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Full Time: 12 months | Part Time: 24 months
Start date: September 2021
Study the theory and practice of international and community development with this MSc Applied International Development course.
This course, which is suitable for graduates from any discipline, allows you to design your own programme based on your personal and professional interests through your choice of study pathway:
- Agricultural and social development
- Social policy and sustainable livelihoods
- Development policy and planning
- Social and economic development
- Law and development.
You also have the option of selecting modules outside the pathways. To ensure that the course fully reflects your learning needs and career aspirations, you will receive guidance from the programme coordinators at the start of the year about your choice of modules and pathway.
In addition to the MSc course, we also offer Applied International Development as a PG Diploma or PG Certificate, with the full-time option delivered over six months and the part-time option over two periods of six months.
Whichever, qualification you choose, you will be taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- interactive exercises
- field trips.
Class sizes vary by subject and module, but emphasis is always placed on good contact time with lecturers.
As a student at Reading, you will have access to all the University's internet, printing and scanning facilities, as well as a full range of statistical and econometric software. You will also benefit from excellent opportunities for research, networking and personal development, as well as access to modern study resources and employability support.
Academics teaching on the programme conduct their research within the International Development Department, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and the Walker Institute. Current research, policy and practice examples are used throughout the course and many modules include external seminar speakers.
On joining this course, you will become a member of the School's Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE). As a GIIDAE student, you will have the option of undertaking a placement during the summer period.
For information on the scholarships, modules, bursaries and other sources of funding available to you, visit the GIIDAE website.
For more information, please visit the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development website.
Entry requirements
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £8,100 per year
New international students: £17,100 per year
Please note
The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated, and relate to courses starting in September 2021. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information on fees and funding, including for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
Our programmes are excellent preparation for careers in practice, research and policy in the areas of international and rural development, agricultural economics, and marketing within the food chain.
Engagement with a wide variety of visiting speakers and field trips provides many opportunities for networking. In addition, competitive internships, placements and research dissertations are opportunities to showcase your skills, undertake field research or link with organisations in the development sector. For examples of organisations our graduates go on to work for, please visit the GIIDAE website.