Program Overview

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Key information

Study mode: | 100% online
Duration: | 2 years, part timeNext start date: | 29 September 2025Application deadline: | 1 September 2025Intakes: | September 2025 and January 2026Tuition fees: | £19,422* (funding options and instalments are available)

Course overview

In our ever-changing, increasingly interconnected world, more people are needed to understand and help tackle complex global issues like extreme poverty, inequality, or climate crisis.

This International Development MSc combines interdisciplinary training in subjects including development theory, political economy, and social policy, with applied country and region-based case studies.

Practical examples demonstrate different approaches and their contribution to national development in areas such as industrialisation, financial systems, regulation, technology, environment, and natural resource management. These case studies also help you appreciate the variations across advanced, emerging, and lower-income economies.

Why choose this online MSc?

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Well-ranked programme and university

Ranked fifth in Europe for politics and international relations (2023 QS World University Rankings) and placed first in the UK for research (Times Higher Education 2021 Research Excellence Framework).

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Distinctive approach to development studies

Our course combines inter-disciplinary training on subjects like development theory, political economy, and social policy, with applied country-based and regional case studies.

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A department of experts from across the globe

The department brings together experts in social science and humanities disciplines who work in an interdisciplinary, applied and policy and practice-based learning environment.

Who is this course for?

• Development professionals: Strengthen your impact in NGOs, government, or international organisations.
• Policy analysts and researchers: Understand the links between development, social policy, and economic change.
• Career changers and progressors: Move into roles in finance, health, education, or public policy within development.
• Global justice advocates: Tackle poverty, inequality, and climate challenges in emerging economies.

What you'll study

Capitalising on our extensive in-depth regional expertise on Latin America, East Asia and the Middle East, this MSc offers a non-Eurocentric worldview of international development.

Focusing on emerging economies, the course provides a social scientific framework to better understand international development. You’ll learn about the challenges, tradeoffs, and uncertainties surrounding the processes of development.

How you'll learn

Get more information on the online student experience with King's.

Module overview

You’re required to take the following five modules, totalling 180 credits:

Year one:

Foundations of Development Theory and Management (30 credits)

In this module, you'll explore two main areas. Firstly, you'll examine the main theories of development that have emerged since the 19th century. Secondly, you'll discuss development management, its historical place, and how to manage projects.

You'll gain a broad picture of long-term development and intertwine this with an examination of the policy implications following from each theory, such as industrialisation, market construction, or well-being improvements. You'll also review historical case studies of economic development. You’ll focus on successful middle-income countries, their relevant policies and institutions, and the challenges and dilemmas addressed during relevant periods.

You’ll then consider the main challenges to development today, the policy options available for developing countries, and discuss concrete examples and practices of development management.

You’ll also gain the ability to critically identify and use the most up-to-date methods for effective project management within a development context. You’ll be introduced to the main tools used in project design and the latest approaches. You’ll review leading participatory methods used to organise and manage projects and measure their contribution to development.

Political Economy of Development (30 credits)

In this module, you’ll explore the key theories, models, policies and processes of development from a macroeconomic perspective. You’ll focus on middle-income and late developing countries (e.g., Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Turkey, India, China, Indonesia, as well as South Korea, Singapore, and similar countries).

These economies differ structurally from the advanced economies in important ways in their sectoral composition, relationship with international markets for goods, services and finance, and sources of dynamics.

Examination of these structural features can help to explain the constraints to development in those economies, and their macroeconomic instability and vulnerability to crisis. The theories, models and policies you’ll examine will help you to understand the long-term development of some of the largest, most dynamic, and most interesting economies in the world.

Year two:

Intersectional Inequalities and Development (30 credits)

This module offers an in-depth understanding of inequalities and development. You’ll examine concepts, theory and empirical trends in global poverty, global income inequality, inequalities related to gender and race, and methodologies for assessing inequalities.

You'll discuss social policy and the relationship between inequalities and economic development. Case studies provide context-specific insights into the issues.

By fostering nuanced understandings and encouraging critical analysis, this module will equip you with the tools to understand the range of conceptual, methodological, and theoretical questions arising from the study of inequalities and development.

Research Methods for International Development (30 credits)

This module introduces the uses, approaches and techniques to researching development. By drawing on the field's multidisciplinary nature, contested histories, and multifaceted research traditions, you can develop a critical approach to research and practice in development.

Starting from the foundations of research in the social sciences, the module provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis, helping you to outline your own research project for academic and non-academic purposes.

