Degree Programme Table: International Development (PHD) (Full-Time) (PRPHDINTDE1F)

Year 1 academic year: 2021/22, starting in: september.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

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International Development PhD

The university of edinburgh, different course options.

  • Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Development Politics International Studies Development Economics

Course type

The University of Edinburgh is host to a thriving and cosmopolitan community of researchers working on global development issues.

We are home to internationally recognised academics working at the intersection of: international development policy and health; science/technology; culture; religion; migration etc.

Doctoral students in International Development become part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community, and members of the Global Development Academy, which coordinates research and teaching on international development across the University.

As a postgraduate in our International Development group, you will receive regular one-to-one thesis supervision from two supervisors with expertise in your regional and/or specific research areas.

Focused supervision in the International Development group is drawn from faculty associated to: Centre of African Studies; Sociology; Social Anthropology; Social Policy; Politics and History.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

To be confirmed

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.

International Development Management MSc

University of westminster, london, global development ma, msc global development management, university of east anglia uea, ma global development (jan start), ma conflict, governance and global development.

The University of Edinburgh

  • Schools & departments

phd international development edinburgh

International development research

What to consider if you plan to do research with partners in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Research funding to tackle global development challenges

In Spring 2021, the UK Government significantly reduced the allocation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding made available for research. This has meant that major funds like the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and Newton have now closed.

For those still interested in pursuing research to tackle global development challenges, there are  other sources of funding available – both from ODA and non-ODA sources.

View international development funding opportunities

When applying to any of these funds, it is important to lay the foundations that will allow truly collaborative research with partners in the Global South, which will contribute to real and positive change in those countries.

Strong partnerships

Successful research projects rely on strong partnerships with those in LMIC. These should include both academic and non-academic actors, such as NGOs, industry and civil society.

It is fundamental that these partnerships are ethical, equitable and sustainable and they should be established well in advance of writing an application to a funding call.

We have an in-depth guide for researchers wishing to build fair and equitable partnerships in LMICs.

The toolkit identifies important issues that academics should address in order to:

  • ensure research collaborations are fair, equitable, sustainable and have long lasting impact
  • strengthen research proposals and increase chances of being awarded funding
  • maintain the University’s good reputation for developing partnerships with integrity

View Toolkit - Building ethical sustainable partnerships

Considering impact from the outset

The primary purpose of development research is to promote the economic development and/or welfare of people LMICs. Therefore, perhaps more crucially than with some other funding streams, impact – and your pathway to impact – needs to be considered right from the outset.

International development funders are more technical in their requirements, with a focus on concepts such as 'Theory of Change', 'Logframes' and 'monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks'.

It is essential that researchers who are applying for international development research funding fully understand these concepts and tools in order to develop competitive research proposals.

We have developed comprehensive resources – including a toolkit, webinars and written resource guides - to help you with this.

View international development research impact resources (University staff only)

Gender in international development research.

Experience has shown we cannot assume that technology and research will benefit everyone equally. Impacts interact with existing social structures – such as gender inequality. In the development sector, experience has shown that projects that take gender specific experiences into account are far more effective and deliver more positive outcomes in ensuring the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal’s central agenda to ‘ leave no one behind ’. 

Therefore funders are increasingly asking for evidence that projects have taken into account how gender is relevant and demonstrate that they are taking active steps to reduce inequalities.

GenderED – the University’s interdisciplinary hub for gender and sexualities studies – has developed a suite of resources to help you do this.

Gender sensitive research - resources

Ethical Action in Global Research

All research conducted by the University of Edinburgh must comply with the highest standards of integrity and ethical practice, as set out in the UKRIO Concordat to Support Research Integrity . Research activities conducted in LMICs and/or with partners in LMICs present additional ethical challenges in order to make the research truly equitable, throughout all stages of the research, including but not restricted to:

  • Place : The context in which the research takes place (including cultural, political, economic and social forces), and its impact on the research activities
  • People : All those involved in the research (including the research team, funders, partners, participants, and potential beneficiaries), and their needs and concerns
  • Principles : The multiple values and standards that guide the research (from the UK, in other countries, in different disciplines etc.), and how these may intersect
  • Precedent : Learning from and building on past individual and/or collective experiences and insights

The University of Edinburgh has funded the development of an ethics toolkit for researchers, practitioners and others who conduct or support research in complex, low income or fragile settings.

