MSc Development Economics (Part Time)

Key details

MSC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS (PART TIME)

Start Year

2022

Attendance

Part Time

Award

Degree of Master of Science

Duration (years)

Explore the complexity of economic development with an approach that is analytically rigorous, problem-solving, and policy oriented.

On this MSc, you will learn to apply rigorous economic analyses to real-world problems, like poverty, inequality, and macroeconomic instability. Importantly, you will integrate methods and new insights from behavioural and experimental economics.

The MSc is housed in the multidisciplinary School of International Development, and is taught by specialised development economists. This gives you the chance to take two taught modules from a wide range of modules taught by political scientists, anthropologists, experts in environmental studies, gender, and education – making this course a fascinating and rewarding choice.

About

This degree follows the same programme as its full-time equivalent but is spread over two years.

You will be taught by a team of internationally respected development economists with very strong experience in the field. Specifically, the use of experimental and behavioural economics puts this group in the forefront of innovative development research internationally – and you will benefit from the findings of their research.

The programme applies rigorous economic analyses to real-world problems, like poverty, inequality, and macroeconomic instability to identify effective policy solutions. International development organisations and agencies (like the World Bank, IMF, the UK government's Department for International Development, Oxfam, Action Aid, and WIDER) recognise the need for these skills.

It is unique because it integrates methods, research findings and new insights from behavioural and experimental economics. Compared to traditional development economics courses you will acquire more subtle understanding of development processes and more realistic policy analyses.

It provides strong links with the MSc in Impact Evaluation, which is also taught within the School – its two core modules may both be taken as optional modules if you wish to do so. You can also take up to two out of your six taught modules from a long list of modules taught by political scientists, anthropologists, and experts in environmental studies , gender, and education, among others.

This degree provides excellent employability prospects, with graduates employed in both development and non-development organisations, including international organisations, academia, NGOs, government ministries and the private sector. It also provides solid grounding if you would like to pursue a PhD in development economics.

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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.

Assessment for Year 1

You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and a dissertation. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.

You will receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

You will also be encouraged to prepare essay plans or outlines in advance of essay deadlines, and to discuss these with the relevant lecturer during their office hours or by email. You will typically receive written and oral feedback on an initial coursework assignment well in advance of your deadline for the main coursework assignment.

Finally, the dissertation enables you to develop specific research skills such as conducting research using primary and secondary data, researching specific topics and questions, thinking critically, and linking theoretical concepts to practical issues.

Structure

This course is made up of a total of 180 credits, spread over two years:

Compulsory (core) and optional modules (120 credits)
Dissertation (60 credits)

During the first year of your degree, you will study the following core modules, each accounting for 20 credits:

Microeconomics of Development
Macroeconomics of Development
Econometric Methods for Development
Economic Policy Analysis

The Microeconomics of Development module provides you with sound building blocks for economic reasoning across a core topics and questions of development. Some examples are: Why are people poor? How do we understand inequality? Do health and education matter for economic performance? How should we understand the roles of markets, government, and various institutions? The Macroeconomics of Development module provides you with an understanding of macroeconomic theory and policy in developing countries. This will include an evaluation of alternative theories of economic growth and their policy implications, and an analysis of the macroeconomic effects of external shocks.

Another core module is Econometric Methods For Development, which will introduce you to econometrics and provide you with sufficient knowledge and practical skills for competent use of econometrics in empirical research, and to understand and interpret econometric results. By the end of the module you will have acquired sufficient knowledge and skill to apply multivariate analysis of cross-sectional and time-series data to a wide range of macro- and micro-economic problems of development. In addition to lectures, the module includes computer workshops where STATA software is used, and seminars.

A final core module is Economic Policy Analysis. In this module, you will examine a selection of topics in applied development economics that are important for government policy – chosen from areas such as international trade, foreign investment, government taxation and spending, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and health.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching
Teaching is mainly delivered via lectures and seminars. Your lectures go beyond the customary ‘chalk-and-talk’ approach, and include a range of interactive tasks and activities. The use of technology is also widespread, for example through visual representation of empirical evidence in international development (e.g. through statistical programmes). Other examples include the use of online reading materials and lecture screencasts.

