MSc Development Economics and Policy / Course details

MSc Development Economics and Policy provides training in contemporary economic theory, applied economics and quantitative methods relevant to developing and transitional economies. 

Run jointly by the Global Development Institute (GDI) and the School of Social Sciences (SoSS), it is especially appropriate if you're seeking to practice as a development economist in government, the private sector, a multilateral organisation or an NGO.

In addition to studying four compulsory course units, you'll have the opportunity to specialise in particular areas of the subject via four optional course units and a dissertation.

The theory course units provide a thorough training in both contemporary macro- and micro-development theory. Applied and optional course units offer you an opportunity to understand development problems and policy prescriptions within both global and national economic contexts.

The quantitative course units, which include an applied development project, enable you to test theories through the use of data sets and provide training in standard econometrics techniques and up-to-date econometrics software packages.

You'll also undertake independent research between June and September in the form of an approved dissertation.

You will:

• understand the leading applied economics and development economics journals;
• understand the main economic models and key indicators from which development policies are derived and offer a critique of underlying theories;
• through the preparation of a dissertation and/or the applied development economics project, explore the relationship between theory and practice, test theories through the use of actual data sets, and demonstrate familiarity with standard econometric techniques and appropriate econometric software packages;
• demonstrate the skills demanded of an academic researcher in development economics or a staff advisor in a government department, non-government organisation or commercial organisation;
• undertake independent research, as evidenced by the completion of a dissertation.

• We're the largest development-focused teaching and research institute in Europe, and have been at the forefront of development studies for more than 60 years.
• We're ranked 6th in the UK and 10th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019).
• We're dedicated to addressing global poverty and inequality.
• Our research was ranked first in the UK for impact and second in the UK for quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).
• We're home to a multicultural community of 450 students from 30 countries.
• We have numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding applicants.
• Our alumni are recognised for their contribution to global development across the globe.
• The combined field experience of our staff covers 60 countries.
• We've trained almost 10,000 individuals from more than 170 countries.

Part-time students complete the course over 24 months. There are no evening or weekend course units available; you should, therefore, discuss course requirements with the Programme Director and seek approval from your employer. Timetabling information is usually available from late August. You can discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (eg 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.