MA Development Studies at King's College London

Programme overview

MA that connects questions of social justice to the theory and practice of development, in relation to race, class, gender and other identities. It investigates the legitimacy of power relations that shape inequality between regions, states and groups and studies the politics of development itself.

Faculty: Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy | Department: Department of International Development | Duration: Full-time one year; part-time two years | Intake: September 2026 (as listed on the page) | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: London, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Study of the politics of development and alternative ways of using development practice to build a more just world, framed by a liberal-arts view of critical understanding of present social structures.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in a related subject such as international development, politics, economics or other social science or regional studies (average of at least 60% across all years in the UK marking scheme). Applicants with a lower classification or an unrelated degree may be considered with significant relevant work experience or a related graduate qualification (such as a master's or PGDip). Application needs a personal statement, official transcripts and one academic reference (a professional reference is accepted if qualifications were completed over five years ago); a CV is optional. International applicants (English language Band B): IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each skill, or PTE Academic 69 overall with at least 62 in each communicative skill.

Domestic applicants: GBP 16,400 a year (2027/28). Full-time home fee for the one-year course. Source

International applicants: GBP 35,900 a year (2027/28). Full-time overseas fee for the one-year course. Source

Intake: September 2026

Duration: Full-time: one year, part-time: two years

Apply through the official page: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/development-studies-ma

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