Program Overview

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Applied Development Economics

The programme offers students the opportunity to apply economic and political economy analysis to solving real-world problems.

Overview

The Masters in Applied Development Economics (ADE) trains researchers and policy practitioners to understand and address current development challenges. It offers students an opportunity to apply economic and political economy analysis to solving real-world problems. In doing so, it approaches economics from a pluralist point of view. In this context, pluralism comprises three dimensions: theoretical pluralism; methodological pluralism; and dialogue between economics and other social sciences.

This unique offering provides students the opportunity to study important areas of economics that address some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. For example, our elective offerings include courses on gender economics, health economics, and environmental and energy economics, among others. Many of our academic staff are conducting cutting-edge research in these fields and are actively engaged in the policy and advocacy spaces.

Career Opportunities

The Masters degree in Applied Development Economics prepares students for a career in research and policy-making in the NGO, private and public sectors in the broad field of development. Students who successfully complete this degree can also go on to enrol for the PhD in Applied Development Economics.

Curriculum

The Coursework Masters in Applied Development Economics programme comprises of a Research Report (10 000 15 000 words) together with a total of 6 courses, made up of 3 compulsory courses and 3 electives as shown below.

• Compulsory courses:
  • Political Economy of Development
  • Microeconomics & Industrial and Trade Policy
  • Advanced Macroeconomics for Policy
• Electives:
  • The Economics of Competition and Regulation
  • Development
  • Advanced Institutional Economics
  • Gender Economics
  • Introduction to Health Economics
  • Environmental Economics and Policy
  • Energy Economics
  • Public Economics
  • Applied Econometrics
  • Time Series Econometrics
  • Introduction to Applied Econometrics

Additional Requirements

If the candidate has not taken the Schools Research Methods/Research Methods for Development and Data Analysis for Research in Economics courses in their Honours year, these will also need to be completed for non-credit purposes in the Masters year to help prepare the student for the research report.

Due Date for Research Report

The Research Report is expected to be completed alongside the coursework. The research proposal for the Research Report must be approved by the Schools Postgraduate Committee early in the second semester. Therefore, work on the research proposal should commence in the first semester. The completed Research Report must be submitted by the end of the following February.

Entry Requirements

• A bachelors degree with honours in Applied Development Economics/Economics/Economic Sciences (or an equivalent).
• Applicants are expected to have achieved an average of at least 65% for Honours.

University Application Process

Applications are handled centrally. Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.

University Fees and Funding

The Fees site provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, the University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to postgraduate students.

Programme Details

• Programme Code: CCA01
• Faculty: Commerce, Law and Management
• School: Economics and Finance
• Qualification: MCom
• Duration: 1 - 2 years
• Study Mode: Full-time; Part-time

Closing Date

Applications for January 2026 entry open on 1 May 2025 and close on 31 October 2025.

Course Coordinator

Prof. Daniela Casale