INTRO
JazaakumAllahu khair for your interest in pursuing this beautiful knowledge. Remember to rectify your intention to remove ignorance from yourself and others. May Allah bless you and your efforts in this noble cause. Know that the path is lined with difficulty but by Allah’s permission the outcome is worth the hurdles.
This article is meant to shed some light on the application process to the Islamic University of Al-Madinah. There are 4 main stages: Application, Acceptance, Travel and Onboarding here in the Kingdom. This article will cover the basics of what you need to know to complete the application stage and some of what to expect afterwards.
The Islamic University's application is done completely online. No intermediate parties exist to receive your documents or process your application, including IBNTEK. You must fill the online form yourself or on behalf of your relative. This document is strictly informative.
APPLICATION
The application can be found at this link:
On this page you may start a new application or continue an existing one by inputting your credentials. There are options to complete it in both Arabic and English. Note that the program was designed in Arabic and translated to English. Do not be alarmed when some fields are erroneously labeled or in strange places. Relax and fill the form to the best of your ability. Most important! Save your application number in a secure place that you will have access to for a long time. Your application could be pending up to 2 years.
OFFICIAL GUIDE
Please see the University's official guide and take our document as a supplement. Here you should find the basis of what you need to know to apply. Come back to us for the details:
US applicants documents to Apply
Valid Passport
High-school Diploma or equivalent (GED) If not graduated, anticipated year of completion
High-school or GED transcript/Report Card
The date you received your high-school diploma or equivalent
FBI Fingerprint Background check: https://www.identogo.com/
Recommendation letter from a school or academic personality
The attached medical document filled by your physician along with your vaccination card
Documents must be submitted in PDF format. You can use this App to take photos of and format your documents: https://adobescan.app.link/LYfBUdFMlY
FAQ
1) Q: Can I apply without a valid Passport? A: No, If you've never had a passport then apply now and beithnillah it will arrive before the window closes. If your passport is expired then you should consider the time it will take to receive your passport. You can however apply with your expired passport and then renew your information when you are accepted. (This will present complications, however it is better than missing out on applying entirely.) US:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html UK: https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports CA: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports.html
2) Q: Do I need to speak Arabic to apply? A: No, the university has a school (Mahad) on campus that pushes students through a two year program teaching the basics of the Arabic language (The Madinah Books)
3) Q: Can I bring my family? A: Truly the affair is not easy and it is compounded by the size and complexity of your family. However, there are systems in place to bring your family. The University itself offers Istiqdam (family acceptance) if the student is able to pay the fees and maintain academic excellence. This process must be applied for after acceptance. There are also various visa options for students from countries like the US, UK, Canada and the like.
4) Q: What if I've already applied? A: The officials of University acceptance have advised us that those waiting for acceptance on the old system can apply on this newer system without harming their previous application. (2 for the price of 1)
5)
Q: Can I apply if I am over 25?
A: Yes, there is no guarantee you will get accepted, however depending on the quality and quantity of applicants from your demographic you may still have a shot.
6)
Q: What do I put as my 4th name?
A: This is either your middle or your father's name.
7)
Q: How do I translate my documents?
A: Find a translation office near you. Documents do not need to stamped, notarized or sealed. Application processing is done by Arab natives. Translation is to ease the strain of reading through documents on them. Try to translate all documents but be sure to have your (highschool/secondary school) diploma and final marks translated).
8)
Q: What do I put for "Denomination" or "مذهب"?
A: Madhhab: are you Maliki, Hanafi, Hanbali...
لا يوجد
Means that you do not have a particular madhhab.
9)
Q: What medical documents am I supposed to submit?
A: Click Here... we'll send you the document to have your doctor fill out, sign and stamp when you go for your physical. Include your COVID vaccination documents as well.
10)
Q: Do I need social media to apply?
A: No, however if you do have accounts that the University can see they will review your online activity when considering your application.
11)
Q: Do I need to speak Arabic to apply?
A: No, there is a 2 year school entirely dedicated to educating non Arabic speakers in the ways of Arabic vocal and written communication.
HELP
If you're struggling to understand a step of the process or line in the article please feel free to ping us at the link below. We're still revising the article, adapting our process to the changing system and asking questions regarding the application. Send us a message here for help:
DISCLAIMER
This document is a work in progress.
We hope to make the 2021 application process easier for English speaking applicants. IBNTEK does not claim to have exclusive knowledge or access to University systems. We do not accept any compensation for this service.
Please assist us by critiquing this document and it's components!
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