Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is an independent, Royal Charter-incorporated UK charity in Oxford conducting advanced study of Islam and the Muslim world through scholarships, fellowships, short courses, research, and academic publications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies does
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) is an independent academic institution incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a UK charity (no. 293072), founded in 1985 and headquartered on Marston Road in Oxford. It operates as a centre for the advanced study of Islam and the Muslim world, delivering research, scholarship, fellowship, and teaching programmes rather than commercial technology products. Its core offerings include postgraduate and undergraduate scholarship programmes (OCIS-Oxford Scholarships, Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka Scholarships), stipendiary Visiting Fellowships (including the Abdul Aziz Al-Mutawa, Muhammad Bin-Ladin, Imam Bukhari, and Imam Tirmizi fellowships), short courses in Modern Standard Arabic, Qur'anic studies, Islamic worship, and Islamic finance, and the annual Young Muslim Leadership Programme (YMLP) residential summer course. Research infrastructure spans a specialised library, mosque facilities, exhibition spaces, and thematic projects including the Atlas Project, Muslims in Britain, Islamic Finance, Maldives Heritage Survey, and Science, Technology and Environment in Muslim Societies. Publications include the peer-reviewed Journal of Islamic Studies and the Makers of Islamic Civilization series, both disseminated through Oxford University Press.
The Centre's revenue mechanics are those of a registered charity rather than a commercial entity. Direct income is limited to course fees (e.g., £420 per 36-hour Arabic course, £120 for the 8-week History of Early Islamic Public Law course), while most religious education courses are free. The bulk of operating capacity is funded through bilateral scholarship agreements (Khazanah, Foreign and Commonwealth Office / Chevening, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science), intergovernmental partnerships (ISESCO, Muslim World League, KAICIID), donations, and grants. The customer base is segmented horizontally across academic scholars and researchers, university students (undergraduate and postgraduate), adult learners, and the Young Muslim Leaders persona, with marketing conducted through the institutional website, bilingual newsletters, social media (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), academic conferences, and the University of Oxford's communications infrastructure. His Majesty King Charles III has served as Patron since 1993, and the Board of Trustees is co-chaired by HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal, lending institutional prestige rather than operational direction.
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
- Legal name
- Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
- Website
- https://oxcis.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is an independent, Royal Charter-incorporated UK charity in Oxford conducting advanced study of Islam and the Muslim world through scholarships, fellowships, short courses, research, and academic publications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education and Academic Research
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes (EDAHAKAI)
Keywords
Where Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Modern Standard Arabic Courses (Levels 1A, 1B, 2, and Academic Purposes) |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | History of Early Islamic Public Law |
| Other | Annual | Religious Education Courses (Qur'anic Arabic, Qur'an Recitation, Essentials of Islamic Worship) |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is an independent academic institution providing advanced study of Islam and the Muslim world through scholarship programmes (OCIS-Oxford and Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka), stipendiary visiting fellowships, short courses in Modern Standard Arabic and religious education, the Young Muslim Leadership Programme, peer-reviewed academic publications (Journal of Islamic Studies, Makers of Islamic Civilization), and thematic research projects including Islamic finance, Muslims in Britain, and the Maldives Heritage Survey. The Centre delivers these educational and research services from its purpose-built Oxford campus under Royal Charter incorporation.
Product overview
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is an independent academic institution for the advanced study of Islam and the Muslim world, incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a UK charity. Its product portfolio consists primarily of educational and research services rather than commercial technology products. Core offerings include degree-level education through scholarship programmes (OCIS-Oxford Scholarships, Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka Scholarships), research fellowships (Visiting Fellowships Programme with multiple named fellowships), and academic publications (The Journal of Islamic Studies published with Oxford University Press, Makers of Islamic Civilization series, Occasional Papers). The Centre also provides outreach and educational services including the Young Muslim Leadership Programme (YMLP) summer residential course, short courses in Modern Standard Arabic at multiple proficiency levels, Islamic Finance Summer School, and religious education courses (Qur'anic Arabic, Qur'an recitation, Essentials of Islamic worship). Research infrastructure includes a specialized library, mosque facilities with published prayer times, exhibition spaces, and multiple thematic research projects covering areas such as Islamic finance, Muslims in Britain, and science and technology in Muslim societies. The institution does not operate as a technology products or SaaS company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OCIS – Oxford Scholarships: Scholarships supporting British Muslim students and students from developing countries in Asia and Africa to study at the University of Oxford
- Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka Scholarships
- The Journal of Islamic Studies
- Young Muslim Leadership Programme (YMLP)
- King Charles III Garden
Products and services
- Modern Standard Arabic Courses Arabic language courses offered at four levels (Level 1A, Level 1B, Level 2, and Arabic for Academic Purposes) running over three terms from October to June, taught by native speakers. Priced at £420 per 36-hour course with a 10% discount for University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes students/staff, OCIS Scholars, YMLP Alumni, and current/former OCIS Visiting Fellows.
