Minimum Academic Entry

Applicants should normally have:

• Completed secondary/high-school education or an equivalent qualification.

Examples include:

• High School Diploma
• GCSE/GCE O-Level
• A-Level
• International Baccalaureate
• National secondary-school certificate
• Equivalent internationally recognised qualification.

Preferred Background

Applicants with previous education in:

• Banking
• Finance
• Accounting
• Economics
• Business
• Investment
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Islamic finance
• Shari’ah
• Business administration

Professional Entry

Applicants with relevant experience in:

• Banking
• Investment management
• Asset management
• Wealth management
• Treasury
• Financial advisory
• Islamic finance
• Insurance/Takaful
• Accounting
• Risk management
• Financial markets

may be considered under mature/professional-entry provisions.

International Applicants

International applicants may be required to submit:

• Academic certificates and transcripts
• Passport/identification
• English-language evidence where applicable
• Certified translations where documents are not in English
• Qualification-equivalency documentation where required.

Duration: 2 Years
Structure: 4 Semesters
Delivery: On-Campus | Online | Hybrid | In-House
Level: Professional Diploma
Language: English

SEMESTER I

ISLAMIC FINANCE, INVESTMENT & FINANCIAL MARKETS

1101. Foundations of Islamic Finance & Investment

• Principles of Islamic economics
• Islamic financial system
• Riba, gharar and maysir
• Risk-sharing principles
• Asset-backed finance
• Islamic versus conventional investment
• Ethical investment
• Islamic investment objectives
• Global Islamic finance industry
• Islamic investment institutions.

1102. Islamic Financial Contracts & Investment Structures

Detailed application of:

• Mudarabah
• Musharakah
• Murabahah
• Ijarah
• Wakalah
• Salam
• Istisna’a
• Qard
• Tawarruq
• Waqf
• Investment agency structures.

Students examine how contracts are used to create investment and wealth-management products.

1103. Global Financial Markets

• Structure of financial markets
• Money markets
• Capital markets
• Equity markets
• Fixed-income markets
• Foreign exchange
• Commodity markets
• Derivatives
• Alternative investments
• Market participants
• Financial-market infrastructure.

1104. Islamic Investment Principles & Shari’ah Screening

• Shari’ah investment principles
• Permissible and prohibited activities
• Business-activity screening
• Financial-ratio screening
• Shari’ah screening methodologies
• Purification of impermissible income
• Investment compliance
• Shari’ah review
• Screening of listed securities
• Investment governance.

AAOIFI’s Shari’ah standards cover a broad range of Islamic financial contracts and products, including investment banking and capital markets.

1105. Financial Mathematics, Statistics & Investment Analytics

• Time value of money
• Present and future value
• Returns
• Compounding
• Probability
• Statistics
• Correlation
• Volatility
• Investment ratios
• Financial modelling
• Spreadsheet analysis.

1106. Ethics, Governance & Professional Practice

• Investment ethics
• Fiduciary responsibilities
• Conflicts of interest
• Client confidentiality
• Fair dealing
• Investor protection
• Professional conduct
• Shari’ah ethics
• Governance
• Suitability and responsible advice.

SEMESTER II

INVESTMENT ANALYSIS & ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKETS

1201. Islamic Equity Investment & Securities Analysis

• Equity-market fundamentals
• Company analysis
• Industry analysis
• Macroeconomic analysis
• Fundamental analysis
• Financial statement analysis
• Valuation
• Earnings and profitability
• Growth analysis
• Dividend analysis
• Shari’ah-compliant equity investment.

1202. Sukuk & Islamic Fixed-Income Markets

• Sukuk fundamentals
• Sukuk structures
• Asset-backed Sukuk
• Asset-based Sukuk
• Ijarah Sukuk
• Musharakah Sukuk
• Mudarabah Sukuk
• Wakalah Sukuk
• Sukuk issuance
• Sukuk valuation
• Sukuk pricing
• Sukuk risks
• Secondary-market considerations.

