Program Overview

Master of Leadership for Development

Overview

The Master of Leadership for Development is a fully online, part-time master's course that supports students in learning on the job. The course is designed for individuals who want to reposition themselves to take up a leadership role in the development sector.

Key Features

• Learn on the job and start implementing change from day one
• Build a global network across the globe
• Learn from development colleagues in different settings across the world
• Practise new skills in simulations of real-world scenarios

Benefits of Our Collaborative Approach

• Draw on the combined strength of two world-class institutions
• Get a global perspective on development issues
• Learn from a joint team of international experts in the field
• Build diverse relationships and open doors for the future

Key Information

• Delivery: 100% online, developed to fit around your lifestyle and circumstances
• Duration: Master's - 24 months, part-time
• Application Deadline: 17 August 2026
• Induction: Induction usually takes place one week before teaching begins. The date will be confirmed closer to the time.
• Academic Teaching Start Date: 7 September 2026
• Workload: Approx 15 hours per week
• Course Director: Jaco Renken (Manchester), Natalie Cunningham (Manchester), Violeta Schubert (Melbourne)

Fees and Funding

• Total Course Tuition Fees: AUD$29,556 (for September 2026)
• Tuition Fee Discounts:
  • Application discount (10%): Apply on or before 30 June 2026 to receive 10% reduction on your tuition fee.
  • Alumni Discount for Online Courses (15%): If you have successfully completed a credit-bearing qualification at the University of Melbourne or The University of Manchester, or UMIST, you may be eligible for a 15% alumni discount on your tuition fees for online courses.
• International Fee Remissions (50%): Our International 50% fee remission programme empowers future leaders to deliver solutions globally within the development sector. Fee remissions are available to citizens of countries deemed low and middle income by the World Bank.
• Sustainable Development Goals Scholarship (A third off your tuition fee): Please see our scholarships and bursaries section for details.

Entry Requirements

• Academic Entry Qualification Overview: In order to be considered for entry, you must have completed:
  • An honours degree in a cognate discipline (e.g. social sciences including anthropology; sociology; public policy; social policy; political science; media and communication; journalism; economics; management; population and global health; education; engineering; or architecture and public planning), or equivalent and at least two years of documented, relevant professional work experience, or
  • an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline (e.g. social sciences including anthropology; sociology; public policy; social policy; political science; media and communication; journalism; economics; management; population and global health; education; engineering; or architecture and public planning), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant professional work experience, or
  • a minimum of eight years documented, relevant professional work experience. Candidates entering through this route will be registered for the master's certificate under a probation arrangement. Failure to pass all master's certificate course units in the first year of study will disallow registration for a higher-level qualification.
• English Language: Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the following language requirements:
  • IELTS (Academic) Test score of 6.5 or more overall, with a minimum score of 6.5 in writing and a minimum score of 6.0 in the other subsections, or
  • TOEFL internet-based test score of 90 or more overall, with a minimum writing score of 22 and no other subsection below 20, or
  • Pearson Test of English score of 62 or more overall, with a minimum score of 62 in writing and a minimum score of 59 in the other subsections, or
  • Grade C in the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, or
  • Grade A in the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English.

Course Structure

• Course Learning Aims: You will critically analyse the complexities of institutional structures and power relationships. You will develop leadership skills in a highly-complex sector and will learn to be able to navigate and make change happen.
• Teaching and Learning: The course consists of six core subjects and one capstone project. You will complete four units in year one and two units plus the project in year two. The course units are delivered by academics from across The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne.
• Coursework and Assessment: Each subject or unit will include different types of assessment. These may include written assignments, peer reviews, reflective learning, scenario simulation reporting, group work and how you engage and contribute to group discussions.

Course Units

• Contemporary Development: Consider how the changing global landscape affects the context of current development challenges. Explore key development theories, paradigms and concepts. Examine the implications of shifts in power for development.
• Contemporary Leadership: Study the key aspects of leadership theory, specifically the foundations of exercising influence, and the role of situational factors. Understand the different styles and models of leadership.
• Leading Development: Examine the distinctiveness of leadership in the development sector. Explore the changing meaning of leadership and implications of the post-heroic perspective. Draw on key concepts and context to develop a model for leading in a global context.
• Organisational Development and Change: Understand the organisational context of change initiatives. Learn theoretical foundations and practical interventions from applied behavioural science. Examine strategies for training leaders and succession planning.
• International Management and Leadership: Understand the processes of internationalisation in multilateral institutions and NGOs. Examine the challenges and opportunities for addressing global inequalities. Explore global trends, including public/NGO-private partnerships, corporate social entrepreneurship, value chain arrangements and open innovation.
• Leadership Skills in Action: Apply new knowledge and skills to simulated scenarios. Practise the practical management of change and leadership in the context of real-life development challenges.
• Project: Undertake a research-based activity using the knowledge and skills you've acquired. Choose between a group project and an individual dissertation.

Admissions Information

• How to Apply: Apply online
• Advice to Applicants: This first-of-a-kind, joint qualification draws on the combined strength of two world-class institutions: the University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne. The fully online course provides the flexibility to study around your commitments and complete the programme part-time over 24 months.
• How Your Application is Considered: When you submit your application, please provide a personal statement that outlines your personal motivation for pursuing the course in terms of future career ambitions, the nature of leadership/managerial experience and the relevance of prior qualifications in relation to this course, as it is keenly focused on the Development sector. We normally expect around 500 words.
• Scholarships and Bursaries: Please see our scholarships and bursaries section for details.

Additional Cost Information

• Policy on Additional Costs: All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application.