MSc Globalisation and Development

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

SOAS University of London

Program Overview

SOAS University of London’s MSc Globalisation and Development immerses you in the forces reshaping our world, from neoliberal economics and global inequality to sustainable futures in the Global South. Perfect for grads in social sciences or economics hungry to critique development policies and drive change at NGOs or international agencies .

Curriculum Structure

Term one kicks off with the core Development in the Contemporary World, unpacking globalisation’s impacts on poverty, aid, and markets through critical lenses like neoliberalism critiques and state roles in industrialisation. You’ll pair it with guided options such as Political Economy of Development, dissecting labour, capital, and agrarian change, building skills to challenge mainstream narratives via seminars and group critiques .

Term two deepens analysis with modules like Resource Mobilisation and Development Economics, evaluating finance, taxation, and aid flows alongside climate or health policies, or electives on migration and gender dynamics. Practical exercises sharpen your policy evaluation, prepping for real-world advocacy .

Summer delivers a 60-credit dissertation, your chance to research a passion project like commodity chains or social movements, with supervisor guidance for impactful, publishable work .

Focus areas: Neoliberalism critiques, poverty/inequality, climate policy, labour markets, NGOs/social movements .

Learning outcomes: Critical development analysis, policy critique, interdisciplinary research, global advocacy skills .

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At SOAS University of London’s MSc Globalisation and Development (also listed as MSc Global Development), you’ll gain hands-on skills through virtual placements with real development organisations, working in teams on live projects like policy analysis or advocacy campaigns over 40 hours in term two. These group-based experiences with partners such as the Overseas Development Institute, ISEAL, or MSF build practical expertise in collaborative problem-solving and professional communication, all supported by SOAS’s world-class library and interdisciplinary facilities . This real-world immersion turns theory into action: key highlights include.

• Virtual placements (International Development Placement Module): Team projects (2-9 students) with NGOs on development tasks like research or strategy, capped at 75 spots for authentic experience .

• Group work in seminars across modules, debating globalisation impacts and policy critiques with peers from diverse backgrounds .

• SOAS Library and departmental resources for data access and collaborative study—no specific software, field trips, labs, or internships beyond virtual placements noted 

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from SOAS University of London’s MSc Globalisation and Development launch into dynamic careers tackling poverty, inequality, and sustainable growth, often with NGOs, international agencies, or policy think tanks. You’ll find yourself as a development policy advisor, programme officer at Oxfam or similar, sustainability consultant, or researcher at the UN: this degree opens doors to roles where you can drive real global change .

• SOAS Careers Service offers tailored CV workshops, mock interviews, and networking events with development pros, plus the optional work placement year for hands-on NGO experience .

• Strong employability with 90%+ of SOAS postgrads in work or further study within six months; development sector averages £30k-£45k starting salaries, rising fast with experience .

• Partnerships via virtual placements with Overseas Development Institute, ISEAL Alliance, and MSF for live projects that build industry networks .

• No formal accreditation, but SOAS’s global rep in development studies adds lifelong credibility for policy and advocacy roles .

• Alumni lead at World Bank, UN agencies, Oxfam, and grassroots NGOs, applying critical skills to climate, migration, and economic justice .

Program Key Stats

£25,320
£12,965


Eligibility Criteria

2.7

N/A
N/A
N/A
6.5
93
2:2
60
NA
70 - 75

Additional Information & Requirements

Country Requirements

Career Options

  • Development Policy Advisor
  • Programme Officer
  • Sustainability Consultant
  • Researcher
  • Policy Analyst
  • NGO Project Manager
  • International Relations Officer
  • Economist
  • Humanitarian Aid Worker

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