AAOIFI’s standards include specific Shari’ah treatment of investment Sukuk and other Islamic capital-market instruments.

1203. Islamic Funds & Collective Investment Schemes

• Islamic mutual funds
• Islamic ETFs
• Islamic REITs
• Private-equity funds
• Venture-capital structures
• Real-estate investment
• Fund structures
• Fund governance
• NAV calculation
• Investor reporting
• Shari’ah compliance.

1204. Investment Research & Valuation

• Financial statement analysis
• Equity valuation
• Discounted cash-flow concepts
• Relative valuation
• Asset valuation
• Investment research
• Investment recommendations
• Research reports
• Scenario analysis
• Sensitivity analysis.

1205. Islamic Wealth Management Foundations

• Wealth-management principles
• Client profiling
• Financial objectives
• Risk profiling
• Investment objectives
• Asset allocation
• Wealth preservation
• Wealth accumulation
• Wealth distribution
• Client relationship management.

1206. Applied Investment Analysis Project I

Students undertake an investment research project involving:

Market analysis → Shari’ah screening → financial analysis → valuation → risk assessment → investment thesis → portfolio recommendation.

SEMESTER I

ISLAMIC FINANCE, INVESTMENT & FINANCIAL MARKETS

1101. Foundations of Islamic Finance & Investment

• Principles of Islamic economics
• Islamic financial system
• Riba, gharar and maysir
• Risk-sharing principles
• Asset-backed finance
• Islamic versus conventional investment
• Ethical investment
• Islamic investment objectives
• Global Islamic finance industry
• Islamic investment institutions.

1102. Islamic Financial Contracts & Investment Structures

Detailed application of:

• Mudarabah
• Musharakah
• Murabahah
• Ijarah
• Wakalah
• Salam
• Istisna’a
• Qard
• Tawarruq
• Waqf
• Investment agency structures.

Students examine how contracts are used to create investment and wealth-management products.

1103. Global Financial Markets

• Structure of financial markets
• Money markets
• Capital markets
• Equity markets
• Fixed-income markets
• Foreign exchange
• Commodity markets
• Derivatives
• Alternative investments
• Market participants
• Financial-market infrastructure.

1104. Islamic Investment Principles & Shari’ah Screening

• Shari’ah investment principles
• Permissible and prohibited activities
• Business-activity screening
• Financial-ratio screening
• Shari’ah screening methodologies
• Purification of impermissible income
• Investment compliance
• Shari’ah review
• Screening of listed securities
• Investment governance.

AAOIFI’s Shari’ah standards cover a broad range of Islamic financial contracts and products, including investment banking and capital markets.

1105. Financial Mathematics, Statistics & Investment Analytics

• Time value of money
• Present and future value
• Returns
• Compounding
• Probability
• Statistics
• Correlation
• Volatility
• Investment ratios
• Financial modelling
• Spreadsheet analysis.

1106. Ethics, Governance & Professional Practice

• Investment ethics
• Fiduciary responsibilities
• Conflicts of interest
• Client confidentiality
• Fair dealing
• Investor protection
• Professional conduct
• Shari’ah ethics
• Governance
• Suitability and responsible advice.

SEMESTER II

INVESTMENT ANALYSIS & ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKETS

1201. Islamic Equity Investment & Securities Analysis

• Equity-market fundamentals
• Company analysis
• Industry analysis
• Macroeconomic analysis
• Fundamental analysis
• Financial statement analysis
• Valuation
• Earnings and profitability
• Growth analysis
• Dividend analysis
• Shari’ah-compliant equity investment.

1202. Sukuk & Islamic Fixed-Income Markets

• Sukuk fundamentals
• Sukuk structures
• Asset-backed Sukuk
• Asset-based Sukuk
• Ijarah Sukuk
• Musharakah Sukuk
• Mudarabah Sukuk
• Wakalah Sukuk
• Sukuk issuance
• Sukuk valuation
• Sukuk pricing
• Sukuk risks
• Secondary-market considerations.

