External summary

The MSc in International Development will assist students in developing a deep understanding of development processes in the Global South, and how international thinking and development practice has impacted around the world. Students will gain critical skills in analysing development policy and undertaking research in the context of developing countries. The MSc programme seeks to contextualise and analyse the processes that have shaped poverty and underdevelopment in developing countries, and the many responses to them. The programme offers a grounded and multi-disciplinary grasp of issues of development in global, national and local contexts for students interested in pursuing a career in development agencies, research, the public sector and non-governmental organisations. At the end of the course, students should have a deep understanding of development processes and their implications, and how international thinking and perspectives on development have impacted upon societies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Students should have gained critical skills in analysing development policy and undertaking development research. The MSc draws on a long history of interdisciplinary research and consultancy in international development in the School of Social and Political Science. Through its link with the Global Development Academy, the programme also builds on the University of Edinburgh's world---class expertise on development. There is also an opportunity for students to apply for worked based projects with international development organisations as part of the programme.

Educational aims of programme

The MSc in International Development aims to locate the politics and processes of international development firmly in theory and practice. It seeks to contextualise and analyse the processes that have shaped poverty and underdevelopment in developing countries, and the many responses to them. The programme offers a grounded and multi-disciplinary grasp of issues of development in global, national and local contexts for students interested in pursuing a career in development agencies, research, the public sector and non-governmental organisations. At the end of the course, students should have a deep understanding of development processes and their implications, and how international thinking and perspectives on development have impacted upon different local sites of development. Students should have gained critical skills in analysing development policy and undertaking development research. Specific aims are:

• Development of analytical and conceptual skills to enable critical evaluation and investigation of development issues: What is development and ‘where’ does it come from?
• Thorough training in comparative analysis: Can we understand international development comparatively?
• In-depth knowledge of the main historical events, actors and processes that have shaped development: Is development ahistorical?
• Detailed and comparative examination of local and international interpretation of development:
• Do local cultures fit into development? Are local perspectives important in development?
• Knowledge and skills needed for pursuing career in development agencies, political institutions or academia: Has development worked in different regions of the world? What future for development?

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

The outcomes below are more specifically related to what a student ought to learn from the core courses of the taught element of the programme, together with the dissertation. Elective courses will give students the opportunity to develop competencies more focused and related to their own interests. Optional courses allow students to learn more in related areas of interest, like for example ‘International Political Economy’, or ‘Gender and Development’.

Knowledge and understanding of:

• Theories of Development
• History of Development
• Development in comparative perspectives
• Tensions between local and International Interpretations of Development
• Organisations and actors involved in development
• New interpretations of development

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

• Critical analysis of theories and practice of development
• Contextualise development issues in appropriate spheres of influence and analyse influence and determinants
• Ability to analyse key international and local development policies from different perspectives
• Develop an insight into the interactions of knowledge that led to particular development outcomes and trajectories
• Training to undertake advanced independent research
• Ability and capacity to choose and apply the most appropriate research methods to a particular development policy problem or case
• Appropriate qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

• Ability to appropriately apply theories and insights from scholarly research to practical issues and problems of development policy and practice
• Ability to critically evaluate the factors shaping particular development processes and their outcomes

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

• Preparation and presentations of reports and other communication skills

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

• Time management, resource allocation and interpersonal skills

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

• Training in analyzing policy documents and reports
• Critical evaluation of development policy
• Appropriate qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods
• Training in analyzing policy documents and reports
• Critical evaluation of development policy
• Preparation and presentations of reports and other communication skills
• Training to undertake advanced independent research

Programme structure and features

Fees: All the students will be charged with standard taught MSc fees for School of Social and
Political Science.

Degree Criteria: MSc full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months, or in some cases 36 months), requires 120 credits from taught courses and 60 credits from the research dissertation. Diploma is full-time for two semesters, 120 credits from 6 taught courses. Certificate is full-time one semester, 60 credits from 3 taught courses.

