The SIR fellowship allows qualified practitioners in Islamic finance and related fields to undertake independent applied research on issues of strategic and contemporary significance to the Islamic capital market (ICM).

The priority research areas must be of present-day relevance to ICM which include Maqasid al-Shariah and its applications, Islamic social finance and fintech, the halal economy, and sustainable and responsible investments including impact investing.

Local and foreign scholars, regulators, industry practitioners with applied policy exposure and academicians with substantial expertise in these areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

The selected SIR will be based in OCIS for one academic year beginning October 2026.

The scholar is expected to conduct research and contribute to intellectual discourse on Islamic capital markets at OCIS. Their responsibilities include delivering lectures, collaborating on studies and engaging with relevant institutions to further the development of the ICM.

Established in 2012, the SIR Fellowship Programme was introduced following a resolution from the SC-OCIS Roundtable on Islamic Finance. To date, the programme has benefited 15 scholars, contributing valuable insights to the global Islamic finance landscape.

The programme is in line with the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030, which seeks to reinforce global leadership in ICM, drive product innovation and expand the breadth and depth of Shariah-compliant offerings guided by Maqasid al-Shariah.

Applications for the 2026/27 SIR Fellowship are open until 12 June 2026. Click here to apply.

For further details, visit the Visiting Fellowship section of the OCIS website here: www.oxcis.ac.uk.