Al Ghazali University


Master of Studies in Islamic Banking and Finance
Program

Program Overview

The MS IB&F program at Al Ghazali University is designed to equip students with comprehensive knowledge of banking and finance, integrated with the teachings of Islam. With the exponential growth of Islamic banking, the scope of this field is vast, and the demand for professionals with expertise in this area is immense. However, many programs offered elsewhere lack access to top-tier faculty and robust curricula.

AGU’s MS IB&F program stands out by being backed by leading Shariah scholars and finance experts. Our meticulously designed curriculum not only meets industry needs but also equips students with the latest technologies used in the field, ensuring they remain ahead of their peers. This program offers a unique advantage by blending rigorous academic training with practical insights, preparing graduates to excel in the dynamic field of Islamic banking and finance. In addition, our goal is to offer this program to professionals; and hence, this is a weekends.

Eligibility Criteria

A candidate satisfying anyone of the following criteria is eligible to apply for admission in MS IB&F at AGU. 

  1. An undergraduate degree, involving 16 years of education in Islamic Finance / Islamic Banking and Finance / Islamic Economics from any degree awarding institution, national or international, with a passing score of at least 50% in annual system and 2.00/4.00 CGPA in semester system.
  2. Candidates having an undergraduate degree (involving 16 years of education) in any field under the broad category of business and management listed in the ISCED-2013 UNESCO classification – intradisciplinary qualifications – are also allowed, provided,

(a): they have passed that degree with a passing score of at least 50% in annual system and 2.00/4.00 CGPA in semester system, and

(b): they undertake deficiency courses of 6 to 9 credit hours after admission. The quantum of deficiency will be determined by the Admission Committee. Approved list of deficiency courses for students enrolled under this category (i.e., intradisciplinary change) in MS IB&F is given below.

 

 

S. No.

Foundation Courses

Credit Hour Load

1

Principles of Accounting

3

2

Principles of Economics & Finance

3

3

Fundamentals of Islamic Fiqh

3

4

Fundamentals of Mathematics and Statistics

3

 

 

  1. Other candidates having 16-years education but not complying with (a) and (b) above), will be required to undertake deficiency courses of up to 30 credits (10 Courses), provided they have passed such degree with a passing score of at least 50% in annual system and 2.00/4.00 CGPA in semester system. The Admission Committee will determine the quantum of deficiency and the courses a candidate needs to take other than MS IB&F courses on a case-by-case basis. Admission committee may select courses from the following list; however, this list is neither mandatory nor exhaustive, so admission committee may suggest courses not mentioned here.
  2. Business Mathematics
  3. Elementary Statistics
  4. Principles of Accounting
  5. Financial Accounting
  6. Micro Economics
  7. Macro Economics
  8. Business Finance
  9. Principles of Management
  10. Principles of Marketing
  11. Marketing Management
  12. Human Resource Management
  13. Organizational Behavior
  14. Entrepreneurship
  15. Business Communication
  16. Usool Al-Fiqh
  17. Fundamentals of Fiq Al-Muamlaat

 

 

All equivalency claims will be evaluated by HEC. Candidates are required to obtain the necessary equivalence certificates on their own from the relevant authorities. Foreign degrees’ equivalency must also be acquired by students directly from HEC and/or relevant authorities.

Admission Criteria

To secure their admission to MS IB&F at AGU, applicants are required to pass “Al-Ghazali’s Standard Aptitude Test for MS IB&F” with a passing score of at least 50%. We also accept the GRE / HAT General tests with a minimum passing score of 50%.

Program Structure

Program Structure for MS IB&F is given below:

NQF Qualification Level

Level 7

Credit Hours

32

 

 

Options for Credit Hours Distribution:

Candidate may complete the requirements for the award of MS IB&F degree by either of the following two ways:

1: MS with 06 Credits Thesis

2: MS with Course Work

The HEIs may adjust credit hours accordingly.

Program Duration

·   Regular/Minimum Duration: 1.5 Years (Three Regular Semesters)

·   Maximum Duration: 03 Years (Five Regular Semesters)

·   Further extendible for 01 Year (Two Regular Semesters) with the permission of the statutory bodies

 

Course Work

 

GE Mandatory

Fehm-e-Quran-I and Fehm-e-Quran-II (1 CH each)

For non-Muslim students: Ethics in Business (2 CH)*

Mandatory Core Courses

4 Courses (12 C H)

Domain Specific Electives

 

4 Courses (12 CH) [Ambiguity: Min. requirement is 32 CH, which means we can have 4 electives, but in scheme they are imposing 5 electives.]