AAOIFI’s standards include specific Shari’ah treatment of investment Sukuk and other Islamic capital-market instruments.

1203. Islamic Funds & Collective Investment Schemes

• Islamic mutual funds
• Islamic ETFs
• Islamic REITs
• Private-equity funds
• Venture-capital structures
• Real-estate investment
• Fund structures
• Fund governance
• NAV calculation
• Investor reporting
• Shari’ah compliance.

1204. Investment Research & Valuation

• Financial statement analysis
• Equity valuation
• Discounted cash-flow concepts
• Relative valuation
• Asset valuation
• Investment research
• Investment recommendations
• Research reports
• Scenario analysis
• Sensitivity analysis.

1205. Islamic Wealth Management Foundations

• Wealth-management principles
• Client profiling
• Financial objectives
• Risk profiling
• Investment objectives
• Asset allocation
• Wealth preservation
• Wealth accumulation
• Wealth distribution
• Client relationship management.

1206. Applied Investment Analysis Project I

Students undertake an investment research project involving:

Market analysis → Shari’ah screening → financial analysis → valuation → risk assessment → investment thesis → portfolio recommendation.

The diploma is positioned as internationally benchmarked, drawing on Islamic-finance standards alongside mainstream international investment and financial-management practices.

AAOIFI

The programme uses AAOIFI as a major specialist reference for:

• Islamic investment
• Shari’ah-compliant financial contracts
• Islamic capital markets
• Sukuk
• Investment funds
• Shari’ah screening
• Governance
• Ethics.

AAOIFI states that its Shari’ah standards cover Islamic banking, insurance, investment banking, capital markets and financing, and are used by regulators and financial institutions in numerous jurisdictions.

AAOIFI’s current standards framework also includes specific governance standards for areas such as Sukuk, Shari’ah compliance, internal Shari’ah audit and Shari’ah governance.

IFSB

Relevant IFSB principles include:

• Islamic investment risk
• Capital adequacy
• Governance
• Disclosure
• Risk management
• Supervisory review
• Investment-account considerations.

IFSB’s disclosure framework emphasises transparent, timely and relevant information about the financial condition and risk profile of Islamic financial institutions.

International Financial Reporting

Students are introduced to relevant IFRS concepts applicable to investment and financial instruments.

For example, IFRS 9 addresses classification and measurement of financial assets and liabilities, including amortised cost and fair-value categories.

The programme uses these concepts comparatively, recognising that Islamic investments may have distinctive contractual and Shari’ah characteristics.

European Benchmarking

Relevant European investment-management concepts include:

• Investor protection
• Suitability and conduct
• Financial-market regulation
• Investment-fund governance
• Sustainable finance
• Risk management
• Portfolio management.

United States Benchmarking

Relevant U.S. concepts include:

• Investment analysis
• Portfolio management
• Fiduciary principles
• Investor protection
• Asset allocation
• Wealth management
• Financial planning
• Investment advisory practices.

The programme should use an investment-practical learning model.

Practical Activities

Students may undertake:

• Shari’ah investment screening
• Equity valuation
• Sukuk analysis
• Investment-fund analysis
• Portfolio construction
• Asset-allocation exercises
• Investment-risk analysis
• Portfolio rebalancing
• Performance measurement
• Wealth-planning cases
• Client profiling
• Investment-policy statement development
• ESG/ethical investment analysis
• Family wealth planning
• Digital wealth-management simulations.

The capstone should require students to demonstrate an end-to-end professional investment process:

Client/investor objectives → risk profile → Shari’ah requirements → investment universe → asset allocation → security selection → portfolio construction → risk management → performance measurement → reporting.

