Professor of Development Studies
Department of Development Studies
& Department of Economics
SOAS-BRAC University Joint MPhil / PhD in the Political Economy of Development
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Key information
Key information
- Duration
- 3-years (with option to extend)
- Attendance mode
- Full-time
- Location
- SOAS University of London / BRAC University, Dhaka
- Fees
-
£5,738 per year
Course overview
The joint PhD programme between SOAS University of London and BRAC University in Bangladesh offers doctoral training in the fields of development studies, development economics, the politics of development, and related fields, resulting in a PhD in the Political Economy of Development.
The joint PhD programme harnesses the benefits of the world class academic programme offered by the SOAS Doctoral School with the exceptional opportunity for testing theories of development in the field offered by BRAC University and its highly-regarded research institute, the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development.
The distinctive element of the PhD will be to combine an opportunity to spend extended periods in a developing country context combined with the benefits of access to one of the leading universities in the UK. Initially, the partnership will focus on students interested in development policy and applied development, where the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development and Departments of Economics and Development Studies at SOAS have complementary strengths.
Why study the SOAS-BRAC University Joint PhD in the Political Economy of Development?
- SOAS is ranked 5th in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings 2025)
- BRAC University is one of the top private universities in Bangladesh, and part of the BRAC family of development organizations, one of the largest and most successful international non-governmental organizations in the world
The joint PhD enables candidates to study and build theoretical frameworks under the supervision of leading scholars of development while based at SOAS. They would then immerse themselves in contextualizing theories and empirically testing ideas in field-based research under the supervision of prominent and highly experienced researchers in an environment of applied research in Bangladesh.
A strong field-based perspective will allow students to critically analyse existing theories and develop or update frameworks accordingly. Throughout the process, they would be jointly supervised by faculty members at both universities. The PhD will have an overarching structure that will enable students to follow either a Development Studies path or an Economics path, like the PhD in International Development at SOAS.
Students currently engaging in policy-relevant development research in a northern university typically have time and money for a relatively short ‘fieldwork’ component in the south as part of their thesis. The unique design of this PhD will radically change what ‘fieldwork’ means as a significant part of the thesis will be researched and written in the ‘field’.
The students will work with both supervisors in areas where the supervisors have expertise, interest, or ongoing research projects. This combination will be a unique offering in the field of development policy-related PhDs and is likely to be of interest to students beyond the UK and Bangladesh.
Research topics
The joint PhD programme invites candidates with proposals on or related to the following topics:
- Feasible and effective anti-corruption
- Political settlements and political economy analysis
- Governance reform
- Citizen feedback, grievance redress and public sector accountability mechanisms
- Business environment and economic sectoral analysis
- The politics of public sector service delivery (e.g. education, social protection, energy)
- The politics of disasters
- Women’s rights struggles and the politics of gender equality
- Protests, civil society and social movements
- Work, labour markets, and labour rights
Admission and entry requirements
We normally require a 2.1 bachelor's degree plus a Masters degree with a Merit classification in a Social Science plus one academic reference. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants who do not meet these criteria if they show evidence of a strong Masters degree and/or appropriate level of relevant work experience. International applicants should also see Doctoral School English language requirements.
Further information on equivalence of international qualifications is available.
The deadline to apply for this programme is 21 July 2026.
International mobility
Student mobility will not be compulsory. Please check the visa requirements and your eligibility for a visa for both the UK and Bangladesh before planning any programme related travel.
- If you plan to spend less than a semester at SOAS, you should apply for a Standard Visitor Visa.
- If you plan to spend longer than a semester at SOAS, you must apply for a Student Visa.
- See further information from the UK Government on Student Visas.
- If you leave the UK during your programme, except during official university vacation periods, short term authorised absences / travel during weekends, or to undertake fieldwork, your Student Visa sponsorship will be discontinued. If you are leaving the UK to undertake fieldwork, you must ensure your absence does not exceed the normal duration allotted for fieldwork at SOAS.
- Students travelling to Bangladesh should apply for a student visa. For visa related enquires at BRAC, students can email international-office@bracu.ac.bd.
Structure
Year 1 – Research methods training, followed by upgrade paper
- Year 1 – Research methods training, followed by upgrade paper
The research training methods will be as follows: PhD students in the Development Studies pathway will undertake the standard research training programmes for Development Studies, while those in the Economics pathway will undertake the research training designated for Economics PhD candidates. BIGD may propose additional components to the research training. Some PhD students may be based in Bangladesh, so the research training offered in SOAS will be available through the ‘Global Classroom’ format to ensure students in Bangladesh can participate.
Students will be expected to set the foundations of their project through an extensive literature review and plan for the continuation of the research and, on this basis, pass an upgrade from MPhil to PhD status within 9 months of commencing the degree.
- Year 2 – Proceed to field research
- Year 3 – Analysis and writing up
Award: Joint PhD (SOAS University of London and BRAC University)
Teaching and learning
Doctoral candidates will have one supervisor from SOAS and one supervisor from BRAC. PhD candidates will meet weekly in terms 1 and 2 for research training seminars. They will also meet at least monthly with their supervisors.
Beyond this, at SOAS, the Departmental Director of Doctoral Studies has overall responsibility for SOAS research students, being available to discuss general problems. At BRAC University, this role falls to the Research Director, with the Registrar representing the university in the administration of the programme . Further details are set out in the Student Agreement. The PhD Student Agreement must be approved by the Participating Student and designated authorised signatories from each Partner Institution.
Fees and funding
- £5,738 per year
Please note that fees go up each year.
Employment
A degree from the Department of Development Studies or the Department of Economics at SOAS will further develop your understanding of the political economy of the development process, and of a number of key sectors.
Graduates leave with a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical skills and cultural awareness.
