The Master’s Study Program in Quranic Studies—hereinafter referred to as the Master’s Program in IAT—is a postgraduate (master’s level) program within the Faculty of Ushuluddin (Islamic Theology) and Islamic Thought at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. The program received its official operational permit on July 16, 2016, pursuant to the Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 646 of 2019. Based on this decree, the Master’s Program in IAT commenced its academic activities in the 2019/2020 academic year. Historically, however, the study of the Quran and *Tafsir* at the master’s level is not new to the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought. Prior to the formal establishment of the Master’s Program in IAT, this field of study existed as a concentration—known as "Quran and Hadith Studies" (SQH)—within the Master’s Study Program in Islamic Theology and Philosophy (*Aqidah* and Islamic Philosophy). Following the receipt of its official operational permit, the field of Quranic Studies and *Tafsir* was separated from the Master’s Study Program in Islamic Theology and Philosophy. By 2021, the Master’s Program in IAT had enrolled three cohorts of students across two concentrations: Quranic Studies and Hadith, and Hadith Studies.

In conducting its academic activities, the Master’s Program in IAT is guided by the vision: "To be excellent and prominent in integrating Quranic Studies and *Tafsir* with contemporary realities for the advancement of civilization." The terms "superior" and "prominent" in this vision reflect the commitment of the Master’s Program in Al-Qur’an and Tafsir (IAT) to becoming a highly reputable graduate-level program—nationally, regionally, and internationally—by 2025. This vision also underscores the program’s ambition to serve as a benchmark for the advancement of Al-Qur’an and Tafsir studies, integrated with technological and socio-societal developments, while championing the spirit of contemporary Qur’anic studies. The model of integration and interconnection adopted by the Master’s Program in IAT aligns with the broader vision of both the University and the Faculty.

To realize this vision, the Master’s Program in IAT implements an educational curriculum based on the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI) and the National Standards for Higher Education (SNPT). In accordance with the KKNI, the program consists of a maximum of 36 credits (SKS), comprising 32 compulsory credits (including the thesis) and 12 elective credits. The definition of graduate profiles and learning outcomes (LO) also adheres to the standards established by the KKNI; specifically, the program defines its graduates as intermediate-level *mufassir* (interpreters of the Qur’an), academics, and researchers. Furthermore, the learning outcomes are structured to encompass attitudes and values, knowledge, general skills, and specialized skills.