Total

   26 Credit Hours

Thesis / Electives

MS IB&F Thesis (6 Credit Hours) / 2 Elective Courses

TOTAL

32 Credit Hours

 

Semester Duration

·      16-18 weeks for regular semesters, including 1-2 weeks for examinations

·      8-9 weeks for summer semesters, including 1 week for examination

Semester Duration

16-18 weeks for regular semesters, including 1-2 weeks for examinations

Course Load Allocation (per semester)

09-13 credit hours for regular semesters

Up to 8 credit hours for summer semesters (for failure / deficiency / repetition courses only)

*Fehm-e-Quran form Muslim students while “Ethics in Business” for Non-Muslim Students as approved by the statutory bodies.

 Thesis Requirement (6 Credit Hours)

The MS program can be completed through a research-based thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent scholarly inquiry under faculty supervision. The project must contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field, and typically includes a research proposal, literature review, methodology, data analysis, results, and discussion. A successful thesis defense and evaluation are required for graduation. However, if students wish to complete the MS program solely through coursework, they may undertake 2 additional domain- specific courses of 6 credit hours.

Semester I

COURSE CREDIT HOURS CATEGORY
Applied Research Design and Methods 3+0 Core I
Islamic Law of Contracts (ILOC) 3+0 Core II
Elective I 3+0 Elective
Elective II 3+0 Elective
Fehm-e-Quran I 0+1 GE
Total Credits 13

Semester II

COURSE CREDIT HOURS CATEGORY
Contemporary Business Strategy in the Digital Era 3+0 Core III
Financial Markets and Institutions: Islamic Perspective 3+0 Core IV
Elective III 3+0 Elective
Elective IV 3+0 Elective
Fehm-e-Quran II 0+1 GE
Total Credits 13

Semester III

COURSE CREDIT HOURS CATEGORY
Thesis-I / 2 Domain Specific Electives 6 Research/Electives
Total Credits 6

Semester IV

COURSE CREDIT HOURS CATEGORY
Thesis-II Continued Research

Domain Specific Electives

S. No.

Domain Specific Electives

1

Advanced Topics in Islamic Jurisprudence & Fiqh

2

Takaful Operations

3

Pool Management in IFIs

4

Islamic & Commercial Banking

5

Corporate Finance

6

Research Methods in Islamic Banking & Finance

7

AAOIFI Shari’ah Standards (Ma’ayeer Al-Shari’ah)

8

Mejelle (Majall Tul Ahkam Al-Adaliyya)

9

Sharh Al-Qawaid Al-Fiqhiyya

10

Bidayat Al-Mujtahid

11

Islamic Social Finance

12

Business Law

13

Islamic Fintech

14

Risk Management in IFIs

15

Shariah Governance in Islamic Finance

16

Organizational Behavior and Leadership

17

Accounting and Auditing in IFI’s

18

Monetary Economics

19

Islamic Economics

20

Portfolio Management in IFIs

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

By the completion of the MS IB&F, the graduates will be able to:

  1. a) Conduct independent and original research integrating Shari’ah principles, classical Fiqh of contracts, and contemporary financial theories to generate new insights and practical solutions for complex issues in Islamic banking and finance.
  2. b) Critically evaluate and synthesize advanced conventional and Islamic financial theories, models, and frameworks to address strategic, operational, and ethical challenges faced by Islamic financial institutions.
  3. c) Apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to design, analyze, and interpret industry-driven data for evidence-based decision-making in areas such as Islamic product development and risk management.
  4. d) Demonstrate the ability to structure, review, and audit Shari’ah-compliant financial products and contracts, ensuring alignment with AAOIFI or other standard setting bodies as well as national regulatory requirements.
  5. e) Exhibit professional competence in accounting, economics, and finance fundamentals, while integrating ethical and Shari’ah perspectives to formulate and evaluate financial policies and instruments.
  6. f) Lead, collaborate, and manage projects within diverse, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural teams, upholding Shari’ah ethics, corporate governance, and professional integrity in organizational and research settings.
  7. g) Communicate research findings and professional analyses clearly and persuasively to academic, professional, regulatory, and Shari’ah advisory audiences, promoting the growth and standardization of the global Islamic finance industry.