Course description

MSc Development Finance will provide you with a thorough understanding of specific aspects of development finance, recognising that finance-related issues are increasingly important in development.

It will equip you with the necessary skills to make a meaningful contribution to policy formulation and implementation, by focusing on financial development policy and financial management, with specific reference to developing countries.

You will apply different approaches to the collection, analysis and presentation of data, as well as in critically evaluating specific issues of development, and gathering, organising and using evidence and information from a wide variety of sources.

The course provides skills in identifying, investigating and justifying possible solutions to problems arising out of the theory and practice of economic development. These also include competency in developing a reasoned argument, critically considering data sources and defending different approaches.

By the end of the course, you should have obtained a detailed knowledge of the key issues and debates in various aspects of economic development, familiarity with theoretical approaches concerning development problems and an appreciation of the diversity of development policies.

Aims

On completion of the programme, you will have acquired the following skills and capabilities:

an ability to critically analyse the techniques and procedures for financial sector development, management and accounting;

an ability to apply these techniques and procedures in a professionally competent manner;

the ability to undertake independent research, and to present research findings in a form that can be disseminated effectively to users.

Special features

We're the largest development-focused teaching and research institute in Europe, and have been at the forefront of development studies for more than 60 years.

We're ranked 14th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018).

We're dedicated to addressing global poverty and inequality.

Our research was ranked first in the UK for impact and second in the UK for quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).

We're home to a multicultural community of 450 students from 30 countries.

We have numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding applicants.

Our alumni are recognised for their contribution to global development across the globe.

The combined field experience of our staff covers 60 countries.

We've trained almost 10,000 individuals from more than 170 countries.

Many of our master's include fieldwork, giving you the opportunity to observe development interventions in situ and to reflect on how theoretical explorations of development are operationalised in the real world. Recent destinations include Uganda, South Africa and Cyprus. Find out more at Fieldwork .

Teaching and learning

Please note that field visits may be scheduled at any point during the course, including during University vacations. You are expected to be available to attend.

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 27 months.  There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off.  Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Coursework and assessment

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (eg project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors. You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.