Course summary

Having recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, the Masters in Gender Studies is one of the longest running degrees on gender and development. You’ll gain a solid understanding of debates in feminist thinking, and link them to gendered policy and programming. You develop in-depth knowledge and capacity for gendered analysis using an inter-sectional lens on specific issues such as: women’s economic and political empowerment; political economy, environment and feminist mobilisation for social justice; sexuality, masculinity and disability. Our ground-breaking work challenges ideas about gender. We work with nuanced, fluid perspectives on gender and sex, and the ways they interact. You’ll gain the skills required to participate effectively in gender- and development-related research, policy-making and programme implementation. This degree is based at IDS, which has been at the cutting edge of debates on Gender and Development for the last 50 years. You’ll benefit from our international research faculty’s sector-specific expertise and our strong working relationships with partner organisations around the world. Your course teachers are all active in the field, working on high-level policy-oriented programming and cutting edge academic research funded by UK and European Research councils, and philanthropic organisations from across the world. World-leaders in development studies The University of Sussex is ranked first in the world for Development Studies. This QS World Ranking reflects the strong reputation and quality of research and course offerings at IDS, and the School of Global Studies. IDS delivers world-class research, learning and teaching that transforms the knowledge, action and leadership needed for more equitable and sustainable development globally. The School of Global Studies is world leading in the field of development studies and offers the opportunity to learn from critical and engaged academics who are making a difference to global communities through research, teaching and activism. Who is the degree for? We welcome applicants with a broad range of academic and career trajectories. Successful applicants will have some practical experience in gender and development alongside an interest in critical academic enquiry.