Edinburgh Global

Indonesian Dual Degree funding

In early 2023 the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) committed to funding up to 20 postgraduate scholarships each year, for a five year period.

James Smith exchanges gifts with representatives from MoRA, IIIU, and the British Council

About the scholarship

The scholarship will be administered by The Indonesia Endowment Funds for Education as a part of the ‘Indonesia Bangkit’ scholarship programme, it represents a potential annual income of around £500,000 per year in fees for the University of Edinburgh. This is one of the largest financial contributions MoRA have ever made to any university outside of Indonesia.

The programme will produce exceptional graduates who will have a significant and long-term impact on Islamic Studies globally. The first cohort will arrive in Edinburgh for the 2024/25 academic year to finish the programme, after completing their first year at the Indonesian International Islamic University (IIIU).

Background to the new Dual Degree programme

In January 2022, the University of Edinburgh’s Alwaleed Centre was awarded a two-year grant by the British Council Indonesia to develop a transnational teaching and research partnership with the IIIU - a major new postgraduate university in Jakarta. The project's ultimate goal was to develop a "Dual Degree" programme bringing together the University of Edinburgh's MSc in the Globalised Muslim World and the IIIU's MA in Islamic Studies.

The British Council funding enabled a series of student and staff exchanges, including three IIIU Visiting Fellows hosted by Edinburgh and four IIIU PG students visiting Edinburgh to experience one full semester of the MSc the Globalised Muslim World programme. A series of intensive workshops involving academic and professional services colleagues from Edinburgh and IIIU led to a concrete framework for the Dual Degree.

The new degree offers a globally unique programme in the field of Islamic Studies, bringing together two prominent Universities, and reinforcing Edinburgh’s very strong existing connections with the Indonesian government.

About our Dual Degree partners

Indonesian International Islamic University

Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs

British Council Indonesia

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh

The Alwaleed Centre

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies