Master of Development Studies

Background

The Master of Development Studies provides specialist training in the fields of development and environment, development and gender, development and urbanisation, and health policy and development. Refine your transferable skills in critical analysis, communication, cross-cultural understanding, research methods, project design, project management and teamwork.

At professional practice seminars, research workshops, careers events, and alumni get-togethers, you can rub shoulders with top-notch policy makers and experts in the international development sector. While in your studies you can engage with debt and poverty, microfinance, culture and human rights, migration and transnationalism, food and environmental security, civil society organisations, and gender relations.

Justification

The multidisciplinary Master’s programme in Development Studies addresses current development challenges and engages with these highly important and urgent issues from people-centered, human perspective. In particular, the programme focuses on topics surrounding migration/mobilities, climate change, land governance, urbanisation and corporate social responsibility. You will study in an international environment, with peers and staff from diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds. A research-oriented internship – preferably abroad – is a core component of the programme. International Development Studies takes prides in its large, expanding, and active alumni and friends network. The programme brings together students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, and recent graduates have gone on to work in government, international development agencies and NGOs, as well as development consultancies and think tanks, or gone on to PhD study.

The targeted group includes holders of:

Applicants must have completed a UTS recognized bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.

• completion of the embedded Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Development Studies with a minimum credit (65%) average, or an equivalent qualification; or
• an Honours  Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline; and Transcript
• relevant professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree with a minimum credit (65%) average or an equivalent qualification.

General Objectives

The central objective of the Master’s in  Development Studies programme is to equip you with conceptual and empirical knowledge as well as research skills necessary to understand and analyse contemporary issues pertaining to international development in broad geographical contexts (local, regional, and international levels).

Specific Objectives

This degree is taught by a team of academics who are at the forefront of national and international development practice. They bring real-world experience and expertise to an educational setting and contribute to scholarly knowledge. Our academics are experts in fields such as community and social policy; politics and human rights; refugees and migration; international development; peace; conflict and security. The full-time degree takes a participatory approach to the philosophy of human rights, social justice and community development

Duration of the Programme: This course is offered on a Two-year (Four semesters), full-time or online basis for students with a UTS-recognised bachelor’s degree in engineering or the natural and physical sciences.