What are the minimum and maximum periods in which the Bachelor's degree may be completed?
BA in Islamic Studies (BAIS) is a four year degree program (8 semesters - 6 courses per semester) which may be completed in a minimum of 3 years (6 semesters - if students take more than full course load, 9 courses per semester) and a maximum of 8 years (16 semesters - any number of courses from 1 to 6 can be taken per semester, but the enitre program has to be completed within a maximum of 8 years time).
Is Islamic Online University an accredited university?
Islamic Online University is accredited by affiliation to Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES). For more information click here
http://bais.islamiconlineuniversity.com/accreditation.php
The accreditation certificate can be viewed here
http://www.wisdom.edu.ph/wishes-accreditation-certificate.htm
So wherever the Philippines degree is accepted you will have no issues and we believe it will be accepted worldwide, Insha’Allah (Allah willing). However different countries and even individual institutions may have their own acceptance list. So it is highly recommended that you check this with your local institutions where you might want to pursue in further studies or seek employment.
Can I receive a Master's degree or a Doctorate through Islamic Online University?
Islamic Online University plans to launch its own Masters and PhD programs before its first batch of BAIS students graduate, Insha'Allah
Where does the study take place?
The Islamic Online University is an "online educational resource". The entire program is taught online via internet. Anybody from any part of the world can join easily and benefit from it, Insha'Allah.
What if there is slow internet connection?
It is recommended that the IOU students try to have a high speed internet connection to make the best use of all the services. However, if a student is unable to get a high speed connection, IOU has provided audio and video lectures which can be downloaded to listen or watch later.
How do I take exams?
Module tests and Midterm exams can be taken anywhere within the prescribed time. The final exams must be taken only in an IOU approved exam center. There are several designated IOU centers present across the globe. You may look for a center near your place before the semester exams and register for it. If there is no IOU approved exam center nearby, you can suggest an exam center and we will approve it even if you are the only student taking exams in it, Insha’Allah. Please read the exam center requirements here
http://bais.islamiconlineuniversity.com/requirements-exam-center.php
Is there any fee involved before the exams?
There is no fee charged by IOU separately for examinations. Students only need to pay a modest semester registration fee before enrolling into the semester. This depends on the country of residence of the student. Please click here to see the fees for your country. However, students will have to pay any associated fees to the exam center, if the center administrator/manager demands it (usually the centers do not ask for any fees).
Would a person who successfully completes the BAIS be capable of teaching others? Or is one required to have something more than the bachelors?
Alhamdulillah, IOU students are taught in the best possible manner. A student who is sincerely committed will certainly acquire the correct understanding of the subjects taught and will be able to teach it to others. A student who has a degree or diploma in education will be able to teach Islamic Studies at a professional level after completing BAIS. Alternatively, you may choose to do a separate set of electives in “Education” after completing all the BAIS courses, Insha Allaah. See here for more details about the electives offered.
http://bais.islamiconlineuniversity.com/electives.php
I want to join the BAIS program. Where do I begin?
The Islamic Online University is an "online educational resource". The entire program is taught online via internet. Anybody from any part of the world can join easily and benefit from it, Insha Allaah.
The Admissions are open throughout the year and you will be enrolled into the present semester if the enrollments into it are open, in case the enrollments have closed for the present semester, you will be accepted for the next semester.
The registration form is available here:
http://bais.islamiconlineuniversity.com/bais/login/signup.php
You will get a reply form the registrar regarding your admission confirmation and fee payment details in a few days, Insha Allaah.
Before you start the registration make sure you have the required scans (a scan of your HSC or degree certificate and a recent color photograph) ready on your PC
Does IOU have a system for course waivers?
Course waivers are possible for only for the following courses
Arabic 100
You can simply skip this course as it is a beginner’s course. You do not have to take this course if you can read and write Arabic very well.
English 101 and 102:
A waiver for English 101 will be given to those applicants who have graduated with a major in English or have taken up at least 2 semesters of English in a graduate program.
A waiver for English 102 will be given to those applicants who have graduated with a major in English. Those who possess these qualifications may submit the documents related to their study, along with the syllabus for evaluation by our instructor.
Computers 101:
A waiver for Computers 101 will be given to those applicants who possess qualifications of graduate level and above in computers. Those who possess these or other suitable qualifications may submit the documents related to their study, along with the syllabus for evaluation by our instructor.
Note:
- Course waivers imply that you have sufficient knowledge in a particular area. Courses can be waived if it has been determined that the course is redundant to your current degree program. You must submit all necessary documentation to prove that you have sufficient knowledge in that area to warrant a waiver. If a course waiver is approved, the number of hours required for the degree remains the same. The waiver allows students the option of an extra elective course rather than a required core course.
- If you possess the above qualifications, you can upload the required documents after enrolling into the course. It will take a few days to process your request. TOEF/IELTS/Any other scores alone are not sufficient to apply for a course waiver if you do not meet the above criteria.
What is the enrollment process?
When you complete all the steps up to payment of fees, you will be sent enrollment instructions few days before the semester starts. Please note that you are given only one attempt to make this enrollment request and therefore you should choose your courses carefully. Although the staff would help you to enroll manually if there is some genuine reason, please take care to avoid this.
