MSc:

• An upper second-class Honours degree or equivalent from an approved university or an equivalent professional qualification in a relevant field (the equivalent US Grade Point Average is 3.0) or
• A lower second-class Honours degree from an approved university with excellent work experience.
• Adequate capacity in written and spoken English. For those whose first language is not English, evidence of this capacity is required. Applicants should reach at least level 6.5 in the IELTS or 580 /93 for TOEFL.
• Degrees from all disciplines are considered and a candidate's work experience can also be taken into consideration.

Graduate Diploma:

• A lower second-class Honours degree or equivalent from an approved university or an equivalent professional qualification in a relevant field is normally required. However, work experience can also be taken into consideration.
• Adequate capacity in written and spoken English: for those whose first language is not English, evidence of this capacity is required. Applicants should reach at least level 6 in the IELTS or 550/80 for TOEFL.

Learn more about entry requirements

International students
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries – learn more about international entry requirements 

English language requirements: see above

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

This programme explores the issues of governance, state-building and development from an interdisciplinary standpoint, combining the theoretical rigour of political science and the practical experience of development. The good governance agenda that has emerged occurs now increasingly alongside the current debate on state-building, which encompasses issues such as accountability and transparency, corruption, conflict, political settlement, human rights, participation, access to justice, and democratisation. Governance and state-building are of particular interest to governments, non-governmental organisations and development agencies, as well as to a growing and vibrant academic community.

Who is the programme for?

The programme is designed for recent graduates preparing to work in international development and for professionals working for NGOs, donor or government funded development programmes

Programme content

This specialised pathway comprises the following modules: course structure.

Fieldwork

Gain first-hand experience of development concepts plus valuable work experience without additional costs. This Masters degree enable students either to carry out individual fieldwork in a country and on a topic of their choice or to take part in an organised study visit. Funding for this overseas study is included in the programme fee. 

Learning, teaching and assessment

The programme uses a range of learning and teaching methods including short lectures, group work, group and individual presentations, individual study and exercises. Each module is assessed differently using assessments that include 2,000–3,000 word essays, group projects, presentations, exercises and exams. A 10,000–12,000 word dissertation is also required for the MSc award.

Skills gained

Students will gain:

• An in-depth understanding of competing development theories – their origins, their continuities and their differences – and the ability to critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses
• Understanding of the emergence of the good governance agenda in the past decade and a half and its place within the current debate on state-building
• In depth appreciation of aspects of good governance, specifically dealing with political development, accountability and transparency, corruption, human rights, participation, and access to justice
• An ability to analyse these issues in the context of different types of states, including both ‘resilient’ and ‘failed’ states, and different levels of civic engagement
• Knowledge of the theory of the emergence of ‘governance states’, states that are evolving to suit the good governance agenda, supported by donors, rather than evolving to suit the needs of citizens themselves
• Writing skills to produce well structured and coherent essays and reports, making good use of references
• Oral presentation skills
• Ability to access material from different sources including policy documents and other publications from governments and international organisations, documents from the internet, and from books and academic journals
• The capacity to interpret and make use of material from the above sources

Careers

The programme is designed for recent graduates preparing to work in international development and for professionals working for NGOs, donor or government funded development programmes.

More information on: International Development MSc (with specialist pathways)