Taught component: All students attend and complete the two compulsory core courses (40 credits), one in semester 1 and the other one in semester 2. Students are highly encouraged to take the Development Research Methods course or another methodology option offered by the School, such as quantitative data analysis or data collection. Students must achieve at least 50% in their 2 core courses and a minimum overall mark for the taught component of 50% to progress to the research dissertation or project stage. Students who achieve a 40-49% average for their courses component will, at the discretion of the Board of Examiners, have the option of graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in International Development.

The programme is available on a full-time basis over one year or on a part-time basis over two (or possibly three) years; alternatively, it can be taken as a diploma (120 credits, no dissertation) or as a certificate (60 credits, no dissertation). These last two options are specifically designed for practitioners interested in developing skills and knowledge on international development. Masters students are expected to complete six courses (two core courses and four options) and an extended dissertation (around 15,000 words). Students may take options from other Schools with the approval of the programme director.

The two core courses are:
Politics and Theories of International Development (PGSP11240) [20 credits]
Interpreting Development: Institutions and Practices (PGSP11278) [20 credits]

Optional courses include*:
Analysing Development Aid (PGSP11252) [20 credits]
Development Research Methods (PGSP11255) [20 credits]
Science, Technology and Development (PGSP11279) [20 credits]
East Central Africa (SCAN11009) [20 credits]
Gender and Development (PGSP11225) [20 credits]
Contemporary African Issues and Debates (PGSP11076) [20 credits]
Africa and International Politics (PGSP11151) [20 credits]
Religion and Global Societies (PGSP11243) [20 credits]
Refugees, Human Rights and Development (PGSP11280) [20 credits]
Governing Mineral Extraction in Africa (PGSP11281) [20 credits]
The Politics of Identity in South Asia (PGSP11050) [20 credits]
Southern Africa (PGSP11282) [20 credits]
International Political Economy (PGSP11171) [20 credits]
Anthropology of Health and Illness (PGSP11071) [20 credits]
Anthropology of International Health (PGSP11072) [20 credits]
The Arab World (PGSP11043) [20 credits]
Energy Policy and Politics (PGSP11132) [20 credits]
South Asia: Culture, Politics and Economy (SCIL11017) [20 credits]
Roots of South Asian Poverty and Development (SAST11002) [20 credits]
Globalisation (SCIL11016) [20 credits]
*Please note that the availability of courses may be subject to change
Options from other Schools [all 20 credits]:
International Development (PGGE11049) [School of Geosciences]
Participation in Policy and Planning (PGGE11016) [School of Geosciences]
Society and Development (PGSP11285) [School of Geosciences]
Rural Development (PGGE11017) [School of Geosciences]
Development Economics (ECNM11030) [School of Economics]
Economics for Postgraduates (ECNM11036) [School of Economics]
International Perspectives on Education and Training (EDUA11011) [School of Education]
Emerging Enterpreneurship in Africa (BUST11193) [Business School]
International and European Human Rights Law (LAWS11021) [School of Law]
Research Dissertation (60 credits)

Once students successfully complete the taught courses, they proceed to work on the dissertation. For the dissertation students will work under the supervision of an academic member of staff and they will be expected to investigate a topic of their choice in depth. MSc candidates will write up their work as a dissertation of 15,000 words, which is to be submitted by the end of August. There are opportunities to replace the standard dissertation with a work-based project based with an international development organisation in Scotland or developing countries. A mark of 50% or more for the research dissertation is required for the award of the MSc. Students achieving a dissertation mark of 40-49% may be awarded a Diploma at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Teaching and Learning strategies employed at the University of Edinburgh consist of a variety of different methods appropriate to the programme aims. The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the course.

Lectures
Field Work
Tutorials
Seminars
Problem based learning activities
Peer group learning
Examples Classes
Dissertation or worked-based projects
One to one meetings with personal tutors/directors of studies/supervisors

Assessment methods and strategies

Courses can be assessed by a diverse range of methods and often takes the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit. These can include:

Oral Presentations
Poster Presentations
Essays
Research Project

Career opportunities

The programme provides a suitable qualification for students seeking careers in research, development consultancy, non-governmental organisations, the public sector or in international development organisations. In addition, the programme provides a good basis for doctoral study at the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Other items

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