- Islamic Finance: Markets & Development Summer School A summer school exploring applied Islamic finance concepts, experimental economics, law, markets, innovation, regulation, and economic impact measurement.
- Short Courses - Religious Education Courses including Qur'anic Arabic (tajwid), Qur'an recitation for beginners, Essentials of Islamic worship, and History of Early Islamic Public Law. Religious education courses are free but require registration. History of Early Islamic Public Law is priced at £120 for an 8-week course.
- OCIS-Oxford Scholarships Scholarships launched in 2009 supporting British Muslim students and those from developing countries in Asia and Africa to pursue degrees at the University of Oxford. Up to five undergraduate and five postgraduate scholarships available annually.
- Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka Scholarships Scholarships established in 2008 to mark Malaysia's 50th independence anniversary, enabling outstanding Malaysian students to undertake postgraduate study at Oxford. Since 2008, 28 full scholarship grants have been provided.
- Visiting Fellowships Programme Stipendiary fellowships supporting scholars to conduct independent research at Oxford over two terms, including the Abdul Aziz Al-Mutawa, Muhammad Bin-Ladin, Imam Bukhari, and Imam Tirmizi Visiting Fellowships, plus up to six OCIS-Chevening Visiting Fellowships annually for scholars from specified countries in Asia and Africa.
- Young Muslim Leadership Programme (YMLP) An annual residential summer course at the Centre designed to develop leadership skills and understanding of Islamic tradition and contemporary issues among young Muslims. YMLP Alumni receive a 10% discount on Modern Standard Arabic courses.
- The Journal of Islamic Studies A peer-reviewed academic journal publishing articles on Islam and the Muslim world, produced in partnership with Oxford University Press.
- Makers of Islamic Civilization A publication series documenting influential figures and contributions to Islamic civilization, published by Oxford University Press.
Companies that use Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- Victoria and Albert MuseumminorDr Mariam Rosser-Owen, Curator responsible for the Arab World collections at the V&A Museum, gave a lecture on 'Crafting Medieval Spain: the Torrijos ceiling' in June 2023.
- Victoria and Albert MuseumminorAcademic collaboration for public lectures; Ms Susan Stronge, Senior Curator in the Asian Department at the V&A Museum, gave a lecture on 'Picturing the court: Mughal artists and material culture in the 17th century' at the Centre in November 2019.
- Royal Asiatic SocietyminorMr Edward Weech, Librarian at the Royal Asiatic Society, gave a lecture on 'Systems of religion and morality in the collections of the Royal Asiatic Society' in October 2018. The Royal Asiatic Society, founded in 1823, promotes research into the histories and cultures of Asia.
- Muslim World League (Makkah)corePartnership for the International Forum on 'Peace in Revealed Religions' in May 2018. The two-day forum explored the value of peace in Abrahamic faiths, part of the Centre's commitment to improve understanding between different cultural, religious, and intellectual traditions. Senior participants included HE Dr Mohammad ibn Abdulkarim Al-Issa (Secretary General of the Muslim World League).
- King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID)majorHE Dr Faisal Bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar, Secretary General of KAICIID Vienna, participated as a senior representative at the International Forum on 'Peace in Revealed Religions' co-hosted with the Muslim World League.
- Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO)coreISESCO was formally established in 1981 to promote cooperation between OIC member states in education, science, and culture. The Centre and ISESCO established the ISESCO-OCIS Prize for Educators. In September 2017, UNESCO was presented with the 2017 prize at a ceremony in Paris for its contribution to the Promotion of Peace and Co-existence.
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)majorAward recipient of the ISESCO-OCIS Prize for Educators 2017, presented at ceremony in Paris in September 2017. The prize recognised UNESCO's contribution to the Promotion of Peace and Co-existence, notably UNESCO's 'Different Aspects of Islamic Culture' collection.
