International Development

Entry requirements

2:1 (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in Politics and International Studies or a closely related subject; however, all serious applicants from other disciplines will be considered; a strong personal statement

Months of entry

October, September

Course content

International Development is a multidisciplinary framework for assessing and analyzing political, social and economic development of postcolonial nation-states. Emerging from the discipline of Economics, it soon drew attention of political scientists, lawyers and sociologists who wanted to know how new nations addressed the major problems facing them in the post Second World war and Cold War landscape. The major debates engaged in by Development Studies, as it came to known, focused on growth v inequality, efficiency v democracy, state v market led development and modernity v tradition. The practice of development was also framed within these debates and was institutionalized through the Bretton Woods System, the various UN institutions, governmental and non-governmental policies and initiatives.

The continuing importance of these debates can be seen today as we discuss how are inequality, political instability and economic development linked? Whether market shocks reshape political as well as economic frameworks? Whether economic growth is a good measure of human development? Is modernity the goal that is worth aspiring to in the context of environmental crisis? Why does gender justice matter for development? Why does poverty persist in a world of plenty?

The MA in International Development at Warwick seeks to introduce you to these debates and questions. Theoretical work and empirical work are not separate exercises. Practical problems stimulate theory construction, and theories inform the ways that we handle substantive issues. Theory that lacks bearing on practice is irrelevant. Action that lacks theoretical clarity and coherence is confused and ineffective.

Information for international students

Non-native speakers of English must have an IELTS score of 7.0, with a maximum of 6.0 or 6.5 in up to two categories, or equivalent score on another acceptable test (see Admissions for more information).

Fees and funding

There are several funding opportunities available for students applying for this course. These include external awards, wider University awards and departmental scholarships. Details can be found here:

www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding

Qualification and course duration

MA