Despite the recent global financial crisis international development remains a growing field, employing people both in Ireland and overseas and with annual budgets in excess of US$ 150 billion.
In tandem with these developments, the field has become increasingly professionalised and a multi-faceted approach is now required, which moves beyond traditional charity-based approaches to legally embedded rights-based frameworks that both interact with and challenge the international political economic context in which they are embedded.
DCU's MA in Development, delivered by leading specialists with research and practical expertise in the fields of development, politics, economics, and law meets these requirements by offering world-class training and education at graduate level.
The course is appropriate for development practitioners seeking to upgrade their knowledge, skills and capacities; people seeking a career change; and recent graduates who wish to embark on a career in international development.
Semester 1 modules are all core (i.e. required) as set out in the table below. In Semester 2, students take Research Methods, a second core module, and three optional modules (i.e. electives) from the list below. The final component of the course is a 20,000-word dissertation, the major portion of which is produced in the summer months under supervision by a member of staff, and due for submission on the first Thursday of September yearly.
Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree or equivalent, but appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may be accepted as equivalent to an honours degree, in accordance with the relevant University regulations.
The MA Programme features seminars and presentations by guest speakers with particular experience and expertise, be it as development workers, officials, academics or diplomats. The intention is to facilitate the exploration of key issues in international development in an informal, interactive environment.
In 2011 - 2012, our guests included:
Click here for more details on MA Programme Events and Activities
Our graduates work as researchers, policy-analysts, managers, facilitators and educators in a wide range of agencies and institutions across the development spectrum. Past employers of our graduates include, amongst others, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the United Nations Volunteer Programme, Trócaire, Goal, Amnesty International, Concern, and Oxfam, together with a wide range of small local NGOs overseas as well as community development and development education organisations in Ireland.
2.1 (or equivalent experience) in any discipline
Full-time, taught
1 year
EU Fees: c. €6,573
Non-EU Fees: c. €11,200
Apply online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC)
Deadline: 31 August 2012
Application Fee: Credit Card €45 or Bank Draft €50
Our MA programmes are heavily subscribed to. We therefore encourage people to apply to all the School of Law and Government MA programmes they are interested in, in order of preference. This will increase your chances of an offer. The PAC system allows you to rank three separate programmes.
Dr. Niamh Gaynor
niamh.gaynor@dcu.ie
+353 1 700 6048
A short video about DCU's MA in Development
In 2007 I considered undertaking some further education and in particular I looked at the postgraduate programmes in international affairs in DCU. Given my career experience in development I decided on the MA in Development programme which had just commenced that year. What attracted me in particular to the DCU Masters Programme was the fact that although my degree course was in Development, in addition to my core development modules I was able to avail of a wide choice of interesting and relevant subjects from across the entire International Relations Masters Programme. Having just returned from working in Uganda I found that this suited me in that it allowed me to further explore areas of personal interest such as peace, conflict, and security studies. The added value, both on a personal and professional level, of undertaking this course was in being able to contribute in class with practical examples from my work and also to apply the learning on my return to the workplace. The Staff at DCU, the interactive nature of the course, and the high standard of facilities provided all added up to a good experience for me at the University and I would personally recommend the Masters Programme to any person looking to further their education in the field of International Affairs or Development
The busy year studying at DCU Masters in Development programme gave me a better insight and understanding of the politics of international development and the disciplines directly linked to it such as political economy of development and international human rights. The year at DCU equipped me with better research skills and allowed time to put them into practice. The MA in Development programme had enough flexibility that I could concentrate on the topics most important to me. Coming out of the year I felt more confident in understanding international politics and development