MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects

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We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.

For more details on how you can meet us, visit our events page: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/meet-us/ .

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:

• copies of official degree certificatesand 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;
• copies of English Language Certification, eg IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Pearson test score report, if available at the time of application;
• your CV.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.

Deposit information

We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability.

When you have been made an offer, you will be required to pay a £2,500 deposit by the deadline date stated in your offer letter before you can be accepted on this course. The deposit amount will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

The deposit is non-refundable, except in the following situations:

•You fail to meet the conditions of your offer.

•You are refused a visa or entry clearance to enter the UK.

•Your application for government funding has been unsuccessful.

Evidence must be provided before a refund will be processed under any of the circumstances above.

If your offer specifies an English Language condition which you do not meet, the Admissions Team will require the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of the offer as evidence that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions. The English language test certificate provided with your application documents is not accepted as proof that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions as it will predate the offer.

If your offer specifies an academic condition, the Admissions Team will require official university documentation showing that you have not met the condition from the institution at which you studied as evidence.

The Admissions Team reserves the right to refuse a refund of your deposit that does not meet with the requirements outlined above.

MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects is a unique interdisciplinary programme delivered jointly by three prestigious institutions at The University of Manchester: the Global Development Institute, Alliance Manchester Business School and the Department of Planning.

The MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects will help you develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to manage and implement projects that contribute to development goals in complex international environments.

Development projects operate in contexts that are often characterised by institutional constraints, changing political and economic conditions, diverse stakeholders, organisational complexity and competing priorities. Effective development project management therefore requires more than the ability to produce a project plan. It requires an understanding of how projects are organised, financed and governed, how people and organisations respond to change and how projects can be adapted to the contexts in which they are implemented.

The programme explores the development project cycle from design and planning through to implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning. You will develop an understanding of how management approaches can be applied to real-world development challenges, while critically examining the factors that influence whether projects achieve their intended outcomes.

A distinctive feature of the MSc is its focus on the relationship between project management and development context. You will consider how organisational, institutional, political, social, economic and environmental factors shape project implementation and outcomes. You will also develop the ability to work with different stakeholders, organisations and communities and to respond to the challenges that arise when development interventions are translated from policy and strategy into practice.

You will explore how development projects can be managed to deliver effective, inclusive and sustainable outcomes for communities, organisations and governments,

Through a flexible choice of specialist units, you can develop your interests in areas including strategic project organising, project financing, risk management, quality management, organisational behaviour and change, public-sector reform, development practice, gender and development, innovation and environmental impact assessment. This allows you to explore project management and implementation from different disciplinary and development perspectives.

The programme is delivered through an interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together expertise in development, management and planning. Studying alongside an international cohort also provides opportunities to engage with different development contexts, professional experiences and approaches to managing and implementing projects.

The MSc is designed for students and professionals who want to understand how to manage projects and how to make projects work in complex development environments. It provides preparation for careers in development project and programme management, international development, consultancy, public-sector reform, policy implementation and related fields, as well as a foundation for further research and doctoral study.

• We're Europe's largest dedicated development research and teaching institute and have been at the forefront of development studies for over 60 years .
• We are ranked first for research environment and second overall in the UK in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
• We are proud to tackle global inequalities and rank first in the UK for our impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (THE Impact Rankings 2025).
• We bring cutting-edge insights from our research into all our postgraduate teaching. Our courses bring different development perspectives and voices to Manchester, from activists from the Global South to the leaders of multinational companies.
• We are home to the internationally recognised African Cities Research Consortium , Effective States and Inclusive Development and FutureDAMS research centres.
• Students are part of our vibrant research community, including our public lecture series which brings world experts, former heads of state, and leading development thinkers, to discuss current issues in development.

Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.

The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (e.g., project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors.

You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.

Find out how our students feel about studying at The University of Manchester by visiting Student Spotlights .

The MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects prepares graduates for careers involving the management, implementation and delivery of development projects and programmes across international development, government, NGOs, consultancy and the private sector.

You will develop practical project management, organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills alongside an understanding of the development contexts in which projects are designed and implemented.

This combination can support careers where professionals need to translate development strategies and priorities into effective programmes and projects and work with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders.

Potential career pathways include:

• Development project management
• Programme management and programme delivery
• Project and programme coordination
• International NGOs and development organisations
• International and multilateral organisations
• Development consultancy
• Government and public-sector project and programme roles
• Policy implementation and public-sector reform
• Donor-funded development programmes
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Private-sector and social-impact roles
• Research and doctoral study

Graduates can apply their knowledge across projects addressing social, economic, institutional and environmental challenges, including roles where successful delivery depends on understanding the wider organisational and development context.

Find out more about our alumni and some of our notable former students .

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to several opportunities to help boost your employability .

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provides specialist resources, advice and events to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

• Working in the UK after study
• Working during study
• Professional and alumni networks for international students

Global networks

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.

After your course, you'll join our 10,000 strong alumni network .

We'll keep you up to date with all the new insights and implications from our research.

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country.

It is an opportunity to build professional and social networks.

You can view the alumni networks already operating across the globe here .