Upcoming Trips - Queen City Diwan

Queen City University: An Immersive College Leadership Experience
Winter Break > January 2027
For undergraduate college students only

APPLICATIONS OPEN SOON

At a Glance:

📅 When: Winter Break (January 2027). Exact dates to be announced soon!

📍 Where: Andalusia, Spain (Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada)

👥 Who: Undergraduate college students

💰 Cost: Pricing will be announced soon. Our per-student price will include all accommodations, ground transportation, two daily meals, and of course all classes + experiences

🎓 Scholarships: Limited scholarships available for deserving candidates

✈️ What’s Not Included: International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses

📋 Deposit: $100 application deposit (refunded if not accepted; credited toward program cost if accepted)

🎯 Spots: Limited cohort based on application strength

🔄 Process: Rolling admissions → Virtual or in-person interview → Pre-trip planning session

Why Andalusia?:

Andalusia isn’t just a beautiful backdrop—it’s where Muslim civilization reached extraordinary heights in philosophy, science, architecture, and interfaith coexistence. When students walk through the Alhambra’s courtyards, stand where Ibn Rushd taught, and see the sophistication our ancestors achieved, something shifts. If our history is this expansive, their futures can be too.

This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about showing students what’s possible when Muslims invest in learning, creativity, and community—and giving them the tools and network to build that future themselves.

There’s no program for Muslim students like Queen City University.
Where we learn from history to create better futures.
Where we understand each of us is only as strong as all of us.
Where we build faith that helps us build ourselves.

The Queen City University Experience

Queen City University is a leadership retreat—so much more than a tour, so much bigger than any other study abroad, a unique vision of Muslim community empowerment that balances our diversity with our purpose, potential and moral consciousness. Each Queen City University retreat is a bespoke, intensive week designed to help exceptional students grow in three key ways:

Religious Growth: Guided discussions on faith, identity, and navigating contemporary challenges as Muslims
Professional Development: Skills workshops on networking, communication, and leadership from accomplished mentors
Community Building: Join a global alumni network that becomes sounding boards, collaborators, and partners for decades to come

Unlike study abroad programs, we’re limited to 16 students for deep, personalized attention. Unlike tours, we focus on your development—not just sightseeing. Every session, every site visit, every conversation is designed around one question: How do we help you step into your potential?

Designed and led by Haroon Moghul—with over two decades of experience as a parent, educator, and university chaplain—this is a labor of love and purpose. For over twenty years, Haroon has designed leadership retreats around the world, taught at some of the world’s most prestigious universities, and led professional development programs from high school through senior professional levels. Learn more about Haroon.

We’re channeling these experiences into a program of elite caliber: creative, endlessly curious, ethical, principled, and globally minded.

We’re building Queen City University with our dedicated long-time partner, Travel Safina.

What You’ll Experience

Learning & Development:

Sessions with accomplished leaders in tech, law, entrepreneurship, religion, arts, culture and nonprofit work
Skills workshops: networking, professional communication, leadership
Guided discussions on faith, career, and building community
Peer collaboration on real projects

Cultural Immersion:

Explore Granada’s Alhambra, Córdoba’s Mezquita, Seville’s Alcázar
Learn about architecture, poetry, calligraphy, and Islamic contributions to civilization
Group prayer and spiritual reflection

Independent Exploration:

Built-in free time to discover Spanish cities on your own
Freedom to grab meals, explore neighborhoods, and make your own adventures
Practice navigating the world with the support of experienced mentors nearby

Community:

Two (halal) meals eaten together every day
Shared accommodations with roommates matched by gender and interests
Deep conversations that last long after the trip ends

What Makes Queen City University Different?

Our Team:

Our Leadership Team includes our Leadership Partner, Elias Keeler, an entrepreneur with deep roots in Spain (and beyond), fluent in Arabic, Spanish and English, who’s worked with international travelers of all ages for many years and our Leadership Fellow, Sadia Malik, is Emerging Leaders Program Manager at the American Pakistan Foundation, Vice Curator of the Global Shapers Cincinnati Hub, and Youth Director at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, currently a graduate student at SOAS (University of London). Together, we create programming that honors where you are and helps you grow toward where you want to be.