This toolkit is the result of a series of discussions with more than 200 global researchers from more than 30 countries designed to inform and support ethical choices in global research.

We recommend using the toolkit as a framework to consider many ethical issues that can exist throughout the lifecycle of a global project – from idea and proposal development, to data collection and analysis, through to dissemination and impact.

We also fully endorse the recent toolkits and guidance developed by UKCDR, the collaborative of development research funders and Association of Commonwealth Universities.

UKCDR Four approaches to supporting equitable research partnerships Association of Commonwealth Universities equitable Partnerships toolkit:

Ethical Action in Global Research - Toolkit  

Keep in touch

Read our posts on the Edinburgh Research Office blog

Types of international development research funding

Guidance on writing an international development research proposal

All international development research resources (University staff only)

This article was published on 2024-01-24

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International Development PhD The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh

Course options

Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

The University of Edinburgh

  • TUITION FEES
  • ENTRY REQUIREMENT
  • UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

The University of Edinburgh is host to a thriving and cosmopolitan community of researchers working on global development issues.

We are home to internationally recognised academics working at the intersection of: international development policy and health; science/technology; culture; religion; migration etc.

Doctoral students in International Development become part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community, and members of the Global Development Academy, which coordinates research and teaching on international development across the University.

As a postgraduate in our International Development group, you will receive regular one-to-one thesis supervision from two supervisors with expertise in your regional and/or specific research areas.

Focused supervision in the International Development group is drawn from faculty associated to: Centre of African Studies; Sociology; Social Anthropology; Social Policy; Politics and History.

Tuition fees

  • Afghanistan
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Burkina Faso
  • Central African Republic
  • Congo (Democratic Republic)
  • Czech Republic
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Ivory Coast
  • Korea DPR (North Korea)
  • Liechtenstein
  • Marshall Islands
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Northern Ireland
  • Palestinian Authority
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • South Sudan
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • Switzerland
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Vatican City
  • Western Samoa

£ 26,300 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University league table, campus address.

University of Edinburgh, Student Recruitment and Admissions, 33 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City Of, EH8 9JS, Scotland

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

13th out of 79 1

9th out of 79

7th out of 101 5

Entry standards

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DPhil in International Development

  • Entry requirements
  • Funding and Costs

College preference

  • How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in International Development provides an opportunity for outstanding students to pursue in-depth multi- and interdisciplinary research, guided by leading scholars in the field, into processes of social, political and economic development and change in the global South.

Academics at the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) can offer supervision in a wide range of subjects, including migration, refugees and humanitarianism; urban, agrarian and environmental development; political and social change and conflict; state-making and disciplinary regimes; public health and social policies; global governance, diplomatic studies, and security; economic growth and structural transformation; macroeconomics and public finance; firms and households; poverty and inequality; and technology. The department also has close connections with other departments and research centres across the University.

As a DPhil student you will undertake your own original research project under the guidance of your supervisor, whom you will typically meet two to three times a term. The supervisor will help develop and guide your project and, at later stages, provide feedback on chapter drafts. However, you will work to a significant extent on your own, and you will need a high level of motivation and self-discipline.

During an initial probationary period as a Probationer Research Student (PRS), you will develop and begin work on your thesis topic. You will be offered training in relevant research methods, language, computing and other skills, and you will have the opportunity to attend lectures, seminars and classes in your general topic area. Full-time students are expected to be resident in Oxford for the PRS period.

As a PRS, you will also take one taught course, either in research methods or from an Oxford master’s degree relevant to your research, which will be examined. Full-time students usually transfer to full DPhil status by the end of their first year and part-time students usually transfer by the end of their second year.

Following satisfactory progress and transfer to full DPhil status, you may leave Oxford for up to three terms (six terms for part-time students) in order to conduct fieldwork, if the project requires. You will then continue the course by carrying out your own research under the guidance of your supervisor, with whom you will continue to meet or correspond with regularly. Full-time students should return to Oxford after fieldwork for at least three terms.

Time to completion depends on the complexity of an individual student’s research programme and on the amount of fieldwork that may be required. The University considers that the normal time for completion of the DPhil should be three to four years (four to eight years for part-time), or for students who transfer to the DPhil after the MPhil in Development Studies two to three years (four to six years for part-time), although the exact time will vary depending on the complexity and ambition of the project. In exceptional circumstances there are procedures in place which allow students to apply for extensions of time or to suspend their status for fixed periods of time.

