Online course

Master of Leadership for Development

  • Qualification: Master's
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Delivery: Online, in partnership with the University of Melbourne
  • Workload: Approx 15 hours per week
  • Next enrolment: September 2025
Illustration showing development sector

Introduction

Lead future change

Become a confident global leader driving sustainable change with our online Master of Leadership for Development.

Delivered jointly with the University of Melbourne, our programme equips you with practical skills, global networks, and a collaborative mindset to create lasting impact in the development sector.

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Key features

Learn on the job

Combine your studies with your work and start implementing change from day one.

Build a global network

Learn from development colleagues in different settings across the world.

Practise new skills

Build on your practical experience in simulations of real-world scenarios.

Abhinav Nath's story

I am learning how to build a team together who believe in the same mission and also how to work with stakeholders to grow a non-profit organisation.

Abhinav Nath
Founder & CEO
NexTrack Consulting

Abhinav Nath headshot web

This degree is delivered in partnership with the University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne

Benefits of our collaborative approach

  • Draw on the combined strength of two world-class institutions.
  • Get a global perspective on development issues.
  • Learn from a joint team of international experts in the field.
  • Build diverse relationships and open doors for the future.

Key information

  • Delivery

    100% online, developed to fit around your lifestyle and circumstances

  • Duration

    Master’s - 24 month, part-time

  • Application deadline

    11 August 2025

  • Induction

    Induction usually takes place one week before teaching begins. The date will be confirmed closer to the time.

  • Academic teaching start date

    1 September 2025

  • Apply

    Find out how to apply and what documents to submit in the application and selection section

  • Workload

    Approx 15 hours per week

  • Course director

    Jaco Renken (Manchester)
    Natalie Cunningham (Manchester)
    Violeta Schubert (Melbourne)

Fees and funding

Total course tuition fees for September 2026 are AUD$29,556.

This course is a joint master's with the University of Melbourne and The University of Manchester. The University of Melbourne is managing the admissions process hence the Australian dollar fee displayed.

You can save up to 50% on your tuition fee. Please see our fees and funding section below for more details.

Find out more about fees and funding

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with honours (minimum Upper Second (2:1) or international equivalent) and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience; or a H2B (70%) or equivalent at the University of Melbourne.

Find out more about entry requirements

Jez Hunghanfoo - video story

There is a lot of work to be done in terms of human development and social justice and progress. I want to be making a contribution in that space for a long time to come.

Jez Hunghanfoo

Director of Communications and Engagement, Australian Law Reform Commission

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Course overview

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Master of Leadership for Development

Who this course is for

If you want to reposition yourself to take up a leadership role in the development sector, but don't want to take time out from your important work to study, this fully-online master's course will support you to learn on the job.

If you already work in or alongside the global development sector – as a manager, planner, policy maker, consultant, educator, entrepreneur, researcher, or community advocate – develop your skills, transform your career with us and change the world for the better.

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Why study Leadership for Development?

What you will learn

  • Build your leadership capabilities, with strong foundations in sustainability and collaboration.
  • Learn to effectively navigate the complex circumstances and challenges of contemporary development.
  • Build practical skills for effective negotiation, diplomacy and cross-cultural communication.
  • Champion positive, proactive and improved social transformation in a global context.
  • Develop the digital competencies required in the modern development sector.

Where and when you will study

This fully-online, part-time master's means you can study from anywhere in the world and fit it around your day-to-day life. You will be expected to learn while you continue to work, and to use examples from your work throughout your study.

You will complete four taught units in year one, followed by two taught units and a research project in year two. You'll learn through interactive teaching and have plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively with your peers.

How it will benefit your career

  • Build a professional network across the globe and be in prime position to hear about the latest international opportunities.
  • Through our highly interactive teaching platform, you'll learn from the experiences of colleagues and your fellow students in diverse settings and gain a broader perspective.
  • Hone your leadership skills and knowledge acquired through the course in your job from day one to start advancing in your role, working with complex stakeholders and organisations and beyond.
  • Build your resilience and practise applying your skills in real-life scenarios so you're ready for the situations you'll encounter as your career grows.

Austin Lee Hwa Ting's story

There is a strong and growing focus on sustainability in Singapore, and there is certainly increasing demand for professionals with expertise in driving sustainable development within organisations and across sectors.

