About the MSc programme
This programme (divided into two streams) is based in the Department of Social Policy and offers the following benefits:
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A comparative, international and multi-disciplinary environment.
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Staff with expertise in Asia, Africa, Latin America and post-communist societies, who maintain research and advisory links with governments and key international development organisations.
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Links to leading research groups based in the Department specialising in social exclusion, health and social care and education.
The first stream, Social Policy and Development, approaches social policy and development primarily from the perspective of government. The second stream, Social Policy and Development: Non-Governmental Organisations approaches the subject from the perspective of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and wider civil society. Both streams share a common engagement with the core concepts and debates within social policy and development including the policy process, wellbeing, poverty and exclusion, global institutions and the aid system, sustainability and livelihoods, and rights and citizenship.
For both streams, you take courses to the value of four units consisting of compulsory and optional courses. In addition, both the programmes require you to write a MSc dissertation on a relevant topic.
This MSc programme is aimed primarily at participants from or working in Africa, Asia, Latin America and post-communist societies. Currently about two thirds of students come from these regions and in a typical year we have representatives from 25 or more different countries. For the first stream, programme participants are normally development professionals from central planning ministries and sectoral social service ministries such as education, rural and urban development, health, social security and social work services. We also have students who are representatives of multilateral aid bodies such as the World Bank, UNDP and UNICEF. For the second, which was formerly known as the MSc Non-Governmental Organisations and Development, participants are drawn mainly from northern and southern NGOs including Oxfam, Action Aid, BRAC, Christian Aid, Médecins sans Frontières and Save the Children Fund, as well as from smaller civil society organisations. Both MSc streams are suitable for development policy researchers in institutions of higher education and think tanks.
For either stream, you will need a first degree in a relevant academic subject (sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, development studies) at a standard equivalent to a British university first class or upper second class honours degree. In US terminology this means a 3.5 grade point average out of 4. Most applicants will also have some relevant work experience in a developing or post-communist society, although we will also consider applications from academically well-qualified applicants seeking to begin a career in development. A degree qualification is not always necessary if you have exceptional professional experience. Applications from experienced people with a non-social science degree will also be considered.
The MSc programme has four aims:
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To develop understanding of the theory and practice of social policy in developing and post-communist countries.
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To allow deeper study in development policy areas of particular interest through the choice of a wide range of optional courses and through writing a 10,000 word dissertation.
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To compare experience of social policy in a variety of countries and development institutions, drawing on current research and on the contrasting professional experience of the course participants in seminars and workshops.
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To develop analytical, organisational and planning skills, and enhance written and oral communication and presentation skills.
Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, student-led seminars, workshops and tutorials. Assessment is through a combination of unseen examinations, course essays, and a distinctive 10,000 word dissertation for each stream.
Stream one: Social Policy and Development
Students must take courses to the value of four full units as shown below, and undertake an MSc dissertation course.
Compulsory courses
(* half unit)
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Social Policy and Development: Core Concepts*
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Social Development: Policy and Practice* †
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Dissertation – Social Policy and Development
Options
(* half unit)
Courses to the value of two full units from the following
† Students will be required to take part in a residential workshop at Cumberland Lodge and this will cost £200
Stream two: Social Policy and Development: Non-Governmental Organisations
Students must take courses to the value of four full units as shown below, and undertake an MSc dissertation course
Compulsory courses
(* half unit)
-
Social Policy and Development: Core Concepts*
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Dissertation – NGOs and Development
Options
(* half unit)
Courses to the value of two full units from the following
† Students who choose this optional course will be required to take part in a residential workshop at Cumberland Lodge and this will cost £200