MA INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (PART TIME)
MA INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (PART TIME)
Why do micro-credit interventions, designed to empower women, often contribute to continuing gender inequalities? What role do policy elites play in causing ethnic conflicts? What social changes explain rising levels of witchcraft accusations across many societies, and how can social development practitioners engage with these cultural practices? What are masculinities and how do they affect men’s vulnerability to HIV? How can we, as social development practitioners, build interventions that can support people to reshape their lives and promote wellbeing? What roles should the state or civil society be playing in social development? These are a taste of some of the fascinating questions and challenges you’ll tackle in your degree.
The MA International Social Development enables you to understand local and global challenges to people’s wellbeing, in order to better inform solutions. You’ll also learn about success stories and positive development processes, which offer these potential solutions to problems. The academics teaching on the course bring their current research into the learning sessions, so that you have the chance to study at the cutting edge of research and new knowledge.
The course often analyses social development issues and interventions at the community level, focusing on the social actors on the ground who might be implementing or ‘receiving’ the intervention’s resources. Only by examining how and why people respond to interventions can we understand the effects or outcomes of interventions.
Whichever topics or themes you wish to focus your learning and expertise on, you’ll be able to tailor and build your degree from the wide range of modules available to you – allowing you to make your mark.
About
Take on the challenge of social development issues such as vulnerability, resilience, gender inequality, education and health. These fascinating topics are at the forefront of global development goals, and on the agendas of key international development agencies such as the UN and the World Bank.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn about theory, analytical skills and practices, which inform more appropriate and effective social development interventions. You’ll also be able to add professional skills and work experience to your academic learning, for example by taking an internship in the summer with a social development organisation, and by taking one or more of our professional training workshops.
You’ll graduate with the skills, and – if you choose the work placement option – relevant experience, to work in a range of social development fields and organisations, from the community level to project design and policy.

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Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.After the Course
After the course you’ll have specialised academic skills, transferable skills and expertise or work experience in an area of social development. You can return better qualified to your existing career or job, or pursue a new career trajectory in various fields of social development, ranging from community development or project implementation work, to research or policy analysis.
Our graduates go on to work for international non-governmental organisations (INGOS) or multi-lateral government agencies. Alternatively you might continue your studies with a PhD, or professional qualification such as a PGCE.
Career destinations
A career in international social development can take you in all kinds of directions such as international organisations, governmental and non-governmental organisations, local governments, private sector and PhD programmes.
Previous graduates have gone on to work for:
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Save the Children Fund as a researcher
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Plan International in logistics for humanitarian assistance
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Ministry of Education, Namibia as a project officer
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UK local government in community development
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Private sector in corporate social responsibility
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International NGOs in policy research

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Assessment for Year 1
The six modules you complete in the autumn and spring will be assessed through coursework, such as an essay, a seminar presentation or a policy brief. In some of these modules you might also take a test upon its completion.
For each module you’ll have the chance to practice your skills and ideas for the coursework with a ‘formative’ piece of work, for example the chance to get feedback on your essay plan or a mock test. The course exam is at the start of the summer semester and is based on the two main core modules.
You’ll get feedback on your assignments from the academic staff, which both explains the marks you receive and also supports you to develop your skills for subsequent work.
Assessment for Year 2
The six modules you complete in the autumn and spring will be assessed through coursework, such as an essay, a seminar presentation or a policy brief. In some of these modules you might also take a test upon its completion.
For each module you’ll have the chance to practice your skills and ideas for the coursework with a ‘formative’ piece of work, for example the chance to get feedback on your essay plan or a mock test. The course exam is at the start of the summer semester and is based on the two main core modules.
You’ll get feedback on your assignments from the academic staff, which both explains the marks you receive and also supports you to develop your skills for subsequent work.
This is the first year of your taught masters programme. Students may with the consent of the Course Director take some modules in their second year of study.
Assessment for Year 1
The six modules you complete in the autumn and spring will be assessed through coursework, such as an essay, a seminar presentation or a policy brief. In some of these modules you might also take a test upon its completion.
For each module you’ll have the chance to practice your skills and ideas for the coursework with a ‘formative’ piece of work, for example the chance to get feedback on your essay plan or a mock test. The course exam is at the start of the summer semester and is based on the two main core modules.
You’ll get feedback on your assignments from the academic staff, which both explains the marks you receive and also supports you to develop your skills for subsequent work.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.This is the second year of your taught masters programme. Students may with the consent of the Course Director take one extra module in their first year of study (excluding the dissertation).
Assessment for Year 2
The six modules you complete in the autumn and spring will be assessed through coursework, such as an essay, a seminar presentation or a policy brief. In some of these modules you might also take a test upon its completion.
For each module you’ll have the chance to practice your skills and ideas for the coursework with a ‘formative’ piece of work, for example the chance to get feedback on your essay plan or a mock test. The course exam is at the start of the summer semester and is based on the two main core modules.
You’ll get feedback on your assignments from the academic staff, which both explains the marks you receive and also supports you to develop your skills for subsequent work.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.Entry Requirements
Degree classification
2.1 or equivalentDegree subject
Social ScienceAdditional entry requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
Students for whom english is a foreign language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others)
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PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in only two components with 64 in the others)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study one of the International Graduate Diploma programmes offered by our partner INTO UEA. These programmes guarantee progression to selected masters degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details please click here:
International Graduate Diploma in International Development
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the academic year 2021/22 are:
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UK Students: £8,600 (full time)
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International Students: £17,100 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home/EU students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,015 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Funding
A variety of Scholarships may be offered to UK students. Please click here for more detailed information about UK/EU Scholarships and Funding.
The University offers around £1 million of Scholarships each year to support International students in their studies. Scholarships are normally awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and are usually for the duration of the period of study. Please click here for further information about funding for International students. International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.
Course related costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.

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How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
To request further information & to be kept up to date with news & events please use our online enquiry form.
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.

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Course Variants
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MA Agriculture and Rural Development (Part Time)
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MA International Development (Part Time)
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MA Globalisation Business and Sustainable Development (Part Time)
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MSC Development Economics (Part Time)
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MA Conflict, Governance and International Development (Part Time)
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MA Education and Development (Part Time)
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