There are separate links provided to the new students and continuing students to submit the request. If you are a new student who has joined only this semester, you should go to the new students’ section. If you are a continuing student, who had joined earlier, then you should go to the continuing students section even if you are taking the first semester courses.
When will enrollment and classes begin?
Islamic Online University offers two terms each year,
Spring Semester - March to July
Fall Semester - September to January
The exact dates are announced on the site news before the semester begins
What are the tuition fees?
Alhamdulillaah, the IOU BAIS/IOU Adv Dip/Audit courses are completely tuition free programs but we charge very modest semester registration fees.
Please see here for details
Is there a separate fee for learning materials?
There is no fee charged for learning materials. The course materials are comprised of the basic texts that are provided in e-books (PDF format). Flash videos and mp3 audios will be freely available for online streaming as well as download. We also provide an E-Library to the BAIS students free of charge. If the student wishes to purchase hard copies of the basic texts, they may do so from external sources.
Is an English language certification like TOEFL or IELTS required?
No. English language certification(s) is not a requirement to apply for IOU degree program. However, you should be aware that English is the medium of instruction for the entire program.
What is the level of English required to join IOU BAIS?
The courses are explained very clearly with the help of recorded lectures and weekly live sessions. You can contact the teachers for any clarifications or doubts. Although the study is simplified as much as possible, it is preferable that you register for a free diploma course
HERE and try to do at least one diploma course. If you are able to understand the lectures and texts here, Insha Allaah you will then be able to study BAIS.
Please note that If you realize later that you are not capable of understanding the courses being taught and need to drop out from the program, then no refund of fees will be possible due to the modest amount being charged. Therefore, we request you to proceed to payment only after careful consideration.
If my transcripts are not in English, will you still accept them?
Alhamdulillah, in order to make the process easy for the students, IOU has decided to undertake the translation job for some languages. Please check it with us if we have a translator for the language your certificate is in. If we do not have one, your non-English transcripts of the high school Certificate must be fully translated into English and authorized by a notary. You must also send an authorized notary copy of the original transcript with the translated copy. The copy of the translated notarized copy should be uploaded during the online registration.
What is the minimum required qualification to apply for BAIS?
To successfully apply for the BAIS Program, the candidate must have a High School Certificate / Diploma or a higher degree (Graduation/PG), You will have to upload a scan of your HSC or degree certificate and a recent color passport size photograph for processing your admission. If you do not do so, your admission is not confirmed.
Can a student who doesn't have the minimum required qualification join the IOU BAIS program?
BAIS is a degree program and the degree is awarded by WISHES to IOU students who complete all the requirements mandated by Philippine laws. And the requirements to get a Bachelors degree in any country is that a student should have completed 12 years of study and be able to produce HSC or higher(degree) certificate.
To enable the students who do not have HSC certificate but would want to study an organized Islamic Studies program and obtain a certificate for the same, IOU has started the stream of IOU Advanced Diploma. Wherein, there will be no difference in the manner the study is conducted. BAIS and IOU Advanced Diploma are one and the same courses. Students from both the streams are taught in a similar manner, given the same course material, enter the same live sessions with the same TAs.
Read this to know that the difference is only in the name and the certificate given
http://bais.islamiconlineuniversity.com/stream.php
The semester registration fees is the same for any stream you choose as the manner we conduct the study for all our students is the same.
Can I do this course without taking exams?
To enable the students who do not wish to take exams but acquire the knowledge of Islamic studies taught in an organized structure, we have introduced the Audit courses stream. The Audit courses stream gives all the above possibilities to a students but they are exempted from taking tests and exams and submitting assignments. If they wish, they can take tests and research and submit assignments, but they will not fail if they do not do so.
Audit courses stream is for those people who want to complete the BAIS courses without having to prepare for exams. The duration of the semester is the same as for BAIS and so is the fee structure. After the semester completes, the students graded for auditing the courses. And at the end of their study they are given a certificate of auditing the courses from IOU, Insha Allaah.
Would there be possibilty for me to complete the course in less than 3 yeasr? If this is possible how much work would be required from me per semester?
No. And we do not recommend this under any circumstances. The maximum number of courses a full time student is allowed to take are 9. It will not be possible for a student to concentrate and fully understand the concepts if s/he takes more than 9 courses. However, in some exceptional cases, if you have studied the concepts under some scholars and are familiar with most of the courses, you may take maximum up to 12. But it is not advisable to take more than 12 as we expect our students to study for grasping the contents well and implementing what they study. A student has to devote approximately 3 to 4 hours per course per week to understand the concepts well. This will not be possible by taking more than 9 courses. Plus, a well researched assignment for every course has to be submitted as part of the examinations.
How much Arabic is involved in the degree and to what level ?
Arabic is taught from the beginners level . In Arabic 100 a student is taught the Arabic Alphabet stroke by stroke via very well explained videos and text. And as the Arabic courses progress, more concepts are introduced, which are explained very clearly. By the end of the program a student will Insha Allaah, be able to read, write and understand Arabic completely. The other courses in first 3 semesters are completely in English. In higher semesters certain books completely in Arabic are introduced, but these are explained in English wherever necessary. The medium of instruction at IOU is English for all the courses. But Arabic is given importance and students are taught the language of the QUr'an in a very easy and effective way.