- Yayasan Khazanah (Khazanah)coreThe Khazanah-OCIS Scholarship Programme (Merdeka Scholarships) was established in 2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence. The programme enables outstanding Malaysian students to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Since 2008, 28 full scholarship grants have been provided to students. The tenth anniversary was celebrated in July 2018 in Kuala Lumpur with guests including His Majesty Sultan Muhammad V and HRH Sultan Nazrin Shah.
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office / Chevening FellowshipscoreThe Chevening Visiting Fellowships Programme is run in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Up to six fully funded OCIS-Chevening Visiting Fellowships are typically available annually for scholars from specified countries in Asia and Africa. Chevening Fellows normally spend two terms of self-directed research at the Centre.
- University of OxfordcoreThe Centre operates as an independent institution affiliated with the University of Oxford. It works with various Oxford faculties and colleges, including St Antony's College (Middle East Centre), and contributes to the University of Oxford's academic calendar with seminars listed in the Oxford Gazette.
- Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of ScienceminorAssociation with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advisory of Science for the 'Islam and Science' seminar series.
- Research Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE)minorCollaborative partner for Islamic Ethics seminar series, arranged in partnership with the Middle East Centre at St Antony's College and CILE at the Qatar Faculty for Islamic Studies.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM): Malaysian public university offering Islamic studies, Islamic finance, and Arabic programmes; relevant comparison given OCIS's Khazanah partnership and dedicated Islamic finance research and summer school.
- Al-Azhar University: Cairo's historic Islamic university is the pre-eminent global centre for Islamic theology and Sharia studies, comparison to OCIS as a vastly larger incumbent in Islamic higher education with broader scope and degree-granting authority.
Direct peers
- International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT): Herndon, Virginia-based institute conducting Islamic scholarship and educational reform, with publications and academic programmes comparable to OCIS as a Western institution producing Islamic research and graduate-level education.
- SOAS University of London: London's School of Oriental and African Studies is a UK university with substantial Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, Arabic language, and related theological and social-science research, directly comparable to OCIS as a Western academic home for Islamic studies.
- Cambridge Muslim College: Cambridge-based Muslim theological training institution offering programmes in Islamic studies and chaplaincy; comparable to OCIS as a UK university-affiliated Islamic higher education body with traditional and applied curriculum.
- Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education: Dundee-based higher education institution focused on Islamic studies, Arabic, and education, closely comparable to OCIS as a UK-based, dedicated Islamic higher education provider with scholarship and short-course offerings.
- Institute of Ismaili Studies: London-based research and educational institution dedicated to Islamic studies, with scholarly publications, graduate programmes, and teacher training directly comparable to OCIS's research, publication, and educational missions.
Others
- Muslim World League: Riyadh-based international Islamic NGO with which OCIS co-hosted the 2018 Peace in Revealed Religions forum; relevant as a strategic partner and convening organisation rather than a direct competitor in higher education.
Emerging players
- Bayan Claremont (Bayan Islamic Graduate School): US-based Islamic graduate school offering accredited master's-level Islamic studies education, comparable to OCIS as a smaller, specialised Islamic higher education provider focused on graduate study.
- Leiden University - Leiden Institute for Area Studies: Leading European university with the Leiden Institute for Area Studies and LUCIS (Leiden University Centre for the Study of Islam and Society), directly comparable to OCIS as a Western European research hub for Islamic studies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies social profiles
Digital presenceOxford Centre for Islamic Studies compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
What does Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies do?
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is an independent academic institution providing advanced study of Islam and the Muslim world through scholarship programmes (OCIS-Oxford and Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka), stipendiary visiting fellowships, short courses in Modern Standard Arabic and religious education, the Young Muslim Leadership Programme, peer-reviewed academic publications (Journal of Islamic Studies, Makers of Islamic Civilization), and thematic research projects including Islamic finance, Muslims in Britain, and the Maldives Heritage Survey. The Centre delivers these educational and research services from its purpose-built Oxford campus under Royal Charter incorporation.
Is Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies a public or private company?
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies founded?
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was founded in 1985. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies based?
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Al-Azhar University. Direct peers are International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), SOAS University of London, Cambridge Muslim College, Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education and Institute of Ismaili Studies. Muslim World League is listed as an others. Emerging players are Bayan Claremont (Bayan Islamic Graduate School) and Leiden University - Leiden Institute for Area Studies.
Does Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
What industry is Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in?
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies's product category is Higher Education and Academic Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAI, Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.