ICTs for Development

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with a minimum classification of Second Class Honours Upper Division (2:1) or its international equivalent. Admission of candidates who do not meet this criterion may be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or professional experience can be provided. Please contact the School's admissions office for further guidance.

Please submit the following documents with your application:

• Copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English please provide official translations.
• Two written references, signed by the referee and on official headed paper.
• A personal statement detailing why you wish to study the course, your experiences, what you can bring to the course and any other information that you see as relevant to your application
• Your CV
• Copies of English Language Certification, e.g. IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.

Months of entry

September

Course content

MSc ICTs for Development will train you to become an information-and-communications-technology-for-development (ICT4D) champion who possesses the necessary technical and contextual skills to lead ICT4D projects such as telecentres, ICT-enabled microenterprise, public service kiosks and e-government initiatives to completion.

This course satisfies the pressing need for ICT4D champions; in recent years there has been - and continues to be - a massive expansion in the number of ICT4D projects in developing and transitional economies, with a skills shortage resulting in a high project failure rate.

By taking this course, you will benefit from The University of Manchester's world-leading Centre for Development Informatics and gain:

• conceptual frameworks to understand the process of socio-economic development and the role of information and of ICTs in the development process
• new knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development, implementation and management of ICT4D initiatives .

A range of optional modules provides an opportunity to satisfy specialist ICT4D champion knowledge and skill requirements, while the overseas field visits that we offer will enable you to build up your real-world experience at no additional cost.

Informal enquiries, prior to applications, are welcomed. Please contact our programme director, Prof Richard Heeks ( richard.heeks@manchester.ac.uk )

Information for international students

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

• IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing, no sub-section below 6.0 or
• TOEFL iBT overall score of 90 with a minimum score of 22 in writing and 20 in the other subsections or
• Pearson PTE overall score of 59 with a minimum score of 59 in the written section and 51 in all other subsections
• Cambridge CAE or Cambridge CPE grade C (Please note that the Cambridge First Certificate in English is not acceptable.)

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to attend a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester, or to demonstrate an improvement in your language scores prior to the start of your course.

Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of your course.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country.

Fees and funding

The School of Environment, Education and Development is offering a number of scholarships for 2018 entry. For further information please click here .

Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a 1st and are progressing to a postgraduate taught masters course for September 2018 entry (terms and conditions apply - please contact us for further information).

See also the University's postgraduate funding database for more funding opportunities.

Qualification and course duration

MSc