Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Postgraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)

Module FINN45115: Islamic Banking and Finance

Department: Finance

FINN45115: Islamic Banking and Finance

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 4 15 Available in 2025/2026 None. Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • None

Aims

  • To provide students with an advanced understanding of the principles and implications of Islamic law for financial systems.
  • To provide students with an advanced understanding of the practice of Islamic banking and finance and the development of Islamic financial products.
  • To critically examine the organisational structures used in different segments of Islamic banking and financial intermediation.
  • To critically evaluate the controversies and challenges facing the Islamic banking and finance industry.

Content

  • Islamic banking and finance; New institutional Economics and Islamic Finance; Islamic law and contracts; Status of Islamic banking and finance.
  • Islamic banking models and Islamic banking products.
  • Approaches to product development in Islamic finance. Debate on Sharia-compliant vs. Sharia-based products.
  • Islamic insurance (takaful) models. Legal and regulatory issues and regimes of takaful.
  • Islamic finance and financial inclusion; Islamic microfinance approaches; Organisational models of Islamic Finance.
  • Islamic financial markets; Islamic stocks; Sukuk (Islamic bonds)
  • Islamic finance innovations and fintechs; marginal and radical innovations in Islamic finance; Islamic fintechs.
  • Islamic sustainable finance and the way forward.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge
  • An advanced knowledge of the principles of Islamic finance and an in-depth knowledge of current practice.
  • An advanced understanding of the application of Islamic law in financial transactions.
  • Advanced knowledge of the structures and risks of Islamic financial products.
  • An advanced knowledge and critical understanding of essential components of Islamic finance and associated current research.
Subject-specific Skills
  • An advanced ability to analyse the operations and practices of Islamic banking and finance.
  • The ability the evaluate the structures of financial products used by the Islamic financial industry.
  • The ability to critically review the experiences of Islamic finance and the challenges that may constrain its growth.
  • Independent thought in analysing and critiquing existing practices of Islamic Banking and Finance.
Key Skills
  • Independent learning within a defined framework of study at an advanced level.
  • The ability to seek out and use relevant data sources, including electronic and bibliographic sources.
  • Ability to understand financial concepts and transactions from multi-disciplinary perspectives.
  • Advanced writing skills, including the ability to work to a deadline and complete written work within word limits.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • A combination of interactive classroom sessions in the form of two-hour lectures, one-hour seminars and guided reading at an advanced level to achieve the aims and learning outcomes. The lectures are based on presentations and provide suggested readings that develop knowledge and understanding through the systematic course of study. Summative assessment through assignment will test students' knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and their use of critical judgment and problem-solving and analytical skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Lectures 10 1 per week 2 hours 20
Seminars 4 1 per fortnight 1 hour 4 Yes
Preparation and Reading 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment 100% Assignment 2500 words 100%

Formative Assessment

Answers prepared by students to pre-assigned questions and readings that are presented and discussed in seminars.


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.