Applicants apply for the MSc Development Studies programme but can decide to follow the Labour Pathway upon arrival by choosing the combination of modules required for this pathway (see Structure tab).
We welcome applications from those who have worked in a broad field of development, but also from students without relevant work experience who can demonstrate a strong interest in, and understanding of, development issues in Labour.
Students taking the Labour Pathway will develop a specialist understanding of Development Studies in the context of Labour. SOAS' recognised strengths in this area makes this a unique and exciting opportunity for those interested Labour.
Part-time study
Students can take this programme part-time over 2 or 3 years. Students usually complete their core modules in Year 1 and their option modules and dissertation in subsequent years.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time
Entry requirements
- We will consider all applications with 2:ii (or international equivalent) or higher. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application including supporting statement and references.
- Subjects Preferred: Social Science
- duration:
- One calendar year (full-time) Two (part-time, daytime only) We recommend that part-time students have between two and a half and three days free in the week to pursue their course of study.
Students must take 180 credits per year comprised of 120 taught credits (including core, compulsory and optional modules) and a 60 credit dissertation.
Core modules: A core module is required for the degree programme, so must always be taken and passed before you move on to the next year of your programme.
Compulsory modules: A compulsory module is required for the degree programme, so must always be taken, and if necessary can be passed by re-taking it alongside the next year of your programme.
Optional modules: These are designed to help students design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
Dissertation
Core Modules
Compulsory Modules
Optional Modules
Choose module(s) to the total value of 30 credits from:
- module(s) from the Development Studies list below to the value of 30 credits
- open option modules to the value of 30 credits from another department
- module from the Development Studies list below to the value of 15 credits
- open option modules to the value of 15 credits from another department
List of Development Studies modules (subject to availability)
Module |
Code |
Credits |
Term |
Agrarian Development, Food Policy and Rural Poverty |
15PDSH026 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Aid and Development |
15PDSH027 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Borders and Development |
15PDSH023 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Cities and Development |
15PDSH072 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Civil society, social movements and the development process |
15PDSH001 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Critical Insights in Forced Migration |
15DISD229 |
30 |
|
Development Practice |
15PDSH013 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Environment, Governance and Development |
15PDSH050 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Energy Transition, Nature, and Development in a Time of Climate Change |
15PDSH048 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Famine and food security |
15PDSH022 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Feminist Political Economy and Global Development |
15PDSH073 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Fundamentals of research methods for Development Studies |
15PDSH017 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Gender and Development |
15PDSH010 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Global Approaches to Peace |
15PDSH074 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Global Health and Development |
15PDSH051 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Human and Critical Security Studies |
15DISD213 |
30 |
|
Issues in Forced Migration |
15PDSH015 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Marxist Political Economy and Global Development |
15PDSH053 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Migration and Policy |
15PDSH029 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Natural resources, development and change: putting critical analysis into practice |
15PDSH031 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Neoliberalism, Democracy and Global Development |
15PDSH054 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Partnerships Beyond Borders: NGOs, Social Movements and Civil Society in Transnational Development |
15DISD230 |
30 |
|
Problems of Development in the Middle East and North Africa |
15PDSH019 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Security |
15PDSH020 |
15 |
Term 1 |
The Politics of Gender and Feminism in Development |
15DISD231 |
30 |
|
The Working Poor and Development |
15PDSH030 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Understanding Violence, Conflict and Development |
15DISD019 |
30 |
|
Water and Development: Commodification, Ecology and Globalisation (Development Studies) |
15PDSH049 |
15 |
Term 2 |
Water Justice: Rights, Access and Movements (Development Studies) |
15PDSH041 |
15 |
Term 1 |
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Materials
SOAS Library
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Teaching & Learning
Our teaching and learning approach is designed to support and encourage students in their own process of self-learning, and to develop their own ideas, responses and critique of international development practice and policy. We do this through a mixture of lectures, and more student-centred learning approaches (including tutorials and seminars). Teaching combines innovative use of audio-visual materials, practical exercises, group discussions, and weekly guided reading and discussions, as well as conventional lecturing.
In addition to the taught part of the masters programme, all students will write a 10,000 word dissertation. Students develop their research topic under the guidance and supervision of an academic member of the Department. Students are encouraged to explore a particular body of theory or an academic debate relevant to their programme through a focus on a particular region.
Contact Hours
All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.
More information is on the page for each module.
A postgraduate degree from the Department of Development Studies at SOAS will further develop your understanding of the world, other peoples’ ways of life and how society is organised, with an emphasis on transferable analytical skill. These skills have been of great benefit to the many graduates who have taken up professional careers in development in international organisations,
government agencies and non-government organisations. This, in addition to your detailed subject knowledge, will also equip you with a set of other specific skills, including: critical skills; the ability to research extensively; a high level of cultural awareness; and the ability to solve problems.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
Amnesty International BBC World Service British Embassy Brussels Department for International Development Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Embassy of Japan Government of Pakistan Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) International Labour Organization (ILO) KPMG LLP National Health and Medical Research Council |
Overseas Development Institute Oxfam Public Sector Reform Unit - Government of Sierra Leone Republic of Mozambique National Parliament Royal Norwegian Embassy Save the Children UK The World Bank Thinking Beyond Borders U.S. Department of State UN World Food Programme UN High Commissioner for Refugees WaterAid |
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
Chief Economist Global Communications Director Director for Climate Change and Environment Head of Research and Consultancies Development Director Regional OVC programme coordinator Head of Operations Country Director Bureau Chief Desk Officer on Pakistan Affairs |
Policy Analyst Partnership Liaison Officer Fundraising and Communications Manager Development Policy Officer Environmental Economist Journalist Human Rights Officer Country Director - Indonesia Relationship Banker - Africa Desk Policy Analyst/Economist |
For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.
A Student's Perspective
I joined the Department of Development Studies at SOAS because of the quality of the course it provides and its critical approach to the industry of international development.
Fayrouz Yousfi