MSc Development Studies at London School of Economics and Political Science

Learn how institutions, power, and historical legacies shape global inequality, and develop innovative policy perspectives on development challenges. The MSc in Development Studies deploys an interdisciplinary approach to understand the problems and possibilities facing societies and states in the developing world and examines the forces shaping structural inequalities and varied development trajectories. The programme fosters critical thinking and engagement with perspectives of Southern as well as Northern scholars, generating grounded and innovative policy thinking.

Department: Department of International Development  |  Duration: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time  |  Study mode: full-time/part-time  |  Intake: 27 September 2027  |  Location: London, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

You'll take one compulsory half-unit core course and one full unit core course, plus a minimum of two half-unit courses from a select group of courses in the Department of International Development and complete a 10,000-word dissertation. You'll also select up to three further half-unit courses from options in International Development, Anthropology, Economic History, Gender Institute, Geography and Environment, Government, International Relations, Law, Methodology, and Social Policy. Compulsory and core courses include Development: History, Theory and Policy, Research Design and Dissertation in International Development, Cutting Edge Issues in Development Thinking & Practice.

Career pathways

Recent graduates have gained employment in government, international development agencies, international and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international and local private firms, development consultancies and think-tanks, or have gone on to obtain PhDs in development studies or other social science disciplines. This data is drawn from the latest 2023/24 Graduate Outcomes Survey, conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Official programme page