School of Politics and International Studies

If you want to …

• examine issues of global poverty and injustice
• critically debate topical development issues
• challenge and contest mainstream ideas on global development
• combine theoretical discussions with learning practical skills in development research and management
• experience working in the developing world

... then MA Global Development is the right course for you.

MA Global Development is an introduction to the cross-disciplinary field of global development. It provides an overview of alternative theoretical approaches in the analysis of development, and examines their differing policy and practice implications, with a particular focus on low and mid-income country contexts.

The course is an opportunity to learn about and analyse the major socio-economic and political changes that have characterised global development in recent decades. It offers debate and insight into topical issues in a rapidly changing field, combining theoretical analyses with detailed discussion of how theories and strategies affect people and impact on poverty and well being in specific local contexts.

You will learn development research skills, whether from a programme or advocacy perspective, and explore the principles of project management. You will learn practical skills such as how to run a focus group, undertake a stakeholder analysis, write a project proposal, develop a monitoring and evaluation framework, and prepare a budget.

This interdisciplinary course is a well-established programme that attracts a large and diverse group of international students. Many are mid-career professionals seeking time out to reflect; others seek the disciplinary expertise they will need to take up a career in development – perhaps within a government department, the non-government sector, the agency world or activism.