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Studies & Degrees in International Development Studies

International development studies looks at how societies change and why some people and places stay poor while others do not. The European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) defines it as a multi- and inter-disciplinary field of study rather than a single discipline. It examines the social, economic, political, technological, ecological and cultural sides of change, from the local to the global level. Among its current concerns EADI lists poverty, inequality and exclusion, environmental sustainability and climate change, and global governance, together with conflict, urbanisation, migration, health, education and gender equity.

Students therefore take courses from several disciplines. At King's College London the International Development BA draws its modules from economics, politics, sociology, social anthropology and management. At McGill University the International Development Studies program is grounded in the economic dimensions of development and adds a methods course and thematic courses on governance, inequality, conflict, environment, health and migration. Most programmes train students in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and many include fieldwork or an internship.

Qualifications and levels

The subject is taught at every university level, and the name varies: international development, development studies, development cooperation or international political economy and development.

  • Bachelor's degrees. The International Development BA at King's College London takes three years full-time, or four years with a year abroad. In Canada the subject is often one part of an arts degree: McGill University offers a major concentration of 36 credits and a minor concentration of 18 credits.
  • Master's degrees. Utrecht University offers a one-year master's programme in International Development Studies, taught in English, with 60 ECTS credits and the degree Development Studies (MSc). It includes 13 weeks of independent research, preferably fieldwork in the Global South. Fordham University in New York has undergraduate and graduate programmes in international political economy and development.
  • Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Development is mostly a master's subject. The Máster Universitario en Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, organised jointly by the universities of Burgos, León, Salamanca and Valladolid, lasts one academic year (60 ECTS credits) and includes 9 ECTS credits of work placement.
  • Short and non-formal courses. Some schools teach development topics outside the degree system, for example the International People's College in Helsingør, Denmark, a residential folk high school.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 27 active schools for this subject. Eight are in the United States, six in Spain, three in the United Kingdom and two each in Canada and France. New Zealand, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark have one each. Examples outside Spain are King's College London, London Metropolitan University, McGill University, Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Utrecht University, Lund University, the University of Graz, Massey University and Fordham University.

In Spain the list includes the Universidad de Salamanca, the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, the Universitat de Barcelona, the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Universidad de Murcia. Check that a programme is still open before applying: the Universidad de Murcia lists its Máster en Desarrollo Económico y Cooperación Internacional as a degree that is being phased out.

Programmes in the United Kingdom, North America and New Zealand are taught in English, and so is the Utrecht master's programme. Spanish master's degrees in development cooperation are generally taught in Spanish. The mode of study also matters. The joint master's degree of the four universities in Castile and León is taught in hybrid form: the face-to-face classes are held on Fridays in Valladolid, and the degree cannot be taken fully online.

Fees differ widely between countries and by nationality. At Utrecht University the statutory fee for Dutch and other EU/EEA students is €2,694 for 2026-27, while the institutional fee for non-EU/EEA students is €21,342.

Careers

Graduates work in the public, non-profit and private sectors. Utrecht University groups the jobs of its graduates into research positions, policy positions (preparing and coordinating policy and planning international development cooperation, for example at a United Nations agency or a ministry of foreign affairs), implementation positions such as project manager or coordinator in a non-governmental organisation or a company, and communication positions. It adds that graduates increasingly find work outside the traditional development field, for example as sustainability or corporate social responsibility advisers.

The joint master's degree in Castile and León names similar employers: international organisations, public institutions at European, national, regional and local level, development NGOs, the cooperation offices of universities and specialised consulting firms. A master's degree also gives access to doctoral research.

Frequently asked questions

What do you study in international development?

A mix of development economics, politics, sociology, anthropology and geography, plus research methods. Typical topics are poverty, inequality, governance, climate change, migration, health and education.

How long does a degree in international development take?

It depends on the country and the level. The International Development BA at King's College London takes three years full-time, and the master's programmes at Utrecht University and in Castile and León take one year (60 ECTS credits).

Can I study international development in Spain?

Yes, mainly at master's level and in Spanish. An example is the Máster Universitario en Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo of the universities of Burgos, León, Salamanca and Valladolid, an official master's degree of 60 ECTS credits.

Do I need to do fieldwork abroad?

Many programmes include it, but the rules differ. The Utrecht master's programme includes 13 weeks of independent research, preferably in the Global South. The Castile and León master's degree places students with development NGOs and public administrations in the region.