International Development MSc
12 monthsProgramme duration
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Sustainable Development
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Learn about social and environmental justice, inequality, and rural and urban development. Gain applied knowledge and skills rooted in interdisciplinary learning and decolonising knowledge. Connecting theory with policy and practice, you’ll grow highly transferable career-enhancing skills.
In a world of growing inequalities, escalating climate crises and polarised debates on aid and investment, the challenges of international development have never been more urgent. Our MSc aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to shape development research and practice across public, private and third sectors.
Our course is rooted in interdisciplinary learning and decolonising knowledge, giving you the opportunity to explore global development challenges and solutions.
Our approach to your learning combines teaching from experts, tailored professional skills training, an optional field class and a research-based dissertation (based on placements, research collaborations or independent research).
This enables you to gain interdisciplinary knowledge in subjects as varied as environmental justice, inequality and rural and urban development. A range of optional modules allows you to tailor your learning experience.
We focus on developing your transferable skills in research, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement. This prepares you for careers with NGOs, international organisations, government, consultancy and development-focused roles worldwide.
Learning about the evolution of development ideas over recent decades and their impact on policy and outcomes - such as climate change and environmental challenges, urbanisation and informality, poverty, inequality, gender, race, culture, technology, and global governance - will enable you to gain a holistic understanding of development challenges.
Our focus on professional and research skills allows you to experience work-related learning through core and optional modules. As a core part of your degree, you will undertake original, independent research. This could be informed by engaging in a placement-based dissertation (optional), which also offers hands-on experience in development work. As an optional part of your degree, you can learn about working with overseas organisations by taking our international field class module, which includes travel to an international location. Optional field classes and placements are not included in your tuition (information about additional costs).
Your placement experience
The dissertation with placement gives you valuable practical experience of working in a development organisation and engaging with development issues.
You'll spend four to six weeks in June or July based in a host organisation, where you'll carry out a research project identified by the organisation and approved by the University. Your project will have clear practical relevance and will generate findings that form the basis of your dissertation. Students may also spend time working directly on the organisation's core activities.
We currently work with over 20 host organisations in the UK and across the globe. Some have a wide remit, others have a specialist focus on issues such as conservation, education or health.
Placements to overseas destinations are subject to the same potential constraints imposed by travel conditions and health risks due to Covid-19.
Information about additional costs
Recent topics for the dissertation with placement
- Exploring the impact of land certification programmes on land tenure security and land conflicts for peasants in Indonesia
- Inclusive education for students with visual, hearing and physical disabilities: Barriers and experiences in Gondar, Northern Ethiopia
- Sustainable livelihoods and the urban poor: The importance of rural-urban connections for second generation rural-urban migrants in Kampala, Uganda
- Shifting and negotiating identities: Shan refugees in Northern Thailand
- Breaking dichotomies and the process of social reproduction: A case study of urban market women in El Alto
- Life histories of giving: Individuals’ changing relationships with charities over time
- Governance and livelihoods: The future of aquaculture on Lake Bunot, San Pablo, Philippines
- Exploration of how recognised factors affect public perceptions of climate change within the North of England
- Learning from international emergency responses: a critical assessment of how the British Red Cross learns from its international emergency responses
Your field class experience
An optional international field class encourages you to engage with overseas development and community organisations through an intensive week of activities. Students work in small teams to tackle research questions informed by the realities of local communities supported by our NGO partners.
International field class locations are subject to variation and subject to the number of students participating, but previous destinations have included Nepal, Tanzania and Ecuador. Few scholarships are available to help students cover for the additional costs of this module
Programme overview
Main Subject
Sustainable Development
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Learn about social and environmental justice, inequality, and rural and urban development. Gain applied knowledge and skills rooted in interdisciplinary learning and decolonising knowledge. Connecting theory with policy and practice, you’ll grow highly transferable career-enhancing skills.
In a world of growing inequalities, escalating climate crises and polarised debates on aid and investment, the challenges of international development have never been more urgent. Our MSc aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to shape development research and practice across public, private and third sectors.
Our course is rooted in interdisciplinary learning and decolonising knowledge, giving you the opportunity to explore global development challenges and solutions.
Our approach to your learning combines teaching from experts, tailored professional skills training, an optional field class and a research-based dissertation (based on placements, research collaborations or independent research).
This enables you to gain interdisciplinary knowledge in subjects as varied as environmental justice, inequality and rural and urban development. A range of optional modules allows you to tailor your learning experience.
We focus on developing your transferable skills in research, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement. This prepares you for careers with NGOs, international organisations, government, consultancy and development-focused roles worldwide.
Learning about the evolution of development ideas over recent decades and their impact on policy and outcomes - such as climate change and environmental challenges, urbanisation and informality, poverty, inequality, gender, race, culture, technology, and global governance - will enable you to gain a holistic understanding of development challenges.
Our focus on professional and research skills allows you to experience work-related learning through core and optional modules. As a core part of your degree, you will undertake original, independent research. This could be informed by engaging in a placement-based dissertation (optional), which also offers hands-on experience in development work. As an optional part of your degree, you can learn about working with overseas organisations by taking our international field class module, which includes travel to an international location. Optional field classes and placements are not included in your tuition (information about additional costs).
Your placement experience
The dissertation with placement gives you valuable practical experience of working in a development organisation and engaging with development issues.
You'll spend four to six weeks in June or July based in a host organisation, where you'll carry out a research project identified by the organisation and approved by the University. Your project will have clear practical relevance and will generate findings that form the basis of your dissertation. Students may also spend time working directly on the organisation's core activities.
We currently work with over 20 host organisations in the UK and across the globe. Some have a wide remit, others have a specialist focus on issues such as conservation, education or health.
Placements to overseas destinations are subject to the same potential constraints imposed by travel conditions and health risks due to Covid-19.
Information about additional costs
Recent topics for the dissertation with placement
- Exploring the impact of land certification programmes on land tenure security and land conflicts for peasants in Indonesia
- Inclusive education for students with visual, hearing and physical disabilities: Barriers and experiences in Gondar, Northern Ethiopia
- Sustainable livelihoods and the urban poor: The importance of rural-urban connections for second generation rural-urban migrants in Kampala, Uganda
- Shifting and negotiating identities: Shan refugees in Northern Thailand
- Breaking dichotomies and the process of social reproduction: A case study of urban market women in El Alto
- Life histories of giving: Individuals’ changing relationships with charities over time
- Governance and livelihoods: The future of aquaculture on Lake Bunot, San Pablo, Philippines
- Exploration of how recognised factors affect public perceptions of climate change within the North of England
- Learning from international emergency responses: a critical assessment of how the British Red Cross learns from its international emergency responses
Your field class experience
An optional international field class encourages you to engage with overseas development and community organisations through an intensive week of activities. Students work in small teams to tackle research questions informed by the realities of local communities supported by our NGO partners.
International field class locations are subject to variation and subject to the number of students participating, but previous destinations have included Nepal, Tanzania and Ecuador. Few scholarships are available to help students cover for the additional costs of this module
Admission Requirements
Subject requirements We accept degrees in the following subject areas:
- Any Arts and Humanities or Social Science subject
- Environmental Science
If required degree subjects and modules are listed, these are indicative only. Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.
We also consider a wide range of international qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent
Other requirements
We will not ask you to provide references or referee details as part of your application.
We do not require a supporting statement for this programme.
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
How to get a full scholarship
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Scholarship Applications: Frequently Asked Questions
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