Upon successful completion, graduates should be able to:

1. Explain the principles of Islamic finance and investment.
2. Apply major Islamic financial contracts to investment structures.
3. Analyse global financial markets.
4. Conduct basic Shari’ah screening of investments.
5. Analyse Islamic equities and Sukuk.
6. Evaluate Islamic investment funds.
7. Conduct fundamental investment analysis.
8. Apply basic valuation techniques.
9. Construct diversified Islamic investment portfolios.
10. Develop strategic and tactical asset allocations.
11. Measure and manage investment risk.
12. Evaluate portfolio performance.
13. Develop Islamic wealth-management strategies.
14. Conduct client/investor profiling.
15. Develop investment-policy statements.
16. Understand Islamic financial planning.
17. Understand wealth preservation and succession structures.
18. Analyse Islamic ESG and responsible-investment opportunities.
19. Understand digital wealth management and Islamic FinTech.
20. Prepare professional investment and wealth-management reports.

The diploma prepares graduates for professional and junior-to-intermediate roles across Islamic investment and wealth management.

Islamic Investment

• Islamic Investment Officer
• Investment Analyst
• Junior Investment Analyst
• Islamic Investment Research Analyst
• Investment Operations Officer
• Investment Associate
• Portfolio Assistant

Portfolio Management

• Portfolio Management Assistant
• Junior Portfolio Analyst
• Asset Allocation Analyst
• Investment Risk Analyst
• Portfolio Reporting Officer
• Performance Analyst
• Investment Strategy Assistant

Sukuk & Capital Markets

• Sukuk Analyst
• Islamic Capital Markets Analyst
• Sukuk Investment Officer
• Capital Markets Associate
• Islamic Securities Analyst
• Investment Research Associate

Islamic Funds & Asset Management

• Islamic Fund Operations Officer
• Fund Analyst
• Asset Management Assistant
• Fund Administration Officer
• Islamic Fund Compliance Analyst
• Investment Operations Analyst

Wealth Management

• Islamic Wealth Management Associate
• Wealth Management Officer
• Private Banking Associate
• Relationship Management Officer
• Financial Planning Assistant
• Investment Advisory Associate
• Client Portfolio Associate

Risk & Compliance

• Investment Risk Analyst
• Shari’ah Investment Compliance Analyst
• Investment Compliance Officer
• Portfolio Risk Assistant
• Investment Governance Officer
• ESG/Responsible Investment Analyst

Gulf & MENA

Strong emphasis on:

• Islamic private banking
• Sukuk
• Islamic investment funds
• Wealth management
• Family offices
• Islamic capital markets.

Malaysia & Indonesia

Emphasis on:

• Islamic funds
• Sukuk
• Islamic asset management
• Shari’ah screening
• Islamic FinTech
• Sustainable Islamic investment.

Pakistan & Bangladesh

Emphasis on:

• Islamic banking investment products
• Sukuk
• Islamic funds
• Retail investment
• Wealth management
• Shari’ah-compliant savings and investment.

Africa

Emphasis on:

• Islamic financial inclusion
• Islamic investment funds
• Sukuk
• Pension and institutional investment
• SME investment
• Islamic wealth management
• Waqf and impact investment.

Europe & North America

Emphasis on:

• Islamic asset management
• Ethical investment
• Shari’ah-compliant securities
• Private wealth
• Family offices
• ESG and responsible investment

Cross-border investment

IBSF Academic Pathway

Certificate in Islamic Banking & Finance
↓
Diploma in Islamic Finance, Investment & Wealth Management
↓
Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Finance & Investment Management
↓
Master’s Degree in Islamic Finance / Islamic Investment Management / Wealth Management
↓
MBA / Executive MBA / Executive Master’s

IBSF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ISLAMIC FINANCE, INVESTMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Duration: 2 Years
Structure: 4 Semesters
Delivery: On-Campus | Online | Hybrid | In-House
Level: Professional Diploma
Language: English
Target Markets: Global | Gulf & MENA | Malaysia & Indonesia | Pakistan & Bangladesh | Africa | Europe | North America

The IBSF International Diploma in Islamic Finance, Investment & Wealth Management is a two-year professional programme designed to develop specialists in Shari’ah-compliant investment management, portfolio management, Islamic capital markets and wealth management.