Further information about part-time study

Applicants wishing to study part-time while in employment will be asked to provide a letter from their employer confirming that they are supportive of the study and are willing to release them from the workplace for study in Oxford, independent study and any fieldwork necessary for data collection. In addition, where appropriate, students will be required to obtain the written agreement from their employer for the use of their employer’s data in their research.

As a part-time student you will be required to attend classes, seminars, supervision meetings and other obligations in Oxford for a certain number of days each year. In your first year as a probationer student, it is expected that you will need to be resident in Oxford for a minimum of 48 working days in the year in order to participate in induction activities at the start of the academic year and then classes and seminars for your Qualifying Examination. The exact days will depend on the choice of course for the Qualifying Examination and whether the classes take place in Michaelmas or Hilary term.

After the probationary period, you will be required to be resident for a minimum of 30 days of university-based work each year, normally coinciding with the full terms of the academic year. These days will be arranged with the agreement of your supervisor and will be for the period that your name remains on the Register of Graduate Students unless individually dispensed by the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee.

There will be limited flexibility in the dates and pattern of attendance, which will be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Oxford Department of International Development and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. 

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

The availability of supervision varies year on year and candidates are advised to review the list of eligible supervisors from the department’s webpage for the DPhil course to ensure their areas of interest are compatible.

Each student/supervisor relationship is different and the number of meetings varies, but generally, students are likely to meet with their supervisor two or three times per term.

You will be admitted initially as a Probationer Research Student (PRS). At the end of your first year, you will be examined on one taught course (either in research methods or from an Oxford master’s degree relevant to your research). You must pass this course with a strong performance in order to transfer from PRS status to full DPhil status. You also need departmental approval of a fully developed research plan, which you will present in your transfer paper to two assessors approved by the department’s graduate studies committee. Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student or eight terms as a part-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for and achieve transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. The department’s preference is for Transfer to be completed by the end of the third term (full-time) or sixth term (part-time) in order for students to commence fieldwork during the Trinity Term summer vacation.

Assessment of progress will be made during sessions with your supervisor and also in more formal viva voce assessments – for the Transfer of Status and for Confirmation of Status (usually at the end of the third year for full-time students and end of the sixth year for part-time students). More information on these two assessments can be found in the course handbook on the ODID website's course page.

DPhil students submit their thesis for examination three to four years (or six to eight years for part-time) from the date of admissions and defend their thesis in a viva voce examination which takes place between the student and their two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

Through the DPhil, I learned critical thinking skills that have guided me in a variety of contexts. Because of the programme’s multidisciplinary approach to research and impact, I am equally comfortable engaging with academic, policy, and media audiences.  Sam, DPhil student

Graduates of the DPhil in International Development have a strong track record in developing academic careers in universities and research institutions across the world. The department’s alumni now hold positions at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Leicester, London (LSE and SOAS) and Sussex in the UK, and at the Australian National University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dartmouth College, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and the Universities of Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Leiden, Leuven, Melbourne, Peru, Port Harcourt, Rome, Roskilde, York (Canada), the Western Cape (South Africa) and the Witwatersrand (South Africa) overseas, among other institutions.

Other former students have taken up influential positions in governments and major international institutions, including the World Bank and UN organisations such as UNCTAD and UNHCR, and in NGOs.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

  • a master's degree with a distinction or a very high 2:1/merit  in a relevant social science subject; and
  • a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant social science subject.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent. Most successful applicants have strong backgrounds in one or more core disciplines: history, politics, anthropology, sociology, or economics, or combinations of these disciplines (e.g., Philosophy, Politics, and Economics). It is also expected that they should already have familiarity with key literature in the proposed field of study.

It is relatively rare for applicants to be successful whose primary academic training is in fields such as management or business, and it is also rare for us to accept students who are primarily trained in engineering or the sciences. We welcome applicants with professional experience in development, but this is not generally seen as a substitute for previous social science study.

The master's degree must be completed and a final transcript made available to the department by the end of August prior to the start of the DPhil.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.8 out of 4.0 for those marks most relevant to the proposed DPhil programme of study.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are required.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

  • Research or working experience in a relevant area may be an advantage but is not essential. Evidence of training in research methods is required.
  • Publications are not expected or required for admission, but any which you have should be added to your CV.
  • It would be expected that graduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.
  • Part-time applicants will also be expected to show evidence of the ability to commit time to study and, if applicable, an employer's commitment to make time available to study, to complete coursework, and attend course and University events and modules. Where appropriate, evidence should also be provided of permission to use employers’ data in the proposed research project.

