Islam and Society

Fribourg profile

The Swiss Centre for Islam and Society (SZIG) is a national centre of excellence for current social issues related to Islam in Switzerland. It pursues a multi-perspective approach, which includes Islamic self-reflection as to how the multiple bases of Islamic knowledge and tradition can be transformed and integrated into a Swiss context. On the one hand, it analyses the manifestations of Islam and the day-to-day realities of Muslim men and women in Europe by means of theoretical approaches. It further investigates a possible development in Islamic thinking and Islamic self-reflection in the context of Europe. In its research, the SZIG employs interdisciplinary and intersectional methods. The research question under study determines the methodological approach.

As an inter-faculty institute, the SZIG is part of the faculties of Arts and Humanities, Theology and Law. Doctoral projects may be conducted in all three faculties provided the appropriate supervision is available.

During supervision, doctoral students remain in close contact with their supervisors and submit regular progress reports in a variety of formats. Personal networking within the institute and the University of Fribourg and further afield with relevant researchers from Switzerland and abroad allows doctoral students to benefit from very varied fields of competence.

Professors who are eligible to supervise theses

  • Prof. Amir Dziri (Faculty of Humanities)

Areas of specialisation:
– Islam in Switzerland and in Europe
– Islamic History of Ideas
– Islamic Hermeneutics

Theses can be supervised in German, English and French.

  • Prof. Hansjörg Schmid (Faculty of Theology or Faculty of Humanities)

Areas of specialisation:
– Interreligious Ethics (Faculty of Theology: PhD in Study of Religion, in Theological Studies or in Theology)
– Research in Contemporary Islam (Faculty of Humanities: PhD in Islam and Society)

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

ECTS credits can be earned.

Doctoral school

Admission

In order to be admitted to a doctorate the candidate must have been awarded an academic bachelor's and master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a university recognised by the University of Fribourg.

Before applying for a doctorate the candidate must contact a professor who would be willing to supervise the thesis work.

There is no general right to be admitted to a doctorate.

The respective conditions of admission for each doctoral study programme are reserved.

Key points

Degree conferred

Philosophiae Doctor in Religione Islamica et Societate / Doctor of Philosophy in Islam and Society (PhD)

Commencement of studies

An application for admission may be submitted at any time.

Regulation

http://studies.unifr.ch/go/dGLfK (French and German only)

Application procedure

Candidates with Swiss qualifications
https://studies.unifr.ch/go/Ui3b4

Candidates with foreign qualifications
https://studies.unifr.ch/go/2KPbe

Contact

Swiss Centre for Islam and Society
Rue du Criblet 13
CH-1700 Fribourg
+41 26 300 90 44
http://www.unifr.ch/szig