Through seminar group work and presentations you will also be able to develop transferable skills such as articulating an argument both orally and in writing and presenting academic information in a clear and cogent manner.

Independent study
You will read suggested state of the art academic articles and papers, submitting assignments as specified for each module. Your independent study gives you the chance to prepare for in-class sessions and assignments, and to concentrate on the areas that interest you the most.

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Assessment for Year 2

You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and a dissertation. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.

You will receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

Structure

During the second year of the degree, you will select a further two optional modules, in areas such as impact evaluation gender, business, education, governance, and project design and management. You will also carry out the dissertation, an independent piece of research on a topic of your choices, which counts for a further 60 credits. Students may also with the approval of the Course Director take an additional module in the second year of the degree.

A range of seminars and IT workshops are offered during your Master’s programme for the teaching and strengthening of your skills (e.g. STATA). Sessions to support learning – in particular essay and dissertation writing – occur throughout the year. Additional training in a wide range of professional skills used in international development is also provided.

The Behavioural and Experimental Development Economics Research Group
Research in the School of International Development addresses contemporary challenges in developing and transition economies via disciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches. Research is organised into a series of Research Groups. The Behavioural and Experimental Development Economics Research Group offers seminars and invites guest speakers on a regular basis.

Teaching and Learning

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This is the first year of your taught masters programme. Students may with the consent of the Course Director take an additional module in their second year.

Assessment for Year 1

You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and a dissertation. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.

You will receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

Compulsory Modules

MICROECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7018A

Credits 20

The module provides the building blocks for microeconomic analysis of development. Topics include: • Poverty, inequality and welfare • Agricultural household production • Intra- household allocation • Risk, uncertainty and insurance • Markets and Institutions: credit • Markets and institutions: labour • Human capital : education, health and nutrition • Public goods, collective action • Institutions, transaction costs • Policy reforms • Household surveys and their analysis. The module consists of lectures, seminars and workshops. Students are assessed by essay and exam.

ECONOMETRIC METHODS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7025A

Credits 20

The aim of this introductory module is to introduce you to basic econometric theory and provide you with sufficient knowledge and practical skill for competent use of econometrics in empirical research. The module also enables you to understand and interpret econometric research results. By the end of the module you’ll have acquired sufficient knowledge and skill to apply multivariate analysis of cross-sectional and time-series data to a wide range of macro- and micro-economic problems of development. In addition to lectures, the module includes computer workshops on Stata (widely used econometrics software) and seminars.

MACROECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7029B

Credits 20

This module will provide you with an understanding of macroeconomic theory and policy in developing countries. This will include an evaluation of alternative theories of economic growth and their policy implications, and an analysis of the macroeconomic effects of external shocks. By the end of the module, you will have a good understanding of modern theories of economic growth and open economy macroeconomics, and be able to apply those theories to economic policy issues in developing countries.

ECONOMIC POLICY ANALYSIS

Code DEV-7017B

Credits 20

You will examine a selection of topics in applied development economics that are important for government policy – chosen from areas such as international trade, foreign investment, government taxation and spending, labour markets and employment, agriculture, finance, business regulation, energy and climate change. You will look at the economic theory relevant to each topic, and how government policies have worked in practice.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. 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. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

This is the second year of your taught masters programme. Students may with the consent of the Course Director take an additional module in their second year.

Assessment for Year 2

You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and a dissertation. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.

You will receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

Compulsory Modules

DISSERTATION

Code DEV-7056X

Credits 60

Production of a short (8000-12000 words) dissertation on an approved topic.

Optional B Modules

(0-20 credits)

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES AND ANALYSIS

Code DEV-7005A

Credits 20

The course lectures and seminars will include the following topics: • Development research & research ethics • Research design and method; sampling, questionnaire design, interviews • The role of qualitative methods in quantitative research and mixed methods • Participatory and action research • Design and implementation of household surveys on various topics, e.g. income, consumption, employment, health, nutrition, education, etc. Basic data processing and statistical analysis and presentation are shown based on tools such as Excel, SPSS and STATA.

