A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
For 2020 entry we accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.0 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 20 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements
PTE Academic: total 67 (at least 56 in each of the Communicative Skills sections)
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 169 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.0 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 20 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 169 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
*(Revised 21 February 2020 to remove PTE Academic from 2021 entry requirements. Revised 21 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition in 2020 and 2021 entry requirements.)
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old
This programme engages critically with international development thinking and practice, and more broadly with processes of social, political and economic transformation throughout the global south.
This programme is designed to suit the needs of both recent graduates of various disciplines, and professionals with two to five, or more, years’ experience who want to shift careers, upgrade their academic qualifications, or take a year out to reflect critically on their work.
Although most students will move on after one year to development-related jobs, some may use the programme as a pathway into our PhD in International Development:
PhD International Development
This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Development Academy.
Global Development Academy
More info: Click here
You will complete a total of six courses over two semesters stretching from September to April.
Three courses are compulsory and three are optional. Options may be chosen from across the University, drawing on the expertise of faculty members within political and social science and beyond, including business, law and geosciences.
We also run a compulsory non-credit course that aims to sharpen research and analytical skills needed for postgraduate students in international development to embark on their summer dissertation research projects.
From May to August students complete either a work-based project or a standard research dissertation.
Work-based project
We realise the importance of offering practical experiences to complement our critical and historical approaches in the classroom. An integral part of the programme – and one of our advantages compared to other masters programmes in international development – are work-based projects.
These consist of eight weeks of on-location research with a host organisation in Africa, South and South East Asia, the Middle East, Latin America as well as in the UK. Our extensive network of partners includes NGOs, charities, social enterprise, think-tanks and government bodies.
Research dissertation
Alternatively, you may wish to explore an academic issue or theme in greater depth by choosing to complete a research dissertation based on fieldwork and/or print and library sources.
This programme provides multidisciplinary training and perspectives on development theory, policy and practice that is aimed to equip graduates for careers in public sector and non-governmental development agencies, consultancy and private business.
The opportunity to apply your academic training to real-world problems and acquire hands-on work experience through the work-based projects will give you an edge in the employment market whatever your eventual career.
