Postgraduate study
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International Development MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: International Development

This programme engages critically with international development theory and practice, and more broadly with processes of social, political and economic transformation around the world.

Who this programme is for

This programme is designed to suit the needs of both recent graduates of various disciplines, and professionals with some work experience who want to change careers, upgrade their academic qualifications, or take a year out to reflect critically on their work.

Although most students will move on after one year to development-related positions, some may use the programme as a pathway into our PhD in International Development:

You will complete a total of six courses over two semesters stretching from September to April.

Three courses are compulsory and three are optional.

Options may be chosen from across the University, drawing on the expertise of faculty members within political and social science and beyond, including business, law and geosciences.

We also run a compulsory non-credit course that aims to sharpen the research and analytical skills you will need to embark on your summer dissertation research projects.

From May to August, you will complete either a work-based project or a standard research dissertation.

Work-based project

We realise the importance of offering practical experiences to complement our critical and historical approaches in the classroom.

An integral part of the programme - and one of our advantages compared to other masters programmes in international development - are work-based projects.

These consist of eight weeks of on-location research with a host organisation in either:

  • Africa
  • South and South East Asia
  • the Middle East
  • Latin America
  • the UK

Our extensive network of partners includes NGOs, charities, social enterprises, think tanks and government bodies.

Research dissertation

Alternatively, you may wish to explore an academic issue or theme in greater depth by choosing to complete a research dissertation. This will be based on fieldwork and/or print and library sources.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScInternational Development1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
MScInternational Development2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

By the end of the programme students will be able to:

  • critically evaluate the factors shaping development processes and their outcomes
  • appropriately apply theories and insights from scholarly research to practical issues and problems of development policy and practice
  • choose and apply the most appropriate research methods to a particular development policy problem or case
  • analyse policy documents and reports

This programme provides multidisciplinary training and perspectives on development theory, policy and practice that is aimed to equip graduates for careers in public sector and non-governmental development agencies, consultancy and private business.

The opportunity to apply your academic training to real-world problems and acquire hands-on work experience through the work-based projects will give you an edge in the employment market whatever your eventual career.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.

We may also consider your application if you have relevant work experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Application fee

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

  • £50

Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScInternational Development1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScInternational Development2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Graduate School of Social & Political Science
  • Chrystal Macmillan Building
  • 15A George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 3 June 2024

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:

Round Application deadline Places awarded by
1 01 November 2023 21 December 2023
2 04 January 2024 29 February 2024
3 25 March 2024 30 May 2024
4 03 June 2024 25 July 2024

Application fee

You must have paid the application fee before the deadline for the round you wish to be considered in.

References are not usually required for applications to this programme.

Application fee

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

  • £50

This must be paid after you submit your application.

Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Graduate School of Social & Political Science
  • Chrystal Macmillan Building
  • 15A George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD