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Overview

We work with NGOs, charities and schools to offer you a dedicated placement, giving you practical experience, the chance to make a real impact, and the skills employers value. 

This degree prepares you for a number of future paths. You could: 

• advance your career in international development 
• transition into a new role within NGOs, charities, or education organisations 
• progress to doctoral study 

You'll graduate ready to contribute meaningfully to global development and education.  

Why choose this Master’s in International Development and Education? 

What sets this postgraduate degree apart is the integration of academic study with a practical placement where you carry out your own research to co-create change. You'll take a multidisciplinary approach to international development, and consider contemporary global change through various perspectives, including: 

• social 
• political 
• historical 
• environmental 
• economic 

Placement module: the opportunity to make an impact 

Extend your learning into the field of development and education through a dedicated placement module, either in person or virtually. The placement module provides you with hands-on experience. You'll: 

• carry out your own research study and apply your knowledge in real-world settings 
• participate in an informed way in discussions and debates on development issues and education 
• develop practical knowledge of schooling and education in the Global South or Global North 
• consider problems and challenges  with first-hand engagement, either in person or virtually 
• translate your learning into practical impact 

Learn from global experts 

Learn from lecturers who are experts in the field with extensive experience working across Asia and Africa. Our lecturers advise on policy relating to global challenges and carry out world-leading research. Lecturers are engaged in interdisciplinary research on: 

• children's literacy 
• health 
• gender 
• water 
• sanitation 
• nutrition 

Learning aligned with sustainable development 

The run through the modules. This helps you understand global progress towards a better future for people and the planet by 2030. You will also explore current debates about how education contributes to the development process. 

 

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

If you’re studying an accredited degree and thinking about working in Europe after you graduate, the best place to find current information is the . This official resource explains whether your profession is regulated in another country, what steps you need to take, and which organisation you should contact. 

What you'll learn

On this MA you’ll:    

• learn through case studies to think critically about development issues     
• collect data in development contexts. You’ll design and administer surveys using Qualtrics, addressing ethical and contextual challenges in development research 
• develop skills in analysing quantitative data using statistical software packages SPSS and Stata 
• learn to source, evaluate, and analyse secondary data from existing datasets. You'll investigate development trends and inform evidence based policy and research insights

You'll be taught through a range of compulsory modules.

They discuss the balance between academic learning and practical application on the placement module.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

The module information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

International Development and Education MA

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Research Strategies and Methods	20
The Role of the State in Education: Education Policy and Entrepreneurship for Development	20
Placement Module	40
The Future of Learning in the Digital Age	20
International Development: Theory and Practice	20
Dissertation: International Development and Education	60

How you'll learn

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Design or creative project
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio
• Research proposal
• Written examination

Student support

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• academic staff
• personal tutors and research supervisors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives
• peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

 

Our staff

You'll get the opportunity to study with our world-class academics, including:

• Dr Steve Humble
• Professor Pauline Dixon
• Dr James Stanfield

Your development

Placements

The two to four-week placement module offers an exciting opportunity to visit a country in the Global South (Africa, Asia and Latin America).

We're currently working with local charities and NGO's, and , to offer exciting placements in Tanzania and Kenya. We also offer placements in schools with our contacts at in India. The self-funded visit provides an invaluable experience that will bring issues learnt on the course to life.

The placement module can also be taken in the UK, across, Europe, as a virtual placement, or in your country of origin, with the agreement of the Degree Programme Director.

Your future

What can you do with a Master's in International Development and Education?

Our graduates go on to pursue careers in:

• education in developing countries
• the global education industry
• national governments
• international aid agencies
• non-governmental organisations and charities

Stefani graduated from the MA in International Development and Education in 2022. She shares how her time on campus shaped her career prospects.

Hear from Stefani

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.

You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.

We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Facilities

As a student in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences you'll have access to facilities and a growing collection of online resources, including:

• a well-stocked Education Resource Centre
• Language Analysis Lab
• a phonetics lab
• an audio-video lab
• a recording studio

You will have access to a range of IT systems and software, and library resources including electronic journals and databases.

Ãå±±½ûµØ Library is an award-winning service consisting of four buildings on campus and one off-campus facility, home to over 0.8 million print books, over 0.7 million e-books and over 54,000 e-journal titles.

The library also has study spaces, a postgraduate study rooms, computer clusters, media room and café.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

How to apply

Open days and events

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We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Ãå±±½ûµØ.

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