Course summary

The MPhil in Development Studies seeks to provide students with a critical and reflexive programme which encourages them to closely examine the role of the main development actors, institutions and policies and to ask who actually benefits from development interventions which are designed and implemented within global and national power structures. The emphasis on critical reflection in this MPhil privileges analytical approaches to development as opposed to more practice-based or vocational strategies. The MPhil will offer students:

• Knowledge of the individual disciplines relevant to development studies and a conceptual understanding of the need for interdisciplinary research.

• Knowledge of a range of theories and methodologies from different fields in development with a particular focus on the application of theory to empirical data.

• Engagement with a wide range of academic and policy debates in the field of international development and the ability to think about development beyond prescribed technical solutions.

• The ability to collate, comprehend, and critically analyse a wide range of source materials.

• The ability to develop and structure written and verbal arguments reflecting independent thinking on main debates in development.

• The ability to produce major pieces of writing to high academic standards.

• The ability to work in a group and to contribute constructively in an international, interdisciplinary environment.