The programme will offer the opportunity to:

• Critically engage with innovative modules that adopt a specialist focus upon Islamic Banking and Finance theory and practice.
• Acquire vital independent skills in research, writing, communication and professional presentation in the area of Islamic Finance.
• Enhance teamwork skills through working in groups to analyse Islamic Finance business problems and propose potential solutions.
• Critically analyse “Islamic Banking and Finance” case studies in order to learn key implications from practice-based examples.
• Develop qualitative and quantitative analytical skills that are crucial to academic progression and employability.

• A good UK Honours Degree in finance, economics or a related programme with some economics courses.
• Equivalent overseas degrees recognised by UEL.
• International students require an IELTS score of 6.0 (with no component score less than 6.0). 

The programme will be offered on both a full and part-time basis, and students will have the option of completing two modules to receive a postgraduate certificate, four modules to receive a Postgraduate Diploma, or all five modules to receive an MSc Islamic Banking and Finance. The programme will have two in-takes a year, offering a September and a February start.

The programme has developed a modular structure which is consistent with the UEL academic framework for postgraduate programmes and conforms to Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) benchmarks. It contains four 30 credit modules as well as one 60 credit Dissertation, and students who earn 180 credits will be awarded an MSc. in Islamic Banking and Finance from Royal Docks Business School (RDBS), University of East London.

The programme is designed to encourage participative as well as independent learning. Classes are anticipated to be interactive and engaging with students contributing formal and informal presentations, case study analysis, debate and critique of academic theory. The programme will utilise a mixture of traditional lectures, informal seminar activities, in-class videos, guest lectures from expert practitioners and academics, organisational and conference visits, and online discussion forums and e-learning technologies. All classroom activities will endeavour to draw together students’ collective relevant experiences, and relate them to everyday practices. Classes will also retain an informal and encouraging atmosphere to facilitate class interaction and participation amongst students.

The modules on the programme incorporate a range of different formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are designed to provide informal feedback to students so they can evaluate their conceptual and practical understanding of course material. These will take the form of informal presentations, in-class quizzes, critique of seminal academic papers, debate of topical issues and case study analysis. Summative assessments which count toward the final module grades include a varied mixture of individual reports, group reports, group presentations, and end-of-module written examinations. Assessments take place throughout the year, although they will be coordinated to ensure that students are not overloaded with clashing dates for submission of coursework. 

The programme emphasises the practical application of relevant Banking and Finance theory, and is designed to be highly relevant to business practice and managerial decision making. Students who opt to take the programme part-time will be encouraged to base some assessment work on their own working institutions, when and where appropriate. Reflective practice exercises will also form part of the formative and summative assessment of modules. Students will be assigned an individual mentor throughout their time on the programme to monitor their progress and provide advice and encouragement when required. This programme is designed to strongly enhance the employability and career prospects of our graduates which are of primary importance to us as a university.

Students must undertake a Dissertation as part of the programme. The dissertation project will account for 60 credits of the overall programme, and is 15,000 words in length. It builds on the Research Methods module which features research planning classes prior to the dissertation in order to provide students with adequate training in research methods and students also write a proposal in this semester to allocate them with an appropriate supervisor to their chosen topic.

During the Research Methods module, students will be provided with a suite of research planning classes which develop a critical understanding of the research process and various methodological approaches within the social sciences. Following research planning student must select a topic in Islamic Banking and Finance and write a dissertation proposal, outlining the literature they will explore, a preliminary research question and a brief outline of how they will conduct their research.

During the period of the dissertation (12 weeks full-time study or 24 weeks part-time study) students will be allocated a dedicated project supervisor who they should liaise with regularly through the submission of work-in-progress drafts and the planning of research process stages. The dissertation develops students’ project management, writing, analytical and conceptual knowledge of theory, and also allows them to understand its everyday or practical application. This can be an incredibly rewarding experience for students who can then specialise in a particular area of Islamic Banking and Finance following the completion of their MSc. degree for career development or employability purposes.

• Modules which are innovative and exclusive to the RDBS MSc. Islamic Banking and Finance, including Issues in Islamic Banking and Finance, Islamic Banking and Financial Regulation.
• The University has recently opened an Islamic Finance and Banking Centre which promotes knowledge exchange in the areas of training, consultation and teaching and research with international partners and businesses. Students will have the opportunity to engage in these areas and gain experiential learning.
• Regular guest lectures from leading academics and experienced practitioners to provide a hybrid mix of academic theory and managerially relevant issues.
• Students get a chance to specialise in a growing and expanding area of business practice, which enables them to differentiate themselves in the job marketplace.
• RDBS is populated with leading experts and researchers who deliver the lectures and seminars, and provide value through their conceptual knowledge of theory and its practical application.
• Students will study in a state-of-the-art facility at University of East London, Docklands Campus, with a dedicated suite of rooms exclusive for postgraduate students located in the Molex Suite, Islamic Finance and Banking Centre and Bloomberg trading room.

RDBS is very focussed upon the skills and employability of our graduates, and supporting the professional development of part-time practitioners. The programme will seek to arrange student placements in Islamic banks, Sukkok companies and other Islamic financial institutions. Students will have the opportunity to network with professionals and scholars in Islamic Finance inside and outside the UK. RDBS encourages lifelong learning, and through our alumni network we will seek to keep contact with our graduates long after they have completed their programmes to continue to support their professional development as lifelong learners, as well as providing them with opportunities to maintain their involvement with the school. 

RDBS will support students on the programme throughout their learning journey. All students are assigned a personal tutor, and will also have access to the programme leader should they wish to discuss any particular academic or non-academic issue. Our students are encouraged to remember that we are ultimately here to help you. All our modules build both academic knowledge and practical skills that students will develop in ways which are beneficial to their career progression.