Austin Lee Hwa Ting  
Director, Ethics and Compliance for Private Sector

Austin's profile picture in a blue shirt

Course units

  • Contemporary Development

    • Consider how the changing global landscape affects the context of current development challenges.
    • Explore key development theories, paradigms and concepts.
    • Examine the implications of shifts in power for development.
  • Contemporary Leadership

    • Study the key aspects of leadership theory, specifically the foundations of exercising influence, and the role of situational factors.
    • Understand the different styles and models of leadership.
  • Leading Development

    • Examine the distinctiveness of leadership in the development sector.
    • Explore the changing meaning of leadership and implications of the post-heroic perspective.
    • Draw on key concepts and context to develop a model for leading in a global context.
  • Organisational Development and Change

    • Understand the organisational context of change initiatives.
    • Learn theoretical foundations and practical interventions from applied behavioural science.
    • Examine strategies for training leaders and succession planning.
  • International Management and Leadership

    • Understand the processes of internationalisation in multilateral institutions and NGOs.
    • Examine the challenges and opportunities for addressing global inequalities.
    • Explore global trends, including public/NGO-private partnerships, corporate social entrepreneurship, value chain arrangements and open innovation.
  • Leadership Skills in Action

    • Apply new knowledge and skills to simulated scenarios.
    • Practise the practical management of change and leadership in the context of real-life development challenges.
  • Project

    • Undertake a research-based activity using the knowledge and skills you've acquired.
    • Choose between a group project and an individual dissertation.

Course structure

This course is taught from a global, future-focused perspective, where you will explore key development theories, contemporary global issues in development, fundamental principles of leadership and the nuances of leading in development, the complexities of institutional structures and how to implement change within an organisational context.

With our focus on highly applicable skills and knowledge, you will also learn through interactive teaching the chance to experience and practice your developing leadership skills in real-world scenarios. You will complete four taught units in year one, followed by two taught units and a research project in year two. You’ll learn through a mix of interactive teaching and have plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively with your peers.

Course learning aims

You will critically analyse the complexities of institutional structures and power relationships. You will develop leadership skills in a highly-complex sector and will learn to be able to navigate and make change happen.

This course is fully online, yet highly interactive. You'll have the opportunity to network with other development professionals who work across the globe and in different sectors such as multi-lateral organisations including the World Bank and UN, governments, public and private sector organisations, NGOs and charities.

You'll apply your learning and practical leadership competencies directly into your workplace, using real-life scenarios and global case studies. This is at the core of this course and sets us apart from other development courses globally.

Key thematic streams that run throughout each subject unit allow you flexibility to develop or hone your skills within a specific area. While addressing important competencies such as communication, decision-making and self-reflection, the design of subject modules ensure exercises and assessments are as practical and applicable to your professional leadership aspirations.

You will acquire critical reasoning and analytical expertise to interpret complex development situations and attain practical management and leadership skills to champion positive, proactive, and improved social transformation in this global context. This knowledge, analytical expertise and practical skills can transfer to a range of roles across different sectors, organisations and settings.

Teaching and learning

The course consists of six core subjects and one capstone project. You will complete four units in year one and two units plus the project in year two. The course units are delivered by academics from across The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne.

The course provides a completely online and flexible learning experience. All course materials will be readily accessible from a virtual learning environment.

Content will be delivered in a rich media format, incorporating sound and video materials such as case studies, real-life scenarios, expert interviews, and animations. Interactive online learning activities, including simulations, quizzes, and journals, will be integrated alongside collaborative activities. These will include synchronous sessions like conference calls and webinars, as well as asynchronous interactions through discussion boards and online chats. This dynamic approach will complement in-depth textual course content.

Technical requirements

Please review the technical requirements to prepare for a successful learning journey with us.

Coursework and assessment

Each subject or unit will include different types of assessment.

These may include written assignments, peer reviews, reflective learning, scenario simulation reporting, group work and how you engage and contribute to group discussions.

Admissions information

From your initial expression of interest right through to graduation, you’ll receive all the support you need. We can support you with enrolment and subject assistance, administrative logistics and fee options, online learning skills, workload management and special circumstances including a possible professional entry route.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

In order to be considered for entry, you must have completed:

  • An honours degree in a cognate discipline (e.g. social sciences including anthropology; sociology; public policy; social policy; political science; media and communication; journalism; economics; management; population and global health; education; engineering; or architecture and public planning), or equivalent and at least two years of documented, relevant professional work experience, or
  • an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline (e.g. social sciences including anthropology; sociology; public policy; social policy; political science; media and communication; journalism; economics; management; population and global health; education; engineering; or architecture and public planning), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant professional work experience, or
  • a minimum of eight years documented, relevant professional work experience. Candidates entering through this route will be registered for the master's certificate under a probation arrangement. Failure to pass all master's certificate course units in the first year of study will disallow registration for a higher-level qualification.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance; and
  • relevance of previous studies; and
  • relevant professional work experience

English language

English language entry requirements:

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the following language requirements:

  1. IELTS (Academic) Test score of 6.5 or more overall, with a minimum score of 6.5 in writing and a minimum score of 6.0 in the other subsections, or
  2. TOEFL internet-based test score of 90 or more overall, with a minimum writing score of 22 and no other subsection below 20, or
  3. Pearson Test of English score of 62 or more overall, with a minimum score of 62 in writing and a minimum score of 59 in the other subsections, or
  4. Grade C in the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, or
  5. Grade A in the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English.