WELFARE AND EVALUATION IN DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7038A

Credits 20

This module provides you with an introduction to the theory and practice of impact evaluation. The focus will be on issues around evidence-based policy making, approaches to wellbeing, and their practical application in terms of evaluating the effect of development interventions on the quality of people’s lives. The first part discusses the notion of evidence-based policy, introduces the students to the area of evaluation and reviews the role of programme theory in evaluation. The second part addresses the theory of welfare, with particular reference to poverty, inequality, and multi-dimensional ill-being as well as cost effectiveness. The third part considers policy and evaluation in practice looking at a range of sectors and contexts.

Optional C Modules

(0-20 credits)

DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES

Code DEV-7001A

Credits 20

You will explore different theoretical ideas and debates about development, and place these in their historical and political contexts. You will critically assess the various ways in which development has been conceptualised, from the end of the Second World War to the present day. You will cover topics including modernisation theory; dependency theory; the role of the state; neo-liberalism and the Washington Consensus, neo-institutionalism and the post-Washington Consensus; poverty and basic needs; human development and capabilities; equity and justice; rights and empowerment; and sustainable development. A key point of the module is to show how ideas in development emerge and how they shape policies and practice in development in the present day.

INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7002A

Credits 20

The aim of the module is for you to gain an understanding of current debates on the principles and theories linking education to development in a range of social contexts. The module will introduce you to theories of education and development including international and comparative education. These are examined in relation to the broader challenges of development. Topics in the module may include: theories of human development and capabilities, human capital and rights based approaches, theories of equity, social justice and inclusive education. You will examine schooling in contexts of chronic poverty, models of schooling and de-schooling, formal and non-formal education, the challenges of linguistic and cultural diversity, inclusive education and disability, gender inequalities, and the education of nomads and other migratory groups.

GENDER PERSPECTIVES IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7003A

Credits 20

The aim of this unit is to provide you with a solid grounding in gender analysis of development, and to enable you to understand the link between gender and key debates within development studies such as poverty, violence, religion and the role of men in gender and development. The module introduces and explains the range of ideas, debates and tools, which are the foundations of gender analysis, within a discussion of key issues in gender analysis of development: the nature of the household and kinship, gender roles, power and empowerment, and environmental change. The unit stands alone as a foundation for gender analysis of development, it also builds the necessary basis for the more applied units which follow in the spring semester, and for dissertations based on gender topics. If you are writing your dissertation on a gender topic you will need to have completed this module.

UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Code DEV-7014A

Credits 20

This module provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the analysis and understanding of issues of environmental change, and of the relationships between environment and development. Students will have a critical understanding of social constructions of cause and effect relationships in environment and development issues, including a critical understanding of scientific assessments. They will be able to link these understandings to topics encountered in other courses, and to develop their own perspectives on environment and development issues. In particular they should understand the somewhat different perspectives in ‘less developed countries’ on environment and development issues. The course consists of weekly workshops and seminar sessions, which include videos and discussions oriented around core issues and readings. Assessment is based on coursework and written examination.

RURAL LIVELIHOODS AND AGRARIAN CHANGE

Code DEV-7020A

Credits 20

Poverty and hunger remain key developmental challenges, driving poor health and ill-being on the one hand and conflict and violence on the other. This is the central question addressed by this module. In this module, you will explore different approaches to understanding rural livelihoods. You will be equipped with the tools and frameworks to critically assess different strategies for livelihoods-building and their implications for poverty and inequality, including those of class and gender, at the micro-level. Starting with an understanding of key concepts of poverty, food security, gender, capabilities, capitals and entitlements, you will apply these to a host of contexts and programmes through seminar discussions. This will enable a deeper understanding of the interconnections between the wider policy context, the social structure that shapes entitlements, the assets available to groups and individuals and their livelihood strategies. You will also explore the links between the rural and urban, and the changes over time. You will have an opportunity to experience some of the dilemmas confronting the rural poor through an experiential game.