Further guidance

  • It is essential that you apply as early as possible and ensure that you submit all required materials by the advertised deadlines.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement
TestMinimum overall scoreMinimum score per component
IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713) 7.57.0

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

(Institution code: 0490)

110Listening: 22
Reading: 24
Speaking: 25
Writing: 24
C1 Advanced*191185
C2 Proficiency 191185

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

  • socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
  • country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
  • protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

  • the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
  • the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
  • minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

The Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) is recognised as one of the world’s leading research centres in development studies. 

As a doctoral student you will become part of a vibrant research community. The department hosts some 70 outstanding academics researching in four broad themes: political change, conflict and the environment; economic development and international institutions; migration and refugees in a global context; and human development, poverty and children. We host a diverse set of research groups that are at the forefront of their specialist fields: the International Growth Centre, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, the Refugee Studies Centre, the Technology and Management Centre for Development, Young Lives and Choosing Islamic Conservatism. These all contribute to the doctoral programme by providing case studies, fieldwork support and specialist supervision, alongside scholars working independently.

You will have access to a wide range of seminars organised by the department as well as an enormous variety of events across the wider University. The department has its own lively and well-attended weekly DPhil work-in-progress seminar, at which you can present your ideas and receive feedback from your peers.

You will also have access to training opportunities provided by the Social Sciences Divisional Office, which offers advanced research and career development training.

The Social Sciences Library , the largest freestanding social science library in the UK with considerable print and digital strengths in development studies and a specialist librarian, is nearby. This is complemented by the world-class resources of the Bodleian Library and the satellite libraries. As alumni of the University, students can sign up for lifetime access to key online journals.

Doctoral students share a dedicated work area of the building, with full IT facilities, including computers, printers, scanners and Wi-Fi access. Technical support is available through the department, your college and the University’s IT Services , which also offers training courses. Course materials are available online via Canvas, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.

Department facilities

In addition to the dedicated doctoral work area there is a common room area where students from all the department's courses can gather. Light lunches are available during term in the department’s cafeteria.

International Development

Studying international development at Oxford means engaging with some of the most pressing issues of our time: from global governance and security to migration and human rights; from poverty and inequality to technological innovation and enterprise; from children and youth to environmental change and sustainability.

At Oxford you will take a unique, multi- and interdisciplinary approach to examine these and other complex issues affecting the countries of the developing world and the emerging economies. The approach encompasses economics, politics, international relations, anthropology, history, sociology, and law, and teaching is provided by world-class scholars in these fields. Our courses also offer small class sizes, personal supervision, training in methods, and the opportunity to research and write an original thesis and make an active contribution.

The department is a lively community that is recognised internationally as one of the top centres for research and teaching in development studies. It hosts some 70 distinguished academics and a number of externally funded research groups that are at the forefront of their specialist subject areas.

Our students come from across the world. At Oxford, they are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they go on to forge varied and successful careers as scholars, practitioners and policy-makers in the field of international development and beyond.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Full-time study.

Home£15,300
Overseas£27,510

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Part-time study

Home£7,650
Overseas£13,755

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, depending on your choice of topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. Most students will choose a topic which will require them to do fieldwork for their thesis. This will usually be done after transferring status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. Students should note that they will have to meet all costs of fieldwork themselves and these costs are likely to include travel and related costs such as visas, accommodation, subsistence, translation and research assistant services if required. These costs will vary widely according to the location and length of the fieldwork and the department estimates that these costs may range from £2,000 to £20,000 or more. Each DPhil student is able to apply for a fieldwork grant of £700. This is awarded once only. Students who have fieldwork grants from ESRC are not able to apply for this grant. Further information will be provided in the course handbook. You may also be able to apply for small grants from your college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year (more in your first year), and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses..