In doing so, the module will equip you with strong foundations to critically engage, assess and challenge development theory and practice.

Dissertation (60 credits)

The dissertation allows you to showcase your specialised research understanding and independent critical evaluation through a comprehensive research project.

Representing a significant portion of the degree, this module is designed to ensure academic rigor and the practical application of research skills.

You'll engage in a detailed research project, contributing original insights to your field of study. With the autonomy to define the direction and scope of your work, you'll demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research. You'll identify or collect primary or secondary source materials and critically analyse them.

The dissertation framework offers flexibility, enabling self-directed work that enables you to develop your project through a structured approach. Practical skills will be developed and assessed throughout the module.

A key focus will be on research design and execution, particularly through the identification and use of original primary and secondary source materials, including those published in the regions of study, which may include foreign language materials.

Throughout the module, you'll receive supervision support and be encouraged to develop peer networks. Additionally, King’s Foundations provides resources, workshops, and one-on-one appointments with academic skills tutors to enhance your research and writing capabilities.

By completing the dissertation module, you'll demonstrate your expertise, contribute to your field, and prepare for future academic and professional endeavours in International Development.

Dissertation topics

To give you an idea of the diverse research areas explored in this module, here are some example dissertation topics. These titles reflect current global challenges and opportunities in international development, allowing students to critically engage with pressing economic, social, and political issues in emerging economies.

Labour markets and inequality

• Has the post-pandemic recovery widened or reduced gender inequalities in labour markets in emerging economies?
• What lessons can emerging economies draw from China’s development model in navigating post-pandemic economic recovery?

Green growth and sustainability

• To what extent do green industrial policies support economic growth and job creation in emerging economies? A case study of [country].
• What are the economic and social implications of climate-induced migration in emerging economies? A case study of [country].

Geopolitics and global trade

• How are geopolitical shifts, such as US-China trade tensions, affecting global value chains in emerging economies?
• What are the implications of de-dollarization trends for macroeconomic stability in emerging economies? A case study of [country].

Technology and digital transformation

• How is artificial intelligence reshaping economic transformation in emerging economies? Evidence from [country].
• What are the effects of digital financial inclusion on income inequality in emerging economies? A case study of [country].
• Does the rise of digital platforms reduce or exacerbate inequalities in emerging economies? Evidence from [country].

Meet your academic team

Andy Sumner

Programme Director

Dr Aiko Ikemura Amaral

Lecturer in International Development

Dr Regina Enjuto Martinez

Lecturer in International Development

How you're assessed

Assessments are designed to test your knowledge, understanding and critical awareness of the topics discussed during the course. They’ll also assess your ability to analyse and apply specialist knowledge to practice. These may vary between modules. However, they’re likely to include one or more of the following:

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Essays

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Written and oral assessments

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Online quizzes

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Presentations

Entry requirements

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 honours degree (or above) in a related subject such as international development, politics, economics or other social science or regional studies.

If you have a lower degree classification , or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a master's or PGDip).

Non-standard entry requirements

Please note that if you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may still be considered. You’ll need to demonstrate significant relevant work experience or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a master’s or PGDip). Non-standard applications must be supported by degree certificates or transcripts (where relevant), a CV, a personal statement, and a reference letter.

English language requirements

English language band: B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You’re usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed:

• An undergraduate degree (at least three years duration) within five years of the course start date.
• A postgraduate taught degree (at least one year) within five years of the course start date.
• A PhD in a majority English-speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Personal statement and supporting information

Depending on your previous qualifications, you may need to submit a personal statement and a reference letter as part of your application.

You’ll need to submit a copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.

You’ll need to submit your CV as part of your application to highlight your experience.

Career options in International Development

The field of international development is vast and diverse with opportunities in countries worldwide. It requires a multitalented workforce with specialists in a variety of disciplines, including finance, economics, health, education, public policy, engaging in non-governmental organisation work, and fundraising.

Our International Development MSc equips you with a firm understanding of the history, evolution, and impact of the theory, strategies and tactics used to promote development. You’ll see how these are applied in practical case studies from the Global South.

The general knowledge you gain can enhance any existing professional or subject-specific expertise, and you could use it to develop a more active role in international development than you currently have. You could pursue roles working within international organisations and standard-setting bodies like the UN, World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

As well as working for government or international inter-governmental organisations, many countries have national initiatives focused on development. The US Agency for International Development, Asian Development Bank, and African Development Bank are among the largest employers. There are also dozens of international nongovernmental organisations, including CARE, OXFAM, World Vision, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, and Red Cross.