Islamic college in Singapore to offer localized course
Singapore College of Islamic Studies marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to Islamic religious education
SINGAPORE (MNTV) — The new Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to Islamic religious education, aiming to integrate classical theology with modern social sciences to produce leaders equipped for a contemporary, pluralistic society, according to an article by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Launched formally on Jan. 27, 2026, the college is set to admit its first cohort in 2028. First proposed in 2016 by then Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, the institution reflects a broader effort to localize Islamic education while maintaining global academic standards.
Historically, Singaporean religious scholars, or asatizah, pursued studies abroad at institutions such as Al-Azhar University in Egypt and Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia. While these institutions remain influential, graduates have sometimes faced challenges applying traditional training to Singapore’s multi-religious and highly urbanized context.
To address this, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) had previously introduced supplementary programs. SCIS aims to bridge this gap from the outset by offering a localized, comprehensive pathway.
The college’s curriculum will retain a strong theological core, including the study of the Qur’an, Sunnah, Arabic language and Islamic jurisprudence, while incorporating disciplines such as sociology, psychology and counselling.
This approach is designed to help students understand how religious teachings intersect with issues like mental health, family dynamics, digital ethics and social cohesion.
A key feature of SCIS is its partnership with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), which will provide and accredit modules in the social sciences. While SCIS will confer its own degrees in religious studies, the collaboration ensures students gain exposure to applied disciplines, creating what organizers describe as a model grounded in contextualization, interdisciplinarity and applied research.
The campus will be located in the Rochor district, near cultural and religious landmarks such as Sultan Mosque and the Malay Heritage Centre. Its proximity to SUSS is intended to encourage interaction among students from diverse academic and religious backgrounds, fostering a lived experience of Singapore’s multicultural environment.
SCIS will be governed by a multi-tiered structure, including an advisory panel, board of governors and steering committee. The board will be chaired by former Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, while the steering committee is led by Singapore’s Mufti, Nazirudin Mohd Nasir. Academic input also comes from scholars affiliated with institutions such as Nanyang Technological University.
Additional expertise is drawn from prominent academics, including Lily Kong of Singapore Management University and Tan Tai Yong of SUSS, focusing on governance, curriculum development and institutional standards rather than theology.
An international advisory panel will include figures such as Egypt’s Grand Mufti Nazir Mohamed Ayyad and Mona Siddiqui of the University of Edinburgh.
Officials emphasize that while the college adopts a modern, interdisciplinary model, core religious teachings will remain under the authority of Singapore’s Islamic scholars, ensuring theological integrity alongside academic innovation.
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