Malay Students’ Perception on English as the Medium of Instruction for the Islamic Studies Course in a Private Higher Learning Institution

English language has been the medium in imparting Islamic knowledge among Malaysian students studying in some of the private universities. In the light of the globalization, it is believed that English would be a potential medium to promote Islamic awareness complementing the global change. The aim of this paper is to study and analyze the perceptions of Malay students in a private higher learning institution on the use of English as the medium of instruction for the learning of Islamic knowledge. The study will look into the different aspects of students’ perceptions that would include their acceptance of the course to be taught in English, understanding of the content matter and practicality of the language as the medium of delivery. The study was conducted through the administration of a survey and interview. It is hoped that the issues and concerns illuminated out of the study would contribute to a better conception on the use of English as the medium in teaching Islamic Studies. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made to improve the delivery of the course.