Algeria aims to expand specialized expertise in Islamic finance. To this end, the Commission for the Organization and Supervision of Stock Exchange Operations (COSOB), in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, is introducing the country’s first specialized professional master’s program in Islamic financial markets for the 2026-2027 academic year, opening 60 student slots.
Targeting primarily professionals and practitioners across financial and banking sectors, alongside insurance personnel and publicly traded corporations, this specialized training fits within COSOB’s initiatives to develop the domestic financial market and fortify the Islamic finance ecosystem, the Commission announced on Tuesday.
Highlighting the regulatory framework governing the accreditation of higher education institutions to deliver degree programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and state engineering diplomas for the 2026-2027 academic year, COSOB indicated that oversight for this master’s track will be conducted jointly with the University of Algiers 3 and the Banking Training Institute, blending academic instruction with specialized operational expertise in Islamic capital markets.
Sixty seats are available for candidates seeking admission to this track, subject to requisite entry criteria including a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of professional experience within relevant fields, the source specified while detailing the course structure.
The curriculum spans two years, merging theoretical coursework and practical training delivered by university professors and industry experts holding background and experience in Islamic finance and capital markets, according to COSOB, which noted that the program “will allow candidates to benefit from an integrated education balancing conceptual knowledge with professional application.”
Offered across economic, management, and commercial sciences, as well as financial and accounting disciplines, the program centers on the specialization: “Islamic Financial Markets.” Officials emphasized that this pioneering degree in Algeria represents “an essential milestone in the strategy to develop specialized capabilities within Islamic finance while strengthening its regulatory framework.”
According to COSOB, the initiative aligns with broader efforts to diversify capital resources for the national economy and broaden funding channels, opening doors to novel financing mechanisms beyond conventional models, particularly through the issuance of Islamic sukuk.