Online MSc International Development
The Online MSc International Development teaches applied theory on social policy, political economies and development theory to tackle issues like climate change and inequality.
2 years
Part Time
Tuition: GBP 18,500
Paid Monthly: Pay in Instalment
Intakes: Sept 2026
Deadline: 28 Aug 2026
Course overview
In our ever-changing, increasingly interconnected world, more people are needed to understand and help tackle complex global issues like extreme poverty, inequality, or climate crisis.
This International Development MSc combines interdisciplinary training in subjects including development theory, political economy, and social policy, with applied country and region-based case studies.
Practical examples demonstrate different approaches and their contribution to national development in areas such as industrialisation, financial systems, regulation, technology, environment, and natural resource management. These case studies also help you appreciate the variations across advanced, emerging, and lower-income economies.
Online MSc International Development
Online MSc International Development
Assessment
- Assignments (no exams) and dissertation project
Benefits
Capitalising on our extensive in-depth regional expertise on Latin America, East Asia and the Middle East, this MSc offers a non-Eurocentric worldview of international development.
Focusing on emerging economies, the course provides a social scientific framework to better understand international development. You’ll learn about the challenges, tradeoffs, and uncertainties surrounding the processes of development.
Career path
Eligibility
Standard entry requirements:
A minimum 2:1 honours degree (or above) in a related subject such as international development, politics, economics or other social science or regional studies
Non-standard entry requirements
Please note that if you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may still be considered. You’ll need to demonstrate significant relevant work experience or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a master’s or PGDip). Non-standard applications must be supported by degree certificates or transcripts (where relevant), a CV, a personal statement, and a reference letter.
English language requirements
English language band: B
To study at King’s, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You’re usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed:
- An undergraduate degree (at least three years duration) within five years of the course start date.
- A postgraduate taught degree (at least one year) within five years of the course start date.
- A PhD in a majority English-speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
Personal statement and supporting information
Year 1 Modules
In this module, you’ll explore two main areas. Firstly, you’ll examine the main theories of development that have emerged since the 19th century. Secondly, you’ll discuss development management, its historical place, and how to manage projects.
You’ll gain a broad picture of long-term development and intertwine this with an examination of the policy implications following from each theory, such as industrialisation, market construction, or well-being improvements. You’ll also review historical case studies of economic development. You’ll focus on successful middle-income countries, their relevant policies and institutions, and the challenges and dilemmas addressed during relevant periods.
You’ll then consider the main challenges to development today, the policy options available for developing countries, and discuss concrete examples and practices of development management.
You’ll also gain the ability to critically identify and use the most up-to-date methods for effective project management within a development context. You’ll be introduced to the main tools used in project design and the latest approaches. You’ll review leading participatory methods used to organise and manage projects and measure their contribution to development
In this module, you’ll explore the key theories, models, policies and processes of development from a macroeconomic perspective. You’ll focus on middle-income and late developing countries (e.g., Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Turkey, India, China, Indonesia, as well as South Korea, Singapore, and similar countries).
These economies differ structurally from the advanced economies in important ways in their sectoral composition, relationship with international markets for goods, services and finance, and sources of dynamics.
Examination of these structural features can help to explain the constraints to development in those economies, and their macroeconomic instability and vulnerability to crisis. The theories, models and policies you’ll examine will help you to understand the long-term development of some of the largest, most dynamic, and most interesting economies in the world.
Year 2 Modules
This module offers an in-depth understanding of inequalities and development. You’ll examine concepts, theory and empirical trends in global poverty, global income inequality, inequalities related to gender and race, and methodologies for assessing inequalities.
You’ll discuss social policy and the relationship between inequalities and economic development. Case studies provide context-specific insights into the issues.
By fostering nuanced understandings and encouraging critical analysis, this module will equip you with the tools to understand the range of conceptual, methodological, and theoretical questions arising from the study of inequalities and development.
This module introduces the uses, approaches and techniques to researching development. By drawing on the field’s multidisciplinary nature, contested histories, and multifaceted research traditions, you can develop a critical approach to research and practice in development.
Starting from the foundations of research in the social sciences, the module provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis, helping you to outline your own research project for academic and non-academic purposes.
In doing so, the module will equip you with strong foundations to critically engage, assess and challenge development theory and practice
Course fee
Global:
- Course Fee: GBP 18,500
+VAT if applicable
Fees are determined by where applicants are currently working and residing
GBP is Great British Pounds
Academics
Refaat Kazoun
Philippe Riewer
Ajith Kumar
What our student say
Khaled Abdullah Ahmed Nusair
University of Leicester
MBA
It was an exciting, interesting journey within the University modules, staff, tutors and program. The staff at Stafford are very supportive, cooperative and professional, I am really thankful to all of them.
