SOAS launches first ESRC-funded MSc in Research for International Development
18 May 2012
SOAS, University of London, has launched a new interdisciplinary-taught Master’s in Research for International Development. This cutting-edge initiative is the first to be funded and supported by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the Bloomsbury Doctoral Training Centre.
The Centre was given accreditation by the ESRC in 2011, making it one of only 21 centres across the UK. The launch of this Master’s programme coincides with the announcement of Professor Richard Fardon as the Head of SOAS’ Doctoral School.
Professor Chris Cramer, Head of the Department of Development Studies said: “This new degree is a significant addition for SOAS, providing a unique and rigorous research foundation for development researchers. It combines practical training, regional and thematic depth, and exploration of methodological debates. The degree is a key feature of SOAS' leadership of the international development stream of the Bloomsbury Doctoral Training Centre.”
The programme’s core course ‘Battlefield of Methods: Approaches to International Development’ equips students with the theoretical background and analytical skills to inquire into the relationship between theory and method in the domain of international development.
As the Master’s is being offered jointly by the Departments of Economics and Development Studies, students will benefit from studying with experts from a variety of fields, with wide regional expertise in developing countries.
