International Development MSc

Our core courses offer foundational skills in critical thinking and research that encompass development theories, people-centred development perspectives, as well as practical key skills for development practice.

We also run a compulsory non-credit course that supports students with research skills throughout the year towards developing their dissertation research projects.

The programme offers a wide range of recommended optional courses that allow students to deepen their specialisation based on their individual interests. the courses are taught by our team of recognised experts in the field from the School of Social and Political Sciences and beyond, including Business, Geosciences, Law, and Education

Additional optional courses beyond those recommended by the Programme Director each year can also be chosen from across the entire University.

Placement-based dissertation

The placement-based dissertation option aims to offer you the opportunity to work on your dissertation within the context of a workplace of your choosing, subject to Programme Director and Placement Adviser approval.

The placement will generally consist of eight weeks of research with a host organisation in the UK or overseas, from our network of contacts which includes:

• NGOs and charities
• social enterprises
• think-tanks
• government bodies

Your placement can be completed either in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format. You will have the option to arrange your own placement, subject to university approval.

Please note that a placement-based dissertation is not guaranteed as part of this programme and are by competitive application.

Find out more about the placement-based dissertation option via our dedicated information pages:

• SPS Placement-based dissertation

Research dissertation

Alternatively, you may wish to explore an academic issue or theme in greater depth by choosing to complete a faculty-based research dissertation. This will be based on fieldwork and/or print and library sources.

(Revised 2 September 2025 to update courses and placement-based dissertation information for 2026 entry)

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

By the end of the programme students will be able to:

• critically evaluate the factors shaping development processes and their outcomes
• appropriately apply theories and insights from scholarly research to practical issues and problems of development policy and practice
• choose and apply the most appropriate research methods to a particular development policy problem or case
• analyse policy documents and reports

Specific aims are:

• Development of analytical and conceptual skills to enable critical evaluation and investigation of development issues
• Thorough training in comparative analysis
• In-depth knowledge of the main historical events, actors and processes that have shaped development
• Detailed and comparative examination of local and international interpretation of development
• Knowledge and skills needed for pursuing career in development agencies, political institutions or academia

At the end of the course, students should have a deep understanding of development processes and their implications, and how international thinking and perspectives on development have impacted upon societies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Students should have gained critical skills in analysing development policy and undertaking development research.

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.

Our graduates

Our previous graduates can be found around the world, in roles such as in:

• government ministries
• development consultancies
• financial institutions
• campaign groups
• social enterprises

• NGOs

  Others use the programme as a pathway into our PhD in International Development and have gone on to develop their specialist knowledge through postgraduate research projects:

• PhD in International Development

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027/28 academic year will be published on 1 July 2026.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.

We may also consider your application if you have relevant work experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

(Revised 01 July 2025 to include entry requirements for 2026/27 entry.)

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests for 2025/26 entry

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified for entry in 2025/26:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

English language tests for 2026/27 entry

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified for entry in 2026/27:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality.

(Revised 01 July 2025 to include entry requirements for 2026/27 entry)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Application fee

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

• £50

Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

• Application fee information

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan

  • family support

• personal savings

• income from work

• employer sponsorship

• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding