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  • DeadlineStudy Details: 1 year

Masters Degree Description

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.

An optional international field class immerses you in real-world development practice with overseas organisations. Past destinations include Nepal, Tanzania and Ecuador. 

Our focus on professional and research skills allows you to experience work-related learning and undertake original, independent research.

Placement-based dissertation options offer hands-on experience in development work.

Entry Requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.

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Fees

Please see website for fees

Student Destinations

Since the first iteration of our masters in International Development, back in 2008, our international graduate cohorts have gone on to have tremendously successful and diverse careers in the public and private sectors, as well as continued their academic studies through PhD studies. They hold positions, including:

  • Public Health Consultant
  • Fundraising Officer
  • Humanitarian Adviser
  • Climate Finance Campaigner
  • Research Consultant
  • Health Intelligence Portfolio Officer
  • Service Manager
  • Assistant Sustainability Manager
  • Environmental Schools Programme Facilitator
  • Chief Strategist, Cultural Awareness Trainer and Communications Coach
  • Climate Leader 

Some of the organisations where our graduates work are:

  • Transport for London
  • Save the Children
  • UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  • British Red Cross
  • World Health Organisation
  • NHS Foundation Trust
  • UK Environmental Agency

Module Details

Core Modules:

Ideas and Practice in International Development
Understanding difference
Environment, Society and Development
Urban Development in the Global South Core Modules:

Development in Practice

Optional Modules:

Urban Informality
The Urban Climate Emergency
Climate Change: Science and Impacts
Managing Climate Change
Theory and Debates in Food Security and Food Justice
International Development Fieldclass Choose from two options:

Research Foundations (with Placement)
Research Foundations

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