
Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Y | Y | N | N |
Course overview
- Study conceptual frameworks to understand the process of socio-economic development and the role of digital information and digital technologies in the development process.
- Benefit from The University of Manchester's world-leading Centre for Digital Development (CDD)
- Gain new knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development, implementation and management of digital development/ICT4D initiatives.
Open days
The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.
On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.
For more information, see Open days .
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2023, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £13,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £27,000 -
MSc (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £6,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,500
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
There are many internal and external funding opportunities for postgraduate study.
We offer several postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.
We also regularly welcome students on the University's Equity and Merit scholarship scheme.
In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to The University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course.
Many of our students have gained British Chevening, British Council or Commonwealth scholarships, as well as country-specific awards.
For more information, see our fees and funding webpages or search the University's postgraduate funding database .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Environment, Education and Development
- Contact name
- School of Environment, Education and Development - 0161 275 2814
- Telephone
- 0161 275 1814
- gdi.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- School/Faculty
-
See: The School .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .
This programme also accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 Week Pre-sessional English Language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Pre-sessional course:
6 week: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking, and 6.0 in listening and reading OR IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing or speaking, and 6.0 in the other sub-skills
10 week: IELTS 6.5 with no sub-skill below 6.0
English language test validity
Other international entry requirements
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:
- copies of official degree certificates and 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;
- your CV;
- copies of English Language Certification, eg IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.
Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.
How your application is considered
Applications for MSc Digital Development are very competitive. Due to the high demand for the programme we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If we are unable to consider you for an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will only be considered for an offer if places become available.
Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
MSc Digital Development will train you to become a digital development champion who possesses the necessary technical and contextual skills to lead digital development and information-and-communications-technology-for-development (ICT4D) programmes and projects to completion, such as ICT-enabled enterprise, e-government, m-health, MOOCs, etc.
In recent years there has been - and continues to be - a massive expansion in the number of digital development projects in developing and transitional economies.
With a skills shortage resulting in a high project failure rate, this course satisfies the pressing need for digital development champions. By taking this course, you will benefit from The University of Manchester's world-leading Centre for Digital Development and gain:
- conceptual frameworks to understand the process of socio-economic development and the role of information and of digital technologies in the development process;
- new knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development, implementation and management of digital development/ICT4D initiatives.
A range of optional course units provides an opportunity to satisfy specialist digital development champion knowledge and skill requirements, while the field visits that we normally offer will enable you to build up your real-world experience at no additional cost.
The course is designed for those applying, or seeking to apply, digital information and communication technologies in pursuit of socio-economic development goals.
It will include those who have, or plan to have direct design and implementation responsibilities, project managerial responsibilities, or broader strategic or policy-related responsibilities. Typical participants include:
- early-career professionals who have found themselves involved with digital development/ICT4D projects and want a period to reflect, learn and broaden their impact and career horizons;
- technical staff involved with digital development/ICT4D projects who wish to add systems, managerial and development skills to their portfolio;
- computing graduates who wish to make ethical use of their skills but lack the necessary understanding of systems and development.
Special features
- 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're ranked second in the UK and seventh in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022).
- 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.
Teaching and learning
This course has normally included a field trip. Please note that field trips may be scheduled at any point during the course, including during University vacations.
You are expected to be available to attend.
Part-time students
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.
Important notice
The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork. 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 ability of fieldwork and travel to proceed, and whether any changes to proposed fieldwork and travel might be necessary, will remain subject to factors such as the:
- rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
- outcome of any risk assessments conducted by the University;
- educational value and student experience of the fieldwork, if significant changes to the proposed fieldwork would be necessary;
- availability of appropriate insurance cover;
- availability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs.
All fieldwork and travel will be subject to a rigorous risk assessment process and the implementation of any protective measures identified by the risk assessment to ensure the health and safety of all our students and staff.
In some circumstances, it may become necessary to make changes to fieldwork or programme related travel. The University will notify you of those changes at the earliest opportunity. If any fieldwork does not go ahead as planned, then the School's focus will be on seeking to offer a suitable alternative and ensure that the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) of the programme are met.
Please note that Countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice. The School cannot guarantee that where visas are required for fieldwork, they will be granted but we will take steps so that if a visa is refused, affected students are not academically disadvantaged.
Coursework and assessment
The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, are 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.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
ICTs & Socio-Economic Development | MGDI60701 | 15 | Mandatory |
Planning and Managing Development | MGDI70992 | 15 | Mandatory |
Research Skills Development | MGDI72090 | 15 | Mandatory |
Teaching and Learning Online | EDUC70050 | 15 | Optional |
Multimedia Design and Development | EDUC70511 | 15 | Optional |
Introducing Information Systems in Organisations | MGDI60012 | 15 | Optional |
Issues in the Management of Information Systems | MGDI60052 | 15 | Optional |
Human Resource Development & Leadership | MGDI60162 | 15 | Optional |
Behavioural Experiments, Quantitative Field Research and Development Policy | MGDI60191 | 15 | Optional |
Digital Transformation of the Global Economy | MGDI60282 | 15 | Optional |
Displaying 10 of 24 course units | |||
Display all course units |
What our students say
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
The course is relevant to those with career trajectories in the NGO and public sectors, and in the private sector given the private sector's increasing involvement with digital development/ICT4D projects.
It is particularly intended for those who will be working in or with transitional and developing economies.
MSc Digital Development can help you select and target jobs in any part of the tribrid triangle which marks the overall set of typical jobs into which our graduates move.
These are some mix of international development roles, management roles (including strategic and analytical management), and digital technology roles.
Each year, one or two of our students decide to continue their studies by undertaking a PhD. Those who take a PhD typically see themselves with a career trajectory into academia or into a research-intensive job role such as consultancy or policy advisory positions.
Those from the MSc Digital Development programme may study with the University's Centre for Digital Development .
NGOs and third-sector organisations
Our teaching and research aims are suited to work in non-government and civil society organisations where you take on a range of roles from policy advisors, project managers, HR and communications staff.
Our alumni can be found at large international NGOs like Oxfam as well as in many smaller organisations.
Government and policy
Graduates can be found in national governments, multilateral organisations and policy influencing positions around the world, in organisations including FCDO, the World Bank, African Union, United Nations and as civil servants around the world.
Private sector
Our focus on how businesses and the private sector can play a role in development enables you to gain employment in multinational organisations, private sector firms or to start your own organisations addressing some of the biggest global challenges.
Research and teaching
Our Master's courses provide you with a strong theoretical foundation for further study.
Alumni find employment in research and teaching positions at universities and research institutes around the world. Top employers include:
- African Union;
- Oxfam;
- Inter-American Development Bank;
- Care;
- Mercy Corps;
- The British Council;
- the World Bank;
- the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office;
- United Nations;
- USAID.
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 a number of 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 .