• Introduction
• Faculty
• Curriculum
• Course Delivery Format
• Admission
• Graduation Requirement

Introduction

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Endowment (Waqf) Studies program is designed to introduce the theoretical and practical aspects of endowment in order to prepare graduates to become distinguished researchers and administrators in endowment and civil society institutions in the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region and beyond.  It applies the historical Islamic and modern western endowment methods, mechanisms, regulations and experiences to enhance sustainable development in Islamic societies. 

As a matter of national priority and in consideration of the language of the United Arab Emirates endowment authorities, the program will be offered in two language tracks. Instruction in the Arabic track of the program is in Arabic with a major English language component. Instruction in the English track is in English with some Arabic language components.

The Master of Arts in Endowment (Waqf) Studies program aims to:

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

• Understand the most recent and important developments in endowment fields;
• Properly apply different endowment rules in selected real cases;
• Practice endowment administration in different fields;
• Learn the effective and efficient management of endowment (Waqf);
• Learn the importance of the commitment to the highest degree of objectivity, and the avoidance of biases;
• Learn how to analyze and assess endowment (Waqf) documents in order to apply the endower’s will and abort any attempt to deceive the endowment supervisors;
• Learn how to think creatively within the legal frameworks of endowment;
• Understand the normative and ethical framework of the profession of endowment administration;
• Understand the norms and ethical system of the work of endowment supervisors;
• Understand the obstacles against the fair and effective administration of endowment, and the methods of overcoming such obstacles;
• Learn how to protect the independence of endowment; and
• Understand the economic factors that impact endowment practices in the United Arab Emirates and the Muslim world.

Faculty

The graduate program courses are taught by select professors of Zayed University who have earned doctorate degrees and significant relevant professional experience and expertise. In addition to Zayed University faculty, professionals holding these qualifications are recruited locally or internationally to deliver all or part of some courses.

Curriculum

At the beginning of the program, students take an intensive one-day orientation seminar. The orientation offers a number of workshops to introduce students to the program including Blackboard (virtual classroom software), case study and analysis, library resources, and the writing of reports and reference citations. The curriculum of the Master of Arts in Endowment (Waqf) Studies program consists of the following courses:

• MAES 610 Epistemology and Research Methodology
• MAES 615 Islamic Legal Theory
• MAES 620 Endowment, Social Mobility and Civil Society
• MAES 625 Comparative Endowment Jurisprudence
• MAES 630 Endowment and Education: Theory and Practice
• MAES 635 Endowment and Social Welfare: Comparative Experiences
• MAES 640 Comparative Modern Laws of Endowment
• MAES 645 The Modern Methods of Waqf Administration
• MAES 650 Financial Policies of Endowed Wealth
• MAES 655 Endowment Governance
• MAES 699 Research Project

Course Delivery Format

The Master of Arts in Endowment (Waqf) Studies program employs proven techniques for imparting training at the graduate level, which include classroom lectures by faculty, scholars, endowment experts, and endowers, supplemented by panel discussions, scenarios, simulations, problem solving  and case studies with reference to landmark endowments in Muslim and western societies.

The in-class room instruction for each course is conducted during two evenings on weekdays over an eight week period.

The Master of Arts in Endowment (Waqf) Studies program is delivered over a period of 15 months at Zayed University located in Abu Dhabi and/or Dubai.

For more information on the admission deadline, please visit the Key Dates section of our website.

Admission

• Admission is open to males and females of all nationalities.
• Candidates holding an undergraduate degree in any humanities or social sciences discipline and proving reasonable experiences in the field of endowment may apply to pursue the degree. However, the main targets of the program are the staff of endowment authorities and philanthropic NGO’s. Applicants may be requested to complete an admissions test during the interview.
• Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher from an accredited university.
• The Arabic track of the program is delivered in Arabic with designated English language components. The standard English language proficiency requirements for admission is waived as an entry requirement, but English language proficiency must be proved as an exit requirement for students admitted in the Arabic track. Graduates in the Arabic track must, at the exit of the program, have at least:

An IELTS score of 5.0

A TOEFL paper-based score of 500

A TOEFL computer-based score of 173

A TOEFL internet-based score of 61

• The English track of the program is delivered in English with designated Arabic language components. Candidates in the English track must have at least:

An IELTS score of 5.5

A TOEFL paper-based score of 550

A TOEFL computer-based score of 213

A TOEFL internet-based score of 79

• Candidates in the English track will be tested for their proficiency in Arabic reading.

For more information on the admission requirements, application procedure and program cost, please visit the Admission and Fees section on our website.

Graduation Requirement

Graduate students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in course work taken in fulfillment of the requirements of the master's degree.