Master of Business Administration (Global Islamic Finance)

  Institution: Private: Universiti Tun Abdul Razak

MQA Code: A 10140

Overview

The MBA (Global Islamic Finance) is a programme conducted in collaboration with the International Business School Alliance (IBSA). The IBSA was established in 2003 and is a growing network of international business schools offering a dual master degree. The IBSA consists of 7 partner institutions with different specialisations, including:

• UNIRAZAK (Global Islamic Finance),
• Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Germany (International Logistics & Supply Chain Management),
• Universitat de Valencia, Spain (International Marketing),
• IBS Moscow, Russia (Transitional Economies & Emerging Markets),
• University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA (International Finance and Investments),
• University of Hertfordshire, UK (Human Resource Management), and
• Novancia Business School Paris, France (International Business Development & Consulting).

The IBSA enables students to study at two institutions in two different countries, receiving master’s degrees from each of these institutions. For instance, students complete the first semester at any partner institutions and continue the second and final semesters at UNIRAZAK, or complete the first semester in UNIRAZAK and continue the second and final semesters in another partner institution.

Link to IBSA website: www.ibsaworld.net
Link to IBSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/IbsaInternationalBusinessSchoolAlliance
The MBA (Global Islamic Finance) programme prepares graduates to be professionals who are capable of developing logical, critical, and creative solutions to problems based on Shari’ah principles and rulings, and to recommend best practices of Islamic finance to be adopted in the Global Islamic financial services industry.

Programme Objectives

• To enable graduates to articulate and apply Islamic finance theories and adopt the Shari’ah principles, rulings, and best practices to their organisation.
• To enable graduates to engage in business and Islamic financial services activities with the Islamic finance professionals and practitioners in the community.
• To enable graduates to formulate, communicate, and implement strategic thinking processes involving cross-cultural communication and sensitivity to the needs of different cultures.

Programme Outcomes

• Ability to acquire and apply knowledge in the areas of Islamic finance for both localised setting and international environment.
• Ability to demonstrate relevant expertise and skills to provide leadership in Islamic finance.
• Ability to engage in strategic and critical thinking with analytical, evaluative, and problem solving skills when making business decisions.
• Ability to engage in effective cross-cultural communication skills and be sensitive to social responsibility in a multicultural setting.
• Ability to articulate ethical issues in Islamic finance as well as to provide leadership in social responsibility.
• Ability to lead and engage in lifelong learning at individual, group, and institutional levels.
• Ability to acquire creative and innovative ideas to initiate enterprising activities or projects.

Entry Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree with honours from UNIRAZAK or its equivalent from an institution of higher learning recognised by the Malaysian government. Applicants for executive and taught postgraduate programmes should normally have a minimum CGPA of 2.75 but candidates with a Bachelor’s degree whose CGPA is below the minimum requirement of 2 years of relevant working experience in respective fields can be considered .

All applicants are required to attain any of the followings before they are accepted for admission into the programme:

• A minimum score of 575 for a paper-based total or 232 for a computer-based total or 90 for an Internet based total for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*; or
• A minimum score of Band 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)*; or
• A minimum required proficiency on UNIRAZAK Postgraduate English Proficiency Test; or
• A recognised first degree undertaken in English medium; or
• Successful completion of Intensive English Programme (IEP) at the Advanced level conducted by the Centre for English Language (CEL).

*Note: the validity period for IELTS and TOEFL is two years from the date awarded;

For students entering the 1st semester at UNCW, USA, a GMAT score or a proof of quantitative skills in calculus and statistics is required.

Programme Structure

The MBA (Global Islamic Finance) programme requires a total of 48 credits to complete and is divided into three parts as follows:

A. Core Courses (16 credits)

1. Human Resource Management in a Global Environment (3 credits)
2. International Finance (3 credits)
3. Global Strategic Analysis (3 credits)
4. Global Marketing Strategies (3 credits)
5. International Leadership (2 credits)
6. International Business Law (2 credits)

B. Specialised Courses (16 credits) – Choose any four courses

1. Islamic Financial and Economic Systems (4 credits)
2. Applications of Islamic Commercial Law in Islamic Finance (4 credits)
3. Global Islamic Financial Institutions and Markets (4 credits)
4. Islamic Banking Products and Services (4 credits)
5. Risk Management and the Regulatory Framework in Islamic Finance  (4 credits)

C. •  Research Project (16 credits)

1. Research Methodology
2. Advanced Project Paper in Islamic Finance
   The project paper allows students to research deeper into their specialised area of study attended during the second semester.

Career Prospects

Consultant/Advisor in Islamic Finance; Islamic Wealth Manager; Manager in Financial Institutions.