Our Courses

We offer the full Alimiyyah course in three levels, each of which can be studied independently.

• Arabic Intensive

• Sanatyn/Post Maktab Course: 

• The Full Alimiyyah

Alimiyyah

This is the entire Alimiyyah course. 

Course Length

Full-Time: 6 Years 

Part-Time: 7 Years

Arabic Intensive Course

This course is the first year of the Alimiyyah course which can be studied as a stand-alone course. 

Course Length

1 Year

Study Options

The course can be studied 

• full-time and part-time

This is available

• to male and female students

• onsite and online 

Class Timings

All classes run from Monday to Friday. 

We offer different timing options to cater for different audiences.

All times listed below are UK times. 

For details of international time zones, please click here. 

Full-Time

Year 1-2

9:10 am - 12:30 pm 

• Six Lessons (30 minutes each) 

• Naseehah/Advices (10 minutes)

• Break (10 minutes)

Year 3-6

9:10 am - 1:00 pm 

• Seven Lessons (30 minutes each) 

• Naseehah/Advices (10 minutes)

• Break (10 minutes)

Part-Time Options

To accommodate those unable to attend the main course, we also offer a part-time option. 

In the part-time class, all subjects are covered, but the classes are less intense and less material is covered due to the reduced hours.

The options for the part-time are as follows:

Brothers (3 Options)

5:00 pm - 7:50 pm

5:50 pm - 8:10 pm

6:15 pm - 8:40 pm 

• Five Lessons (25 minutes each) 

• Naseehah/Advices (10 minutes)

• Salah (10 minutes)

Sisters (2 Options)

5:00 pm - 7:25 pm

5:50 pm - 8:10 pm

• Five Lessons (25 minutes each) 

• Naseehah/Advices (10 minutes)

• Salah (10 minutes)

Notes for Part-Time Options:

1. Class times shift 10-15 minutes throughout the year to accommodate Asr, Maghrib and Isha salah.

2. The multiple options  are only guaranteed, insha'allah, for the first two years. After that, their availability will depend on class numbers. 

However, one option will continue to be available for the full course duration, insha’Allah. 

Term Dates

The academic year runs from the last week of August until mid-July. 

There are no classes in Ramadhan.

Holidays are winter, spring, and summer. 

The new academic year begins in the last Wednesday of August.

Click here to view the year planner.

Assessments

Examinations and coursework are mandatory for all students to reinforce learning. Students will take two exams each year: mid-year and end-of-year.

The pass mark for Years 1 - 2 is 80%.

The pass mark for Years 3 - 6 is 70%.

Students who do not achieve the pass mark may not be allowed to progress to the following year.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential. Frequent absences will be detrimental to students' progress, as our FAQ below explains.

Students with less than 90% attendance may not be allowed to progress to the next year.

Additional Study

Some study outside of scheduled class time for reviewing and preparing lessons is expected.

Fees

Details for fees can be viewed here.

Requirements

General Requirements

• Fluency in the English language

Applicants need to have enough understanding of English that they can easily understand the lessons.

A measure of this would be their ability to understand the explanation in any of the videos.

• Ability to read Quran and Arabic with reasonable accuracy

• Ability to write the Arabic letters

• Studied basic Islamic knowledge (how to perform wudhu, salah etc.)    

Age Requirements

• Students wishing to enrol in the full-time course must be over the age of 16 (completed school).

• Students wishing to enrol in the part-time course must be over the age of 14.

Online Classes

The online option is recommended only for students residing outside of Leicester. 

We strongly encourage Leicester-based students to attend classes in person, with online attendance reserved for exceptional circumstances. 

Depending on enrollment, online classes may either run alongside onsite classes or be offered separately. In both scenarios, all students have the opportunity to ask questions and directly benefit from our teachers.

Learning Setup

A PC/laptop or tablet with a reasonably sized screen and stable internet connection are essential for online learning. 

Students will need access to a microphone to participate in class and access to a printer for classwork and exams. 

We highly recommend students study in a quiet area without background noise or disruptions.

Recordings

In our classes, student engagement is paramount. Through interactive exercises, both in-person and online, students actively participate by asking and answering questions.

Regular attendance is crucial for making substantial progress and reaping the full benefits of the course and our teachers.

Therefore, Al-Qalam Institute does not provide recorded classes. 

Students are encouraged to attend classes daily. 

In the event of any absences, it’s essential to review missed material with classmates. This approach ensures that everyone stays on track and benefits fully from the learning experience.

Further Information

We have included all the information on our courses that we can.

If you have any further questions, you are welcome to contact us. 

Should you wish to visit us, please contact us to arrange an appointment.

FAQ

General FAQ

Changing Time Slots in the Evening Classes 

Although switching between the different starting times is allowed, it cannot occur on a daily or weekly basis. The change must be made for the long term.

Changing From Part-Time to Full-Time 

Full-time classes are typically more intense than the part-time course, covering more material at a faster pace. 

As a result, it is generally impractical for students in the part-time evening session to transfer to the full-time morning session. 

However, students from the full-time morning session can usually transfer to the part-time evening session.

Joining Higher Years

While we welcome applicants for the first year, unfortunately, we do not accept applications for other years—even if a student has completed Arabic studies elsewhere.

Living Accommodation

We do not provide living accommodation. 

Our classes are primarily for students residing in Leicester and students joining online.

Foreign Students

We cannot assist foreign students in acquiring a UK visa.

Scholarships

Details regarding scholarships can be viewed here.

Joining Selected Classes

Our enrolment process requires students to attend the full course; attending specific classes separately is not an option.

Absences

Students who anticipate frequent class absences will likely struggle to keep pace with the course. It is advisable for them to either join our institute when they can commit to full attendance or explore other institutions with more flexible hours.

Fiqh School

The teachers at the Institute follow the Hanafi School of Fiqh. However, followers of any school of fiqh are welcomed.

Is it necessary to have the camera on?

Brothers must have their cameras turned on during the classes. 

Sisters must have their cameras turned off during during classes. 

However, during examinations, sisters will be required to turn on their cameras to ensure that exam conditions are upheld. Special arrangements will be in place to ensure full hijab is observed. 

FAQ for Sisters

Are there separate classes for brothers and sisters?

Year 1

All classes are conducted separately for brothers and sisters, with each group having their own teacher.

Year 2

Some lecture-based subjects are combined. 

The teacher delivers a single lecture, with the audio and screen-share transmitted to separate platforms simultaneously —brothers join via Microsoft Teams and sisters via Zoom. 

This arrangement ensures sisters’ privacy is fully maintained. 

Year 3 - End

Most classes are combined ensuring sisters’ privacy is fully maintained. 

Is it necessary to have the camera on?

Brothers must have their cameras turned on during the classes. 

Sisters must have their cameras turned off during during classes. 

However, during examinations, sisters will be required to turn on their cameras to ensure that exam conditions are upheld. 

Special arrangements will be in place to ensure full hijab is observed. 

Applications

To apply or view details regarding the application process, click here.