Mentors & Guest Speakers: Our students learn from accomplished professionals across industries. The full speaker list will be shared with accepted students.

Program Structure & Support

Queen City University is designed for college students who are ready to navigate the world independently while having expert guidance when needed.

What This Looks Like:

Structured Programming: Scheduled sessions, site visits, and group activities
Independent Exploration: Built-in free time to explore cities, grab meals, discover on your own
Available Staff: Leadership team on-site and accessible 24/7 for questions or emergencies
Group Accommodations: Shared rooms with common areas for gathering
Local Orientation: Safety briefings and insider tips for navigating Spanish cities
Emergency Protocols: Local contacts, clear procedures, and advance planning. We build our trips around our students with guides and mentors who are prepared for any contingency.

Our Philosophy:
If we want students to become leaders who can handle what the world throws at them, they need to practice independence in a supportive environment. We create structure and stay available, but students have the freedom to explore, make choices, and learn from experience.

Questions We’ll Explore

What explains the rise and fall of the old Muslim world?
What unique lessons can we take from Muslim Spain into our lives today?
Why have Muslim communities struggled to translate their numbers into meaningful impact?
How can young Muslims balance faith and career, beliefs and belonging?
How does Islam help us build strength, resilience, and perspective?
How can Muslims do more to enrich and empower our societies?
What professional skills and insights can help young Muslims realize their career potential?
How should young men and women think about the biggest decisions in their lives and make better choices that honor their potential and purpose?

Program Details

Dates: Winter Break (January 2027). Final dates will be confirmed soon.
Cities: Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada, and more
Cost: Pricing will be announced soon.

What’s Included in that cost:

All hotel accommodations (students matched with same-gender roommate based on similar interests)
All ground transportation between cities and for tours/programs (staff travels with students)
Two daily halal meals (we emphasize eating together for community building)
All program sessions, activities, expert instruction, and mentorship
Entrance fees to all sites and museums
Entry into growing alumni network spanning US, UK, and beyond

What’s Not Included:

International flights
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (such as gifts, snacks, and one daily meal). We want to give students time to break off with friends and explore on their own!

How to Apply

Process:

Submit Application: Our online application form will be made available soon. It takes thirty to forty-five minutes to complete; you can save your progress and return to the application form.
Interview: Selected applicants meet with our Leadership Team via Zoom so we can get to know each other, answer questions, and prepare the applicant for how to make the most of our time together
Acceptance Decision: We notify you within 2 weeks of interview
Pre-Trip Planning: Accepted students join a session to help shape programming around cohort interests and goals
Travel Support: We help arrange flights and provide packing lists, emergency contacts, trip details

Timeline: Rolling admissions—apply early for best scholarship consideration!

Who Should Apply?

We welcome and encourage applications from Muslim students of diverse backgrounds, religious understanding, areas of interest, and ambitions. Even as we are based in the US, and focused on American Muslim communities, we warmly welcome students from other countries! Developing those transnational connections, and experiencing and exploring our ummah as it exists today, is part of the Queen City University experience. After all, our students do better the more connected they are to the wider world.

Our alumni community already extends to Europe and the GCC.

You’re a strong candidate if you:

Are currently enrolled as an undergraduate
Are intellectually curious and eager to grow in your faith
Want to build meaningful connections with like-minded Muslim peers
Are ready to engage with complex questions and diverse perspectives
Hope to serve your communities with intention and impact

All Muslim Students Welcome:
Whether you grew up Muslim or are new to Islam, whether you’re conservative or progressive in practice or perspective, all are welcome. We create space for honest questions, different perspectives, and authentic faith development.

We’ll select our cohort based on the strength, seriousness, and passion of applications.

Scholarships Available

Thanks to generous supporters, we have a limited scholarship fund for students who would benefit from financial assistance. We believe cost should never be a barrier for deserving candidates—please apply even if you have financial concerns.

For Parents

We understand this is a significant investment and decision. We’re happy to:

Answer questions about program structure, student independence, and emergency protocols
Discuss the application process and what makes a strong candidate
Connect you with parents from our January 2026 cohort
Provide detailed itineraries and daily schedules

Contact: haroon@queencitydiwan.com