SOCIAL ANALYSIS FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7021A

Credits 20

Effective social development and policy are based on sound conceptual foundations, and this module focuses on the conceptual tools that underpin policy relevant social analysis. You will develop skills to analyse social contexts which influence interventions and social change (‘development’), using concepts from sociology, anthropology and political analysis. There is an old development adage that ‘if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, but if you give him a fishing rod you feed him for a lifetime’. Think about social theory and concepts as a fishing rod! The module is about social concepts and theory, but we always apply these concepts to practical social development issues and interventions. You will apply your knowledge and understanding of social concepts to important international development issues, for example (and these can vary each year) the social analysis of HIV, the social analysis of poverty & micro-credit interventions, or the social analysis of conflict and peace.

GOVERNANCE, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7023A

Credits 20

“Good governance” and durable democracy are key items on the international development agenda. However, despite their prominence in the development discourse, it remains contested not only how to achieve these political development goals, but also how to define them in the first place. The aim of Governance, Democracy and Development is to critically assess the possible definitions, contested causes and arguable consequences of “good governance” and democracy. Key topics to be discussed in the module include how to define and measure democracy and “good governance”, explanations for the emergence of democracy, theories on the survival of democracy and dictatorship, local forms of governance and democracy, aid and governance, trust and cooperation, the effects of democracy and dictatorship on prospects of economic development, and key challenges to democracy in the 21st century. Throughout the module, you will be expected to assess the strengths and limitations of central concepts and theories from the academic debate by applying them to relevant empirical evidence, such as political regime trends in Turkey or the economic effects of recent elections in Kenya.

PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBALISATION

Code DEV-7028A

Credits 20

Globalisation refers to the increasingly interconnected nature of social life on our planet. It has been described as ‘the most important change in human history’. You will critically examine a number of key debates about globalisation: about what is driving the process, and about what impacts it is having – for example, on economic development, poverty and inequality, conflict, and the environment. This module takes an inter-disciplinary approach, presenting different conceptual frameworks within which contemporary globalisation is analysed.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT I: SCIENCE, IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION

Code DEV-7042A

Credits 20

Climate change presents a challenge to development that is both complex and urgent. Populations in less developed countries are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A multi-disciplinary approach allows us to understand the causes, consequences, and responses to climate change in the 21st century. This module explores the relationship between climate change, its impacts on development and the role of adaptation in promoting climate resilient development. The module is organised around three topics or themes that each last three weeks (the first week is given over to a general introduction to the module). The first theme focuses on the science and the modelling of climate change impacts, the second theme explores climate change impacts and the relationship with development, and the third theme focuses on the core concepts of vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation.

EMERGING AND STRATEGIC CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

Code DEV-7059A

Credits 20

In this module, you will explore the ways development is changing, at the cutting edge of rapidly shifting geopolitical, social and economic realities. New actors are entering the fieldwork and disrupting the traditional ways aid has been seen and done. New funding models are emerging, from the power of philanthrocapitalism, to the financialization of aid and the presence of private sector partnerships at the forefront of the Sustainable Development Goals. In this module you consider what these trends mean for the sector, and how they are different to the small scale charity and NGO work and formal bilateral institutions which many people associate with development. Aid is changing and future aid workers need to understand and know how to stay abreast of. This module focusses on question of how aid is done and delivered, looking at management trends and issues, the challenges of shifting donor agendas, how concepts of culture are deployed in planning, and how the sector responds to demands for decolonisation. Throughout, you will develop a critical perspective on a range of cutting edge issues and challenges that will help position you to understand the work of the sector today and tomorrow.

MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7062A

Credits 20

How are media and communications used to promote global development and humanitarian assistance? When and how can the media influence aid policy, for example? How are the media used for fundraising, advocacy, and campaigning by international organisations? The media can also help to deliver public health messages during emergencies, promote human rights, and facilitate collective action - but what is the most effective way of helping it to do so? Students on this module will address these and other key questions as part of critical introductions to the fields of communication for development, humanitarian communication, and media development. This module is accessible to students who have not studied the media before and to students with no previous experience of studying global development.