Students will be provided with access to UEL Plus where they can download lecture notes, engage in online discussion, follow links to useful websites, and download podcasts, videocasts, or other e-learning materials. Students are assigned individual project supervisors for their Dissertations who are there to advice and support throughout the research process. Students will also benefit from any events hosted by the Islamic Banking and Finance Research Centre, invited speakers and/or research conferences that will take place on campus. We also regularly invite guest speakers on our modules to discuss their experiences of the world of practice, and these events help students to understand the everyday realities of Islamic Banking and Finance careers. Notably, we have a dedicated Employability Manager, Mr. Mark Watson, who runs free drop-in clinics for students to help them with their CVs, covering letters, interview techniques or job application processes. There are also various graduate job opportunities and placements that Mark has organised which are exclusive to RDBS students, and employability events that are designed to provide students with unique insights into the world of business from leading practitioners and commentators. 

• The opening of the new sports centre in UEL Docklands Campus which provides exercise options for students on campus.
• A dedicated, 24 hour library facility and a safe and secure campus.
• A vibrant student body that is diverse, friendly and truly international.
• Access to the latest e-learning platforms and web-based technologies to facilitate off-site learning for our students.  

• Intellectually synthesise an understanding of the role of Islamic Banking and Finance in modern world.
• Critically develop students’ academic knowledge of Islamic financial instruments, practices and processes from both an organisational and individual perspective.
• Significantly enhance students’ analytical ability in financial data interpretation techniques.
• Develop and embed a range of personal, communication and critical analytical skills.
• Enhance students’ abilities to engage in critically reflective practice to foster personal development and life-long learning. 
• Rigorously educate and practically train students for a career in Islamic Banking or to pursue doctoral studies.

On successful completion of the programme the student will be able to:

Knowledge

• Identify principles and trends in Islamic Banking and Finance
• Determine and evaluate the fundamental structure and nature of Islamic Banking and Finance
• Demonstrate deep and systemic knowledge in the area of Islamic Banking and Finance

Thinking Skills

• Critically evaluate data to make investment decisions in Islamic Banking and Finance
• Reflect on the roles, skills and responsibilities needed for effective management in Islamic Financial Sector
• Discuss in context the linkage between current theory and practice and be able to organise appropriate evidence and reasoning to produce a balanced conclusion
• Demonstrate problem solving and analytical approaches to facilitate effective Islamic financial decision-making

Subject-Based Practical Skills

• Demonstrate effective different approaches of Islamic Banking and Finance

Skills for Life and Work (general skills)

• Present information and communicate effectively in written or oral form, at an appropriate level including the acknowledgement and referencing of sources and also capacity for independent and self managed learning
• Contextualise the knowledge, competencies and practical skills from the module and apply this to the real world project contexts and activities

The full-time programme will be delivered in a calendar year for those beginning the programme in September, with the dissertation module taking place during Semester C (June-September). For those beginning in February, the programme will take 16 months to complete as no taught delivery of core modules currently takes place in Semester C. The part-time programme can be completed in 28 months with students taking one module per semester, and the dissertation module over two modules at the end should the student elect to complete it. For students beginning the part-time programme for a February start the programme will take 32 months to complete.

It is envisaged that full and part-time students will undertake the modules at the same time as both sets of students can benefit from their diverse and collective experiences. Arrangements can be made for students who wish to move from part time to full-time or vice versa, and breaks to your programme can be organised if discussed in advance with the programme leader.

The full-time programme will be offered on the basis of two modules per semester, while part-time students will complete one module per semester. Each module consists of 300 hours of study per 30 credit module, which includes 54 hours of lectures and seminars, and 246 hours of independent study and coursework. The Dissertation accounts for 60 credits, and consists of 600 hours of coursework overall.

Key teaching and learning methods to address the learning outcomes:

Knowledge is developed through

• Participative lectures and seminars
• Independent research and writing
• Skill based workshops

Thinking skills are developed through

• Independent reading exercises
• Case study analysis
• Online learning

Practical skills are developed through

• Group work and interaction
• Written assessment and presentation
• In-class case study analysis

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• Readingand writing
• Numeracy exercises
• Professional presentations

Programme assessment methods used to demonstrate the learning outcomes:

Knowledge is assessed by

• Written assignment
• Oral presentations
• Written examinations

Thinking skills are assessed by

• Readingexercises
• Case study analysis
• Written assignments

Practical skills are assessed by

• Group presentation activities
• Dedicated analytical workshops
• Peer review evaluation

Skills for Life and work (general work skills) are assessed by

• Reflective practice exercises
• Oral feedback
• Individual tutor reports

Before this programme started, the following was checked:

• there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
• adequate resources would be in place;
• the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
• the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
• the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
• the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning  and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.

The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:

• external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
• statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
• student feedback.

Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation.  The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.

Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists.  The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions.  The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff).  The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality.  The programme committee plays a critical role in the  quality assurance procedures.

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner.  External examiners have two primary responsibilities:

• To ensure the standard of the programme
• To ensure that justice is done to individual students

External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

• Approving exam papers/assignments
• Attending assessment boards
• Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks
• Ensuring that regulations are followed
• Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

• Programme committee meetings
• Module evaluation
• Discussions with programme and module tutors

Students are notified of the action through:

• Circulation of programme committee minutes
• Individual feedback
• Written email communication

The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:

• Consultation with Corporate Marketing and the International Office
• Consultation with the administration department
• Consultation with RDBS employability manager
• Consultation with relevant professional bodies