Research course
Political Economy of Development (SOAS-BRAC Joint MPhil/PhD
Entry requirements
We normally require a 2.1 bachelor's degree plus a Masters degree with a Merit classification in a Social Science plus one academic reference. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants who do not meet these criteria if they show evidence of a strong Masters degree and/or appropriate level of relevant work experience. International applicants should also see Doctoral School English language requirements.
Further information on equivalence of international qualifications is available.
Months of entry
September
Course content
The joint PhD programme between SOAS University of London and BRAC University in Bangladesh offers doctoral training in the fields of development studies, development economics, the politics of development, and related fields, resulting in a PhD in the Political Economy of Development.
The joint PhD programme harnesses the benefits of the world class academic programme offered by the SOAS Doctoral School with the exceptional opportunity for testing theories of development in the field offered by BRAC University and its highly-regarded research institute, the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development.
The distinctive element of the PhD will be to combine an opportunity to spend extended periods in a developing country context combined with the benefits of access to one of the leading universities in the UK. Initially, the partnership will focus on students interested in development policy and applied development, where the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development and Departments of Economics and Development Studies at SOAS have complementary strengths.
Why study the SOAS-BRAC University Joint PhD in the Political Economy of Development?
- SOAS is ranked 5th in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings 2025)
- BRAC University is one of the top private universities in Bangladesh, and part of the BRAC family of development organizations, one of the largest and most successful international non-governmental organizations in the world
The joint PhD enables candidates to study and build theoretical frameworks under the supervision of leading scholars of development while based at SOAS. They would then immerse themselves in contextualizing theories and empirically testing ideas in field-based research under the supervision of prominent and highly experienced researchers in an environment of applied research in Bangladesh.
A strong field-based perspective will allow students to critically analyse existing theories and develop or update frameworks accordingly. Throughout the process, they would be jointly supervised by faculty members at both universities. The PhD will have an overarching structure that will enable students to follow either a Development Studies path or an Economics path, like the PhD in International Development at SOAS.
Students currently engaging in policy-relevant development research in a northern university typically have time and money for a relatively short ‘fieldwork’ component in the south as part of their thesis. The unique design of this PhD will radically change what ‘fieldwork’ means as a significant part of the thesis will be researched and written in the ‘field’.
The students will work with both supervisors in areas where the supervisors have expertise, interest, or ongoing research projects. This combination will be a unique offering in the field of development policy-related PhDs and is likely to be of interest to students beyond the UK and Bangladesh.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MPhil/PhD
- full time36 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Doctoral School Admissions Enquirie
- dsadmissions@soas.ac.uk