Optional D Modules

(0-20 credits)

APPLIED METHODS FOR IMPACT EVALUATION

Code DEV-7037B

Credits 20

This module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the most important methods of impact evaluation. For that purpose, it will provide you with instruction in and hands-on experiences of the main quantitative and qualitative impact evaluation methods, with an emphasis on the quantitative.

GLOBALISATION, BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7047B

Credits 20

This module provides an analysis of the way in which global production is organized and the roles played by the state, business and civil society and the relations between them. It focuses on key business actors such as transnational and looks in depth at issues of resource extraction in developing countries. Various aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility including relations with local communities and workers, as well as the impacts on the environment and human rights, are discussed.

Optional G Modules

(0-20 credits)

CONTEMPORARY WORLD DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7000B

Credits 20

The objective of Contemporary World Development is to examine key debates around development objectives, processes and agencies. While issues discussed here are of contemporary significance, references will be made to the historical contexts in which these debates have arisen. Concerns central to development policy making will be reviewed through theoretically grounded critical perspectives. Topics covered include the Millennium Development Goals, donors and aid politics, state and NGOs, and poverty.

RURAL POLICIES & POLITICS

Code DEV-7004B

Credits 20

Around three-quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas and within most developing countries the gap between the rural poor and better off urban residents continues to widen. The lives of the rural poor can be greatly influenced by policies in areas such as agriculture, land, social protection, natural resources, health, education and trade. This module reviews important policies and issues in these and other areas. It also guides students to critically analyse policy choices within specific contexts. Rural Policies & Politics recognises the importance of looking at rural policies with consideration of particular socio-economic and political contexts, as well as in relation to larger-scale trends that are affecting rural areas including globalisation, urbanisation, de-agrarianisation, and rapid technological change.

EDUCATIONAL POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7011B

Credits 20

The aim of this module is to help you understand and critically examine, policy-making processes and specific policies for educational development. You will discover the relationships between policy and practice in a range of international, national and local development contexts. Through this module you will explore different approaches to policy development and familiarise yourself with dominant global policy agendas in education - asking who makes or influences policy, and considering policies as socially situated documents, practices and processes. The module introduces you to educational policy-making to address a range of development challenges and how related strategies are enacted in practice; drawing on policy theory and ethnographic and school-based research, as well as practical sessions to critique policy-related writing, examine models of educational quality and curricula, and explore issues of school-related gender based violence.

CONFLICT, CIVIL WARS AND PEACE

Code DEV-7015B

Credits 20

The number of violent intrastate conflicts has outweighed the number of violent interstate conflicts for more than five decades. Yet it was only with the end of the Cold War that academics and policy-makers started paying more attention to the possible causes and consequences of large-scale intrastate violence. Today, questions of effective conflict management, especially of large-scale civil wars, are among the top priorities of international development agencies. The aim of the Conflict, Civil Wars and Peace module is to critically assess the possible causes and consequences of violent intrastate conflicts as well as their implications for the wider development agenda. Key topics to be discussed in the module include causes, dynamics and consequences of different types of violent conflict, strategies and causes of terrorism, the role of gender during and after violent intrastate conflicts, the (contested) relationship(s) between natural resource wealth and civil wars, institutional approaches to conflict management, the rationale and possible effects of third-party intervention in civil wars, and post-conflict reconstruction efforts, including state- and peace-building as well as transitional justice. Throughout the module, you will be expected to assess the strengths and limitations of central concepts and theories from the academic debate by applying them to relevant empirical evidence, such as the role of gender during the Rwandan genocide in 1994 or the performance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's post-civil war power-sharing arrangement.

TOOLS AND SKILLS IN ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7022B

Credits 20

How can sustainable development be achieved in a way that both protects the environment whilst pursuing development that is fair and equitable? Often those who benefit least from development projects are most vulnerable to the costs of development, such as pollution of rivers and loss of land, yet they have little say in development decisions. This module introduces you to important tools and frameworks used by researchers, government agencies, businesses and non-governmental organisations for managing environmental and natural resources for sustainable development. You will learn to critique and apply a range of the most widely used tools. Examples that are covered in this module include climate vulnerability assessment, livelihoods analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, participatory decision making and scenarios methods. The module places an emphasis on putting concepts and tools into practice and understanding how environmental assessments influence management actions. The module includes lectures and seminars; including a series of ‘competency skills’ based seminars which will provide an opportunity to experience and develop some of the key skills that are used widely in the environment and development sectors (e.g. writing a government policy brief, or an Expression of Interest for tender). For this module, both individual and team working will be important. You will gain confidence and skills in applying and critiquing the leading tools and frameworks used by sustainable development professionals.

