial Aid
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at Islamic University of Kenya.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points for Islamic University of Kenya.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ or equivalent; OR A level with at least two principal passes and one subsidiary; OR GPA of 2.5 and above from Pre-University; OR relevant Diploma from a recognised institution; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, essays, legal opinion exercises, and seminar presentations during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering Islamic law, jurisprudence, and legal theory.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project involving original research on an Islamic Sharia topic and a written dissertation.
Practical Attachment
Practical100% of the mark
Third-year attachment in a relevant institution such as a Kadhi court, religious organisation, or NGO.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Sharia Legal Advisor
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Provides advisory services on Islamic law matters for individuals, organisations, or institutions.
Islamic Education Instructor
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 65,000
Teaches Islamic studies and Sharia in schools, madrasas, or Islamic educational institutions.
Religious Affairs Officer
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 75,000
Manages religious affairs in government departments, NGOs, or community organisations.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 70,000
Implements community development programmes in Muslim communities using Islamic principles.
Research Assistant
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 60,000
Conducts research on Islamic law and jurisprudence for universities or research institutions.
Kadhi Court Assistant
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 70,000
Supports Kadhi court proceedings and provides research on Islamic family law matters.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as Sharia legal advisors, Islamic education instructors, religious affairs officers, and community development officers. Demand is low to moderate with opportunities in Muslim communities and institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Productivity suite for research papers, legal opinions, and project reports.
Arabic Text Software
Language toolsPrimary
Software for processing and analysing Arabic legal texts and classical scholarship.
Google Scholar
Research database
Academic search engine for finding scholarly literature on Islamic law and jurisprudence.
Al-Maktabah Al-Shamila
Research database
Digital library of classical Islamic texts and scholarly works for research.
EndNote
Reference management
Reference management software for organising sources and citations in research papers.

Certifications

Master of Arts in Islamic Studies

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Islamic Sharia is only for those intending to become imams.
Graduates work in diverse fields including legal advisory, education, community development, research, and interfaith dialogue.
Sharia studies have no relevance in secular Kenya.
Kenya's Kadhi courts apply Islamic family law, and the Muslim community requires Sharia expertise in legal, educational, and social matters.
The programme is only for Muslim students.
While rooted in Islamic tradition, the programme is open to all students interested in understanding Islamic law and its application.
Islamic Sharia graduates cannot work in secular institutions.
Graduates' skills in legal analysis, ethics, and community engagement are applicable in NGOs, government, and educational institutions.