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

  • Balliol College
  • Blackfriars
  • Brasenose College
  • Campion Hall
  • Exeter College
  • Green Templeton College
  • Harris Manchester College
  • Hertford College
  • Jesus College
  • Kellogg College
  • Lady Margaret Hall
  • Linacre College
  • Lincoln College
  • Magdalen College
  • Merton College
  • Pembroke College
  • Regent's Park College
  • Reuben College
  • St Anne's College
  • St Antony's College
  • St Catherine's College
  • St Cross College
  • St Edmund Hall
  • St Hugh's College
  • Somerville College
  • Trinity College
  • Wolfson College
  • Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

  • applicants from low-income countries;
  • refugees and displaced persons; 
  • UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
  • applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

It is advisable but not necessary for you to make contact with potential supervisors before you apply. However, as an offer of a place cannot be made if there is no suitable supervisor in the department, you are advised to check the department's website to see if your proposed research matches with research being done in the department.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

Under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) who you would like to supervise your research. 

Referees: Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Your references will support intellectual ability, academic achievement, academic writing ability and motivation. Academic references are preferred. Non-academic references, for example from work colleagues, are not highly weighted.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Research proposal: A maximum of 3,000 words

The research proposal should be written in English only and should set out your research topic succinctly. 

The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

This will be assessed for:

  • originality of the project
  • evidence of understanding of the proposed area of study
  • engagement with the extant literature and potential for contribution to existing bodies of scholarship
  • the ability to present a reasoned and analytical case
  • the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course (a maximum of three to four years)
  • knowledge of research methods and sources.

It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the significance of your research question and the viability of your sources and methods at this moment.

Your proposal should focus on the research project rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations.

Written work: Two essays, a maximum of 4,000 words each

Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required. Extracts from longer pieces of work are acceptable, but should not come from the same piece of work and should be prefaced by a note which puts them in context. Please note that multi-authored works are not acceptable. Work that is not academic, for example journalism or popular writing, is not appropriate.

The writing samples should preferably be on a development-related topic. The word count does not need to include your bibliography or footnotes.

This will be assessed for a comprehensive understanding of the subject area; your ability to construct and defend an argument; your powers of analysis; your powers of expression; and your familiarity with the literature on the subject.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply - Full time Apply - Part time

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 10 November 2023 Applications more likely to receive earlier decisions

Friday 19 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2024-25

Key facts
 Full TimePart Time
Course codeRD_DT2RD_DT9P1
Expected length3-4 years6-8 years
Places in 2024-25c. 13c. 2
Applications/year*161 15
Expected start
English language

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the  Oxford Department of International Development (ODID)

  • Course page , including eligible supervisors
  • Funding information  from the department
  • Academic and research staff
  • Departmental research
  • Social Sciences Division
  • Residence requirements for full-time courses
  • Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 281827

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Other courses to consider

You may also wish to consider applying to other courses that are similar or related to this course:

View related courses

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

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The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh

  • #22 Ranking
  • 7,960 Academic Staff
  • 49,065 Students
  • 23,920 Students (int'l)
  • 30,180 Students (female)
  • Public Institution Type

Top reasons to study here

  • We're consistently ranked one of the top 50 universities in the world. We're 22nd in the 2024 QS World University rankings.
  • We're ranked fourth in the UK for research power, with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • We're ranked in the UK's top 10 and in the world's top 100 for the employability of our graduates.

Founded in 1583, extraordinary is just something our community has always done. 

Working together, for more than 400 years, we’ve influenced the world in extraordinary ways – expanding the depth of human knowledge and improving the lives of people worldwide. 

Research conducted here led to the discovery of chloroform anaesthesia, the Higgs boson particle and in-vitro fertilisation. 

The latest report from the Quality Assurance Agency awarded us the highest rating possible for the quality of the student learning experience. We offer more than 300 taught masters programmes and 180 research areas and over 70 online programmes.

Joining the University as a student provides you with a unique opportunity to work with some of the most influential academics in your chosen field. At Edinburgh, you will develop your specialist skills, deepen your understanding and gain new insights and perspectives to equip you for your career ahead.

As host to more than over 45,000 students from across 156 countries, we’re a wonderfully diverse mix of people of all kinds and minds.

We're one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

We are proudly open to everyone, bringing people with new outlooks and perspectives together in an international community that is establishing the data capital of Europe, tackling climate change and paving the way for new fertility treatments. 

As a leading global university, we’re confident education will play a vital role solving the problems of tomorrow too.

We're ranked in the UK’s top 10 universities for the employability of our graduates* and our graduates are ranked 26th in the world by employers**.

We are committed to embedding employability into your teaching and learning experience. From offering access to volunteering schemes, to providing support via our sector-leading Careers Service, the University provides many opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and experience, giving you the edge in a competitive job market. We also offer a free service to students who are looking to set up their own business, through Edinburgh Innovations.

