MSc development studies
This is one of the institute's two main degrees. The Department of International Development (formerly DESTIN) currently admits around 100 students to the programme and receives many more applications than there are places. This degree is intended for those with experience of work in development, and those who wish to take up such work or who intend undertaking research on development problems (for whom it will provide an appropriate preparation for a doctoral programme). Recent graduates are employed in responsible positions in governments, non-governmental organisations, international agencies, private sector firms and banks.
Students pursing postgraduate work in International Development have to take account of the considerable disciplinary range and of the necessary engagement with economics implied by the interdisciplinary field of development studies. You need a high level of competence in one of the core social science disciplines, and to be open to approaches from neighbouring disciplines, through familiarity with key frameworks and concepts. This is what the MSc programme aims to achieve by offering high quality academic training in contemporary theory and its application to the policy and practice of development.
MSc development studies (research)
This programme is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council for 1+3 Research Studentships and is well suited for any student intent on pursuing a research career in development. It offers high quality academic training in development studies and will also be of value to students who do not wish to go on to do research degrees but who are interested in pursuing careers in international development with a significant research component.
The degree examines the importance of contemporary theory in the social sciences for the policy and practice of development. It offers a wide range of choice in optional courses across the School that allows you to deepen or widen your disciplinary training, or take up the advanced study of a particular region of the developing world. The research programme offers you a choice of courses for advanced training in research methodology through LSE's Methodology Institute, including both qualitative and quantitative elements.
MSc development management
This programme has been offered by the Department of International Development since 1996 and is one of their two main degrees. The Department of International Development currently admits around 70 students to this programme from over 500 applications each year.
Research and teaching at the Department of International Development is concerned with problems of poverty, inequality and exclusion in the contemporary world. The MSc in Development Management aims to provide students with the capacity to understand and to intervene effectively to address them.
The MSc is centred on the taught core course Development Management: organisations, institutions and processes of change. The starting premise of the course is that successful development occurs when we create environments and service delivery systems which improve the welfare of the poor by encouraging investment and good performance. To do this we must 'get the institutions right' by adopting technologies, incentives and accountability mechanisms which ensure that agencies provide appropriate, cost-effective and sustainable services for their beneficiaries and consumers.
A wide range of theoretical and empirical work now exists about attempts to achieve institutional and social change that can transform both our understanding of development and of the processes which produce it. This programme exposes students to that literature and experience, thus improving their capacity to help local, national and international development agencies produce better results.