Proposed Structure for Master’s Thesis (~10,000 – 12,000 words)
1. Abstract (150–250 words)
A brief summary of the aim, methodology, key findings, and recommendations of the study.
2. Introduction (700–1,000 words)
- Background and context of the study
- Significance and rationale of the research
- Research questions
- Objectives and hypotheses
- Structure of the thesis
3. Literature Review (2,000–2,500 words)
- Overview of risk management theories in conventional and Islamic banking
- Principles of Islamic finance (e.g., prohibition of riba, risk-sharing, murabaha, mudarabah contracts, etc.)
- Regulatory standards (Basel II/III, AAOIFI, IFSB)
- Previous studies and comparative analyses from other countries
- Comparative analysis: how risk management differs between Islamic and conventional banks
4. Methodology (1,000–1,500 words)
- Research design: comparative case study
- Country and bank selection (sampling):
- Albania: Union Bank (with Islamic finance elements) or macro-level analysis
- Bosnia: Bosna Bank International (Islamic) vs Raiffeisen Bank Bosnia (Conventional)
- Turkey: Kuveyt Türk / Albaraka Türk (Islamic) vs Türkiye İş Bankası (Conventional)
- Type of data: secondary (annual reports, central bank data, academic publications)
- Method of analysis: financial ratio analysis and comparative risk indicator evaluation
5. Data Analysis and Findings (3,000–3,500 words)
- Presentation and interpretation of data from bank reports (e.g., NPL ratio, CAR, liquidity ratio)
- Use of tables and comparative graphs
- Analysis of similarities and differences in risk management practices
- Explanation of how legal-religious frameworks influence risk management
- Real-world examples of crises or risk scenarios managed differently
6. Discussion (1,000–1,500 words)
- Interpretation of findings in light of existing literature
- Impact of local regulations and banking practices
- Influence of international standards (Basel, AAOIFI, IFSB)
- Discussion on advantages and limitations of each banking model
7. Conclusion and Recommendations (600–800 words)
- Summary of main findings
- Limitations of the study
- Recommendations for policy, practice, or further research
8. References / Bibliography
Formatted according to your university’s required citation style (APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.)