International Development PhD

The International Development PhD programme is usually undertaken full-time over three years, or part-time over six years.

As a PhD student, you will make an original contribution to knowledge by pursuing an extended and focused piece of research on a topic of interest to you.

You will participate with your peers in the bespoke course, 'International Development Exchanges and Advanced Skills', to improve your research abilities and to develop a broad set of academic and transferable skills during your time with us.

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.

Supervision and support

As a PhD student in International Development, you will receive regular one-to-one thesis supervision from two supervisors with expertise in your regional and/or specific research areas.

Focused supervision in the International Development group is drawn from faculty associated with:

• the Centre of African Studies
• Sociology
• Social Anthropology
• Social Policy
• Politics and History

In line with the emphasis on interdisciplinary research, supervision teams may comprise faculty from across the University, providing enriching expertise, training and research collaboration opportunities for our PhD students.

Your supervisors will offer expert advice throughout the entire research process, and at key points such as:

• choosing your research training courses
• refining your research design
• conducting field research
• data analysis
• writing up your thesis
• publishing your findings and moving on to the next stage in your career

You will meet with your supervisors on a regular basis to discuss the progress of your thesis.

Postgraduate community support

You will also find support from your wider academic community and peers, who you will engage with at regular seminars.

You will have additional opportunities to mix with the postgraduate cohort, including:

• International Development exchanges
• the Advanced Skills course taken by first-year doctoral students
• a series of organised monthly training and social activities

Training

The School of Social and Political Science provides research training courses recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). You can participate in core, intermediate and advanced research training courses tailored to the needs of your project. We may also encourage you to attend courses in other schools across the University or at other institutions, if this benefits your project or professional development.

The University’s Institute for Academic Development provides a range of courses and events to assist with methodological training and career development.

• Institute for Academic Development

As a PhD student at the School of Social and Political Science, you will have full access to a number of dedicated facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building, such as desk areas for quiet and collaborative study.   You will also have access to the University’s outstanding research libraries and archive facilities, including the Main Library, one of the largest academic libraries in the world with more than 2,300 study spaces.

Other research facilities in the city centre include the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Records Office.

Proximity to the Scottish Parliament and other institutions of national government provides further research opportunities.

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

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.

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

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• 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.

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, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

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

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

Featured funding

• School of Social and Political Science Scholarships

• UK Research Council Awards

For specialised guidance on submitting a competitive scholarship application, please follow the requirements and recommendations and how to contact relevant academic staff as advised here:

• Important information and recommendations

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