Programme structure
The MA in Development Studies is a one-year programme divided into four blocks of 15 EC each:
- Diagnostics test
- Block 1 – Compulsory foundation courses (two General Courses + one Methodology course)
- Blocks 2 & 3 – Electives, Research Methods, and the start of your thesis
- Block 4 – Thesis research, writing, and defence
In the first weeks, all students take:
- An English academic writing test
- A numeracy and quantitative skills test
These help you identify areas for academic support.
All students follow two General Courses:
- Histories and Theories of Development – explores the roots of development studies.
- Grand Challenges in Development Studies – looks at critiques of “development” and alternative approaches.
- Doing Development Research – introducing research ethics, critical approaches to data (including AI), and basic research methods.
Choose two elective course (5 EC each) and one research methods course (5 EC).
Electives | Electives | Research methods courses |
| Political Economy of Agriculture and Food | Economic Analysis of Households, Firms and Institutions | Multi-methods Research in International Development |
| Economic Perspectives on Globalization and Development: Theory, Evidence, and Policy | Policy Analysis, Design and Implementation | Qualitative Research Methods and (Digital) Fieldwork |
| Feminist Perspectives on Gender and Development | Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics and Challenges | Quantitative Methods for Development Research |
| Social Protection and the Life Course | Political Ecology of Natural Resources and Development |
Please note that elective classes will only run if there are enough students registered for the class.
Option 1: Students choose two elective courses (5 EC each)
Option 2: *one research methods course (5 EC) and one elective course - if you want a stronger research profile.
Electives | Electives | Research methods courses |
Climate Crisis, Disasters and Humanitarian Action
| Entrepreneurship and Organizations in Development | Discourse Analysis and Critical Social Research |
| Armed Conflict, Collective Violence, and Epistemologies for/of Peace Governance | Migration, Mobilities and Development: Global Entanglements, Livelihoods and Intersectionality | Deep Diving into Quantitative Analysis |
| Monitoring and Evaluation | Politics of Global Order: Debating Liberal Internationalism | Decoloniality in the Development Research Context: Decolonizing Knowledge |
| Humanizing Digital Design for Development | Behavioral Perspectives and Development
|
Please note that elective classes will only run if there are enough students registered for the class.
Your thesis runs through the whole programme, in four stages:
- Choose your topic and electives (Block 1)
- Develop your research problem & literature review (Block 2)
- Prepare your thesis design (Block 3)
- Conduct research & write your thesis (Block 4)
Along the way:
- You’ll join a thesis group (4–5 students) with a dedicated supervisor.
- A Thesis & Course Market in Block 1 helps you meet advisors and choose a topic.
- Your progress is formally evaluated at the thesis design stage and again with the final thesis.
| Period | Block / Activity | Credits (EC) | Duration | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 4 Sep | Intro Week | _ | 1 week | Orientation & introduction |
| 7 Sep – 13 Nov | Block 1 | 15 EC | 10 weeks | General Course 1, General Course 2, Doing Development Research |
| 16 Nov – 20 Dec | Block 2 (part 1) | 15 EC | 5 weeks | Elective Course 1, Elective Course 2 |
| 21 Dec – 3 Jan Winter Break –2 weeks | ||||
| 4 Jan – 5 Feb | Block 2 (part 2) | _ | 5 weeks | Methods Course |
| 8 Feb – 16 Apr | Block 3 | 15 EC | 10 weeks | Elective Course 3, Elective Course 4 |
| 19 Apr – End Aug | Block 4 | 15 EC | 10 weeks | Start Thesis, Thesis Writing, Thesis Defence |
| Graduation ceremony | ||||
Our education focuses on Development Studies and offers a strong multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field of study seeking to understand social, political and economic change and development.
Critical thinking
Our students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of major debates, theories and strategic interventions and of the skills to analyze the issues, and to design and assess interventions aimed at tackling these issues.
An essential part of this process is to develop skills in research methodology, which will be applied in a research paper prepared as a requirement for the Masters degree.
Engagement and Impact
We offer top-notch education with a wide variety of courses, teaching not only theory and content but also situating that knowledge in different social, economic and cultural contexts. Students learn to respond to our world’s needs by being critical and constructive, analyzing development, and translating insights into plans and concrete action.