Saida Dr Moulay Tahar University informs the university community of the availability of an opportunity to enroll in the PhD Program in Manuscript Studies, offered by the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts affiliated with the League of Arab States. The opportunity is intended for individuals interested in heritage and manuscripts, including university library staff, faculty members, students, and graduates of various faculties and universities, subject to the conditions specified in the offer.
- First: PhD Program Structure
The PhD degree in Manuscript Studies is completed under a credit-hour system, with a total of 60 credits, distributed as follows:
24 credits for coursework, representing 40% of the overall PhD degree requirements. 36 credits for the dissertation, representing 60% of the degree requirements. Coursework is distributed over two academic semesters, with 12 credits per semester. Each semester includes 3 compulsory courses and 1 elective course. Registration for the PhD dissertation begins after completion of the coursework.
The proposed courses in the program include:
Compulsory Courses:
Manuscript Heritage Projects. Arabic Paleography. Manuscripts and Technology. Manuscript Archaeology. Manuscript Repositories Around the World. Critical Edition of Texts.
Elective Courses:
Special Topic in Manuscript Studies. Manuscript Databases. Manuscript Aesthetics. Future Perspectives in Manuscript Studies. Legislation for the Protection of Manuscripts. History of the Arabic Manuscript.
- Third: Admission Requirements
According to the attached offer, applicants are required to:
Hold a Master’s degree in Manuscript Studies or an equivalent qualification in one of the various manuscript-related fields. Take an interview for non-Arab students. Provide all documents required for registration.
The application file consists of the following documents:
Original Master’s degree certificate. Original university degree certificate (Bachelor’s/Licence). Copy of an identity document, with the original presented for verification. Two passport-sized photographs. Curriculum vitae in Arabic. Copies of any post-university qualifications, if applicable.
Applicants are required to submit a complete and well-organized file and ensure that all required documents are in compliance before submission.
- Fifth: Duration of the PhD
According to the offer:
The minimum period for preparing the PhD dissertation is two years, starting from the date on which the Scientific Council approves the registration of the research topic. The period may be extended to three years, in accordance with the provisions specified in the offer. Special provisions are available for exceptional extensions, subject to the conditions set out in the original document.
For international students, the fees include, according to the offer, registration, attendance and participation in coursework and dissertation activities, as well as certain administrative expenses.
Candidates nominated by the national committees of Arab countries benefit from a 50% reduction in tuition fees. This reduction does not include administrative expenses.
According to the offer, the fees cover services including lectures and training workshops included in the coursework, a student card, the issuance of certificates and the degree, in accordance with the applicable fees.
Please refer to the annex for further details.
- Seventh: Contact Information
For further information regarding the program, the organizing institution can be contacted at:
📞 00201068345965
📧 manudiplom@gmail.com
📧 diploma@malecso.org
- Eighth: Submission of the Application File
Applicants wishing to apply are required to submit their complete application file to the Vice-Deanship for Postgraduate Studies and External Relations at their respective faculties.
The faculty will receive the applications, conduct an initial review, and compile the files before forwarding them to the Vice-Directorate for External Relations, and subsequently to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The official deadline indicated in the correspondence from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is September 10, 2026.
Given the mandatory administrative processing route for the applications, the university has set an internal deadline two days earlier than the ministry’s official deadline.
The deadline for submitting application files to the Vice-Deanship for Postgraduate Studies and External Relations at the faculties is Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Applications will not be accepted at the faculty level after this date, due to the need to process and forward them through the Vice-Directorate for External Relations before submitting them to the ministry.
- Very Important Note Regarding the Publication of Official Documents
In accordance with the request of the Directorate of University Cooperation and Exchanges (DCEU) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research regarding the publication of program and scholarship opportunities, please do not publish the official correspondence issued by the ministry in its entirety on social media platforms, particularly Facebook.
Accordingly:
This summarized announcement, containing the essential information, eligibility requirements, required documents, and deadlines, as well as the attached annex, may be published. The ministry’s official correspondence, in its entirety, including photographs or individual pages, must not be published on social media platforms. The competent administrative services shall retain the official documents for administrative use and for processing applications. Applicants may consult the official documents at the Vice-Deanship for Postgraduate Studies and External Relations of their faculties, whenever necessary.