(agreed by the University of Melbourne, but subject to finalization of joint regulations)

English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

This first-of-a-kind, joint qualification draws on the combined strength of two world-class institutions: the University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne. The fully online course provides the flexibility to study around your commitments and complete the programme part-time over 24 months.

The course embraces action-based, reflective learning, facilitated through a comprehensive online platform, simulations, individual and group projects. The programme is designed to forge strong enduring networks among study fellows and alumni. Applicants from all disciplinary backgrounds are welcomed.

How your application is considered

When you submit your application, please provide a personal statement that outlines your personal motivation for pursuing the course in terms of future career ambitions, the nature of leadership/managerial experience and the relevance of prior qualifications in relation to this course, as it is keenly focused on the Development sector. We normally expect around 500 words.

An education selection committee from both institutions will meet regularly to discuss and make a decision on your application.

Scholarships and bursaries

Sustainable Development Goals Scholarship - A third off your tuition fee*

Deadline for submissions: 6 July 2026

We are pleased to invite applications for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Scholarship, a prestigious merit-based award available to offer holders for the Master of Leadership for Development. This scholarship is open to individuals who can demonstrate a clear and sustained commitment to advancing one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The scholarship aims to support talented candidates who are either already working in, or aspire to work in, the global development sector. Through the Master of Leadership for Development, recipients will have the opportunity to deepen their impact and prepare for future leadership roles in international development and beyond.

Application Criteria

Applicants must submit a presentation (maximum 6 slides/pages, in addition to standard application documents)** that clearly addresses the following:

  • Academic excellence and motivation : Demonstrate strong academic ability and a compelling motivation to contribute to the advancement of one or more SDGs. Prior or current work experience in or alongside the development sector is desirable.
  • Leadership potential and commitment to change : Provide persuasive evidence of your capacity to act as an agent of change and a role model within the global development field. Draw on your past and present experiences to show how you have made a difference, and explain how the Master of Leadership for Development will enable you to amplify your future impact.
  • Vision and action plan : Present a well-defined personal motivation and a concrete plan of action that illustrates how the programme will support your efforts to deliver on your chosen SDG(s). Go beyond general aspirations—reflect critically on how you intend to turn your ambitions into reality.

Please submit your completed SDG Scholarship application to: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au

* Discounts and scholarships policy : Discounts and scholarships are not cumulative. If you qualify for more than one, you will be awarded the one that is the highest amount.

**Presentations are not delivered orally. Think of your submission as a ‘storyboard’ - you may use diagrams, photographs, or other visual elements to convey your message. Assessment will focus on the substance of your response and how effectively you demonstrate alignment with the scholarship criteria, not on technical or design skills.

Fees and funding

Total course tuition fees for September 2026 are AUD$29,556.

This course is a joint master's with the University of Melbourne and The University of Manchester. The University of Melbourne is managing the admissions process hence the Australian dollar fee displayed.

Tuition fee discounts*

  • Application discount (10%) : Apply on or before 30 June 2026 to receive 10% reduction on your tuition fee. To be eligible, you will need to submit your application on or before 30 June 2026 and if offered a place, you will need to accept your offer within two weeks from the date of the offer.
  • Alumni Discount for Online Courses (15%) : If you have successfully completed a credit-bearing qualification at the University of Melbourne or The University of Manchester, or UMIST, you may be eligible for a 15% alumni discount on your tuition fees for online courses.

International fee remissions (50%)*

Our International 50% fee remission programme empowers future leaders to deliver solutions globally within the development sector. Fee remissions are available to citizens of countries deemed low and middle income by the World Bank .

Designed for academically excellent students with the potential to make a significant contribution to development in their home countries and around the world. They cover 50% of tuition fees for eligible students studying the Master of Leadership for Development (online) co-taught between the University of Melbourne and the University of Manchester.

The fee remissions are intended for those who cannot otherwise afford to study at the University of Melbourne or The University of Manchester. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity. All eligible applicants with citizenship from an eligible country are automatically considered on merit for the fee remission when they submit their application for the course.

Sustainable Development Goals Scholarship (A third off your tuition fee)*

Please see our scholarships and bursaries section for details.

*Discounts and scholarships policy : Discounts and scholarships are not cumulative. If you qualify for more than one, you will be awarded the one that is the highest amount.

Payment by instalments

You will be able to pay for each unit as the unit starts at the beginning of each study period. This will take place in September, November, February and May of each year you study with us.

Australian Fee Places

When you apply, you will automatically be considered for an Australian fee place if you meet course entry requirements.

Learn more about Australian Fee Places .

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP can cover all or part of your tuition fees. The Australian Government pays the amount of the loan direct to the University. You’ll make repayments through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whenever your income is above the threshold.

The Government’s Study Assist website provides more information about FEE-HELP.

Other financial assistance

The University of Melbourne's Student Financial Aid Service can provide you with advice and information on student loans and bursaries/grants, cost of living, budgeting and tax advice.

Additional cost information

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).

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.