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Studies & Degrees in Development Studies

Development studies, also called international development, looks at how societies change and why poverty and inequality persist. The European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), which approved a definition of the subject in 2017, describes it as a multi- and inter-disciplinary field of study rather than a single discipline. It seeks to understand the interplay between social, economic, political, technological, ecological, cultural and gendered aspects of societal change, from the local to the global level.

What students learn

Courses draw on economics, political science, anthropology, geography and sociology. Typical topics are poverty and inequality, aid and development cooperation, governance, gender, health, migration, food security and climate change. Much current teaching refers to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which all United Nations member states adopted in 2015 and which has 17 Sustainable Development Goals at its heart. The subject is no longer only about poor countries: Utrecht University states that development is no longer considered a problem "out there" in the Global South.

The International Development BA at the University of Sussex shows what a programme contains. First-year core modules include Colonialism and its Afterlives, Aid and Development Cooperation, and Development Policies and Politics. Later years add development economics, research skills and options such as health, poverty and inequality. Most programmes combine theory with research methods, and many include fieldwork, a placement or an internship.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. They exist, but are less common than master's degrees. The Sussex BA takes three years full time, and students can apply for an optional placement or for study abroad. At the University of Wollongong in Australia, Global Sustainable Development is a major within the three-year Bachelor of International Studies.
  • Master's degrees. This is the usual level. The MA Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), whose students enrol through the University of Sussex, takes one year full time or two years part time. Utrecht University's International Development Studies master's takes one year, is taught in English and has a research-oriented internship as a core component. In Spain, official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Desarrollo y Cooperación Internacional of the Universidad del País Vasco (EHU) has 60 credits, lasts one academic year and is taught in person in Spanish and Basque.
  • Mid-career programmes. Some schools address working professionals. Duke University describes its Master of International Development Policy as a degree for mid-career professionals with at least five years of work experience; it can be completed in 12, 18 or 24 months.
  • Doctorates. IDS offers a PhD in Development Studies by Research, and the EHU master's gives access to its doctoral programme in development studies.

Fees differ widely between countries. Utrecht lists a statutory fee of €2,694 for Dutch and other EU/EEA students and an institutional fee of €21,342 for non-EU/EEA students for 2026-2027. The EHU gives an indicative price of €1,800 for its master's.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 36 active schools for development studies. Seventeen are in the United States, four in Spain, three in Australia and three in the United Kingdom. Nepal, South Korea, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and Ecuador have one each.

In Spain the list includes the Universidad del País Vasco, the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universidad Camilo José Cela and the Escola de l'IGOP of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. In the United Kingdom it includes the University of Sussex and The University of Manchester; in Australia, the University of Wollongong, Adelaide University and the University of the Sunshine Coast. Other examples are Utrecht University, the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, Kathmandu University in Nepal and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in Seoul, where all classes are taught in English.

English is the main language of instruction outside Spain and Latin America. The US entries range from research universities such as Duke University and the University of North Texas to two-year community and technical colleges, so check what each school actually teaches under this heading.

Careers

Graduates work for non-governmental organisations, international organisations, government ministries and aid agencies, research institutes and consultancies. The University of Wollongong lists roles such as international development project officer, humanitarian aid worker and migration and refugee policy officer. The EHU states that its master's aims to train professionals in development cooperation. Development work is not counted as a single occupation in official labour statistics, so no reliable employment figure exists for the field as a whole. Work experience, languages and research skills weigh heavily in recruitment; ask each school where its recent graduates work.

Frequently asked questions

Is development studies taught at bachelor's or master's level?

Both, but master's degrees are more common. Bachelor's degrees such as the International Development BA at the University of Sussex take three years; many master's degrees take one year.

Do I need work experience for a master's in development studies?

It depends on the programme. IDS asks for a good first degree and preferably one year of development-related work experience. Duke University's Master of International Development Policy is aimed at professionals with at least five years of experience.

Can I study development studies in Spanish?

Yes. The Máster Universitario en Desarrollo y Cooperación Internacional of the Universidad del País Vasco is taught in Spanish and Basque and has 60 credits in one academic year.

How long does a master's in development studies take?

Often one year full time, as at IDS, Utrecht University and the Universidad del País Vasco. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, so some take up to two years.