You will build diverse and rewarding career paths in local and international development, from practice-based roles to research and policy within education and government.
If you are already working as a development specialist or are seeking entry into the field, this degree is for you.
The Master of Development Studies is structured to acknowledge and recognise the skills that individuals bring to their postgraduate education.
More experienced students will undertake a streamlined degree for 1 year (48 units of credit) while students with less professional experience will study for 1.5 years (72 units of credit).
1 year plan or part-time equivalent (48 units of credit)
This is for students who have completed a relevant Honours degree or Graduate Diploma (or equivalent), or those who have completed a relevant Bachelor degree and one year relevant professional experience.
The 1 year plan allows suitably experienced students to fast track their postgraduate study, completing their Master of Development Studies in just one year. During this period, students will complete 48 units of credit, usually 8 courses.
What will you study?
- Core Research Courses (6-12 units of credit)
- Research Methods and Design
- Research Report OR Research Project
- Core Disciplinary Courses (18 units of credit)
- International Development Policy
- Community Development
- NGOs and Development OR Development, Rights and Health
- 2-3 electives (12-18 units of credit) from the full list of Master of Development Studies options
1.5 year plan or part-time equivalent (72 units of credit)
This is for students who have completed a relevant Bachelor degree (or equivalent) but have limited professional experience.
Students who have completed undergraduate studies in any discipline but have professional experience in a relevant field, or an Honours degree or Graduate Diploma in any discipline may also be eligible.
The 1.5 year plan will deepen your contextual knowledge of development studies before developing more advanced competencies and skills. During the program, students complete 72 units of study, usually 12 courses.
What will you study?
- Core Research Courses (24-36 units of credit)
- Research Methods and Design
- Theory, Ethics and Research
- Academic Writing in Social Sciences
- Research Report OR Research Project
- Core Disciplinary Courses (18 units of credit)
- International Development Policy
- Community Development
- NGOs and Development OR Development, Rights and Health
- 4-5 electives (24-30 units of credit) from the full list of Master of Development Studies options
2 year plan or part-time equivalent (96 units of credit)
This is for students who have completed any Bachelor degree (or equivalent) and do not have any relevant work experience.
Students who are eligible for the 1 year and/or 1.5 year streams are also permitted to study the 2 year stream.
What will you study?
- Core Research Courses (24-30 units of credit)
- Research Methods and Design
- Theory, Ethics and Research
- Academic Writing in Social Sciences
- Research Report OR Research Project
- Core Disciplinary Courses (18 units of credit)
- International Development Policy
- Community Development
- NGOs and Development OR Development, Rights and Health
- 7-8 electives (42-48 units of credit) from the full list of Master of Development Studies options
- Practice-based roles to Research and Policy within academia, government and civil society
- Local and International Development Agencies
- The United Nations
- Policy and Advocacy think tanks
- Community-based organisations and government bodies locally and internationally
Undertaking a research project
Students who maintain a distinction average in their first term of study can apply to undertake a Professional Practice Research Project* worth 12 units of credit.
This involves completing an empirical or conceptual research project with a topic directly related to professional practice in the field of International Development or Refugees and Displacement.
*Entry to research project courses is at the discretion of the program convenor.