International Development

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any discipline.

If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.

We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.

If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:

• evidence of significant, relevant work experience in one of the following sectors: NGOs, Government Departments, Think Tanks (minimum of six months in a paid role);
• a postgraduate qualification in any discipline.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Study this specialist programme designed for current and aspiring practitioners and thinkers who shape, manage or critique policies addressing today’s global development challenges. Combining rigorous academic inquiry with policy-oriented and empirical analysis, this programme equips you to move confidently between theory and practice in government, NGOs, multilaterals, or the private sector.

Interrogate three interlocking facets of the development process. First, clarify what we mean by 'development', tracing how ideas of progress, equity and sustainability have evolved and why they remain contested.

Second, study planning processes – external aid regimes, regional disparities, environmental pressures, poverty reduction and industrialisation – learning how agendas are set, financed and measured.

Third, examine how policies are delivered and administered, evaluating the role of political and bureaucratic structures at every level and the contribution of NGOs and other external actors.

Explore the theoretical, historical and policy linkages among conflict, security and development through core units. Topics include the enduring influence of colonial legacies on intervention, the gendered dynamics and impacts of violent conflict, and the principles that guide contemporary peacekeeping. Case-based teaching encourages you to apply conceptual tools to concrete problems, from poverty traps to climate-induced displacement or post-conflict reconstruction, honing the analytical skills sought by employers across the development field.

Be challenged and inspired by internationally recognised scholars whose research informs policy debates worldwide. Their expertise fosters a dynamic and inclusive classroom in which diverse perspectives enrich discussion. Guest lectures and practitioner panels connect you to a vibrant community committed to translating knowledge into positive change.

Benefit from the opportunity to focus on the issues you care about most in an independent dissertation. Guided by one-to-one supervision, design and execute a project that demonstrates your capacity to frame questions, gather evidence and present findings to the highest standard.

Graduate from the MSc International Development with a nuanced understanding of development theory, and the critical tools required to address contemporary development problems and possibilities.

Whether you are advancing an established career, entering the sector or analysing development practices, this master’s degree gives you the knowledge and confidence to contribute meaningfully to sustainable, inclusive development worldwide.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.