STUDENTS at Dundee’s Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education have the opportunity to tackle challenging and interesting courses in a city that regularly tops “Quality of Life” surveys.

As an independent centre of excellence its students enjoy teaching and research in the study of Islam and Muslims while gaining a greater understanding of different religions and cultures that can help build bridges between the Muslim and the western world.

Its current range of six full-time programmes SCQF-credit rated by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are structured to appeal to as wide a selection of potential candidates as possible.

The courses available are:

• Professional Diploma in Islamic Economics and Finance

• Advanced Diploma in Islamic Studies

• Advanced Diploma in Arabic Language

• Diploma in Arabic Language

• Certificates in Arabic Language

• Introductory Certificate in Arabic Language

Students qualifying can find a gateway to a wide variety of professional careers in the public sector at local and national levels, as consultants and project workers in development agencies, in non-governmental and international organisations, the voluntary sector, social and charitable organisations, and in numerous other multicultural contexts.

The College vision has multiculturalism very much at its heart.

Staff and students from diverse national, cultural and religious backgrounds – including Muslims and non-Muslims – work practically with many areas of contemporary Scottish society and beyond to develop a better picture of a Scotland as “one nation and many cultures.”

The College Principal and Vice Chancellor, Dr Hossein Godazgar, assures new students that they will be given the warmest of welcomes in Dundee during their studies, which they are sure to find stimulating, dynamic and contemporary.

“Our students will benefit from an environment that is encouraging, hugely supportive, intimate and unique,” said Dr Godazgar.

“A total of 140 students from over 30 countries, including Scotland, have graduated from the College over the past decade and all speak highly of their experience with us.”

Established in 2001, the College is a not-for-profit educational charity and one of the small number of private colleges of higher education in the UK.

Bursaries for students are available and full information on them, plus details of all College courses, can be found on its website www.almcollege.org.uk