POLITICAL ECOLOGY

Code DEV-7033B

Credits 20

This course seeks to provide students with a solid understanding of political ecology theory and to enable them to apply this theory for analyzing environment and development problems. After a brief introduction to key theoretical concepts in political ecology, students review key contributions to major policy fields in environment and development. They do this in a series of reading seminars, covering agriculture and biotechnology, climate change, conservation, fisheries, forestry, water management and other fields. The course ends with a workshop on the role of policy in political ecology.

GLOBALISED AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS

Code DEV-7045B

Credits 20

The aim of this module is to understand how forces operating at the global scale affect food and agriculture. These forces include trends in farming and trade, environmental change, policy developments, and social movements. Food security is a central theme: we explore different ways food security is defined, and how it is contested internationally, considering global institutions like FAO, interest groups, and diverse policy agendas (e.g. food sufficiency, nutrition, sustainability). The module considers a range of issues currently affecting food and farming systems: environmental change, changing diets (more meat, processed foods), `post-production' concerns with food safety or farming’s impact on ecosystems, global agribusiness, agricultural innovation systems, and global-scale changes in food prices. Students will gain critical understanding of debates around these issues and of how different policy actors engage with them. These actors include firms, public R&D institutions, farmers' movements, and major donors and philanthropic organizations. An abiding concern is understanding impacts for the poor and vulnerable, particularly smallholder farmers, but also consumers in the North and South, and those involved in value chains. The module will help students develop a critical and inter-disciplinary understanding of key international policy debates that have relevance to agriculture.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT II: GOVERNANCE, POLICY AND SOCIETY

Code DEV-7051B

Credits 20

This module critically examines international/national climate change governance, policy and societal impacts from and responses to climate change and climate change policy. The first half of the semester will discuss the history and politics of the international climate change negotiations and then critically examine the way the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change operates. You’ll look in detail at several items under negotiation with significant implications for developing countries and we will discuss global carbon markets. The second half of the semester will turn to the interface of climate change and society. It will discuss participatory governance and urban responses to climate change as well as critically examining ethical/justice related debates, the role of energy demand and lifestyle in tackling climate change. The seminars will be interactive and enable you to understand the international negotiating process and ways to engage positively with climate change.

PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

Code DEV-7058B

Credits 20

This module will provide the environment for the student to gain a strong practical and grounding in the key tools and analytical techniques needed for the design and management of development projects. It does this by providing an intensive introduction to a number of key development tools, from the analysis of evidence and context to the design of a theory of change and results framework that reacts to complexity, to the design of the appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning architecture, to the proper resourcing. Students are supported to engage with worked examples of these tools themselves and will be assessed through their preparation of a fully-developed project proposal that they will prepare in a team. The module also encourages student to think critically about development projects, the role that they play – and their own roles in the sector.

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Important Information

Entry Requirements

Degree classification

2.1 or equivalent

Degree subject

Social Science with a strong background in Economics.

Additional 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.

September Pre-Sessional Courses

All applicants are expected to attend an introductory online full-time course in Mathematics and Statistics for Economists in the fortnight preceding the Masters programme. This course is compulsory and incorporates the techniques of calculus and matrix algebra; in addition, students are introduced to the econometric software package which will be used in their MSc programme.

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:

IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others)
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 English requirements for this course, our partner INTO UEA run pre-sessional English 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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WHATEVER YOU LOVE, GO FURTHER

Whether you want to diversify or specialise – explore your options.

GO FURTHER >

Ask an Academic

Find out what life at our university is really like by chatting to our academics.

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Course Reference Number: 4478462

MSc DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS (PART TIME)