International Development (Online Learning) MSc
Online
DURATION
2 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 18,000 / per course *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* Estimated full tuition fees for International Development (MSc)
Introduction
The MSc in International Development programme offers you an unparalleled opportunity to deepen your understanding and engagement with the most pressing challenges confronting people, communities and institutions in the Global South:
- What are the processes that have shaped poverty and inequality across the world – as well as the responses to them?
- How do they differ across international, national, and local contexts?
How will I learn?
This programme builds and strengthens your critical skills for analysing development processes and inequities, and for exploring development issues in a range of different social, historical and political contexts.
The programme multidisciplinary in nature and it aims to provide you with:
- a rigorous grounding in major debates, theories and critical concepts and
- proficiency in applying your knowledge to investigating contemporary development challenges, policy processes, and initiatives
Online Community
Our students are part of a vibrant and growing online community at our prestigious School of Social and Political Science and the College for Humanities and Social Sciences.
Through our innovative platform and learning activities, you will forge meaningful relationships with your peers and a range of academic colleagues linking you to other relevant online programs, such as:
- MSc Global Challenges You will also engage with related programmes such as:
- MSc in Social Justice and Community Organising, in Moray House School of Education and Sport
Online learning
Recognising the need for flexibility, our online programmes are an excellent way for those with professional or family commitments to gain further qualifications with minimum interruption, or to introduce students to a virtual learning environment.
Our award-winning online learning technology is fully interactive, enabling you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
You will learn through a mix of online methods, including:
- video lectures
- study guides
- self-directed and guided reading
- a range of interactive online reflection and discussion activities
Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources but also become part of a vibrant and supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Rankings
The University of Edinburgh is a World Top 30 University (QS World University Rankings 2025).
Career Opportunities
With a solid background in international development study and practice, our graduates pursue current and future careers in a range of institutions including:
- United Nations agencies
- charities
- non-governmental organisations
- government ministries
- private sector
- research institutions (including further study)
- journalism
Whether you plan to work or continue working with communities, charities, businesses, policy-makers, or researchers, the MSc in International Development is your stepping stone to a critically engaged and research-informed career.
Past students of our online programmes have gone on to secure competitive jobs all over the world in areas such as:
- government and diplomacy
- top international organisations and NGOs
- policy-making
- research (including PhD programmes)
- the private sector
The programme combines a strong core curriculum with the flexibility to develop your individual interests towards specialist expertise. With its combination of practitioners’ and researchers’ courses, including a research dissertation, it is perfectly suited to both policy/practice- and research-oriented students.
Curriculum
The MSc International Development is a part-time online learning programme which can be completed over two or three years.
All courses are taught through a combination of:
- independent study
- online group activities
These teaching methods will allow you to continue your life and career uninterrupted while completing university study.
Core courses
There are four core courses:
- Politics and Theories of International Development
- Analysing Development
- Global Development Challenges
- Researching International Development
The first three core courses will equip you with a solid grasp of the key theories, issues, and actors of International Development, providing an optimum balance between policy and academic approaches.
Optional courses
You will then further your interests in specific areas of international development. Optional courses may depend on availability, but can be chosen from across the University, drawing on the expertise of a wide range of faculty members in other Schools.
Courses may focus on issues such as:
- migration and displacement
- global health
- monitoring and project design
- the environment
- key tools and methods for applied development
- dynamics of development in Africa
Research training
Research training is provided via the core course: Researching International Development
This course introduces you to essential research skills while preparing you for your dissertation, whether it's research-focused or an applied project.
Dissertation
In your final year, you will complete a standard research dissertation or a placement-based project. This will be under the supervision of an academic member of staff.
Placement-based dissertation
The placement-based dissertation option aims to offer you the opportunity to work on your dissertation within the context of a workplace of your choosing, subject to Programme Director and Placement Adviser approval.
The placement will generally consist of eight weeks of research with a host organisation in the UK or overseas, from our network of contacts which includes:
- NGOs and charities
- social enterprises
- think-tanks
- government bodies
Your placement can be completed either in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format. You will have the option to arrange your own placement, subject to university approval.
Please note that a placement-based dissertation is not guaranteed as part of this programme and will be assigned based on competitive applications during Semester 1.
Find out more about the placement-based dissertation option:
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Mastercard Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships
Scholarships are available for the International Development online taught programme. The postgraduate study scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year will accept applications from 23rd October 2023 at 10:00 AM until 7th December 2023 at 5:00 PM (UK Time). Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in a Sub-Saharan African country.
Please note: If the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only scholarship you are interested in applying for at the University of Edinburgh, please apply for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship only first. If you receive a scholarship offer from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, then you can apply for the academic programme.
Featured funding: Online Commonwealth Scholarships: Promoting Global Prosperity
These scholarships will be awarded to outstanding candidates who are citizens of and residents in low and middle-income Commonwealth countries.
Successful applicants will benefit from the University’s Global Academy network.
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your residency status.
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.