DHI confers three degrees as a registered seminary: an Associate in Arabic on completing Level 1, a Bachelor's in Islamic Studies on completing Levels 2 and 3, and a Master's on completing Level 4. Degrees are earned only by studying at DHI; they cannot be obtained by placement test. The Bachelor's begins at Level 2 for students with the required Arabic proficiency. The DHI Bachelor's is required for the Master's, and both degrees include research papers.
Alongside the degrees, students may receive ijazah in each text they study. Ijazah is granted by the teacher, upon the student meeting the teacher's conditions, in keeping with how knowledge has been transmitted from teacher to student since the earliest generations.
Level 1
Associate in Arabic
Awarded on completing Level 1. The foundation qualification, certifying Arabic proficiency and grounding in Aqeedah, Fiqh, and Hadith.
Levels 2 & 3
Bachelor's in Islamic Studies
Awarded on completing Levels 2 and 3 together. Requires the DHI Associate or equivalent Arabic proficiency to enter. Includes a research paper.
Level 4
Master's
Awarded on completing Level 4. Requires the DHI Bachelor's. Covers the Sahihayn and includes a research paper.
Ijazah
An ijazah is a licence granted by a teacher to a student, authorising the student to transmit a text on the teacher's authority. At DHI, ijazah in each text studied is granted upon the student meeting the teacher's conditions — continuing the chain of transmission that has connected scholars to the Prophet ﷺ since the earliest generations.
Ijazah is separate from the degree and is granted at the teacher's discretion. It cannot be applied for; it follows from the quality and sincerity of a student's study.