*Times Higher Education, Global Employability University Ranking 2021

**QS World University Rankings 2024

PhD Programmes

  • Ph.D. Advanced Care
  • Ph.D. Anatomical Sciences (Biomedical Sciences)
  • Ph.D. Biomedical Artificial Intelligence
  • PhD, MScR Cancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre)
  • PhD, MScR Cardiovascular Science
  • Ph.D. Child Life and Health
  • Ph.D. Clinical Brain Sciences
  • Ph.D. Clinical Education
  • DClinPsychol Clinical Psychology
  • Ph.D. Clinical Veterinary Sciences
  • Ph.D. Clinical and Health Psychology
  • Ph.D. Dentistry
  • DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • MD Doctor of Medicine
  • DVetMed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • DClinDent Endodontology
  • Ph.D. Functional Genetics and Development
  • Ph.D. Genetics and Genomics
  • Ph.D. Genetics and Molecular Medicine (MRC Human Genetics Unit)
  • Ph.D. Genomics and Experimental Medicine
  • Ph.D. Geriatric Medicine
  • Ph.D. Global Health
  • Ph.D. Health in Social Science
  • Ph.D. Infection and Immunity
  • Ph.D. Inflammation
  • Ph.D. Integrative Biomedical Sciences (Based in China)
  • Ph.D. Integrative Physiology (Biomedical Sciences - Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences)
  • Ph.D. Medical Informatics
  • Ph.D. Neuroscience (Biomedical Sciences - Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences)
  • Ph.D. Nursing Studies
  • DClinDent Orthodontics
  • Ph.D. Orthopaedic and Trauma Medicine
  • DClinDent, MClinDent Paediatric Dentistry
  • Ph.D. Pathology
  • Ph.D. Population Health Sciences
  • Ph.D. Precision Medicine
  • DClinDent, MClinDent Prosthodontics
  • Ph.D. Psychiatry
  • Ph.D. Regenerative Medicine
  • Ph.D. Reproductive Health
  • Ph.D. Respiratory Medicine
  • Ph.D. Surgery
  • Ph.D. Translational Neuroscience
  • Ph.D. African Studies
  • Ph.D. Archaeology
  • Ph.D. Business Economics
  • Ph.D. Celtic Studies and Scottish Studies
  • Ph.D. Chinese
  • Ph.D. Counselling Studies
  • Ph.D. Cultural Studies
  • Ph.D. East Asian Studies
  • Ph.D. Economic and Social History
  • Ph.D. Economics
  • Ph.D. French
  • Ph.D. German
  • Ph.D. Global Health Policy
  • Ph.D. Hebrew and Old Testament Studies
  • Ph.D. International Development
  • Ph.D. Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES)
  • Ph.D. Italian
  • Ph.D. Japanese
  • Ph.D. Korean Studies
  • Ph.D. New Testament and Christian Origins
  • Ph.D. Politics and International Relations
  • Ph.D. Psychology
  • DPsychotherapy Psychotherapy and Counselling
  • Ph.D. Russian
  • Ph.D. Scandinavian Studies
  • Ph.D. Scottish History
  • Ph.D. Social Anthropology
  • Ph.D. Social Policy
  • Ph.D. Social and Political Science
  • Ph.D. Socio-Cultural Studies
  • Ph.D. Sociology
  • Ph.D. South Asian Studies
  • Ph.D. Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies (Hispanic Studies)
  • Ph.D. Agriculture and Food Security
  • Ph.D. Algebra
  • Ph.D. Analysis
  • Ph.D. Applied and Computational Mathematics
  • Ph.D. Astrophysics
  • Ph.D. Biological Sciences
  • Ph.D. Biological Sciences (with Internship)
  • Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences (Based in China)
  • Ph.D. Chemistry
  • Ph.D. Condensed Matter
  • Ph.D. Geometry and Topology
  • Ph.D. Mathematical Modelling, Analysis and Computation
  • Ph.D. Mathematical Physics
  • Ph.D. Mathematics Education
  • Ph.D. Nuclear Physics
  • Ph.D. Optimization and Operational Research
  • Ph.D. Particle Physics
  • Ph.D. Probability and Stochastic Analysis
  • Ph.D. Science and Technology Studies
  • Ph.D. Statistics
  • PhD, MPhil Architectural History
  • Ph.D. Classics
  • Ph.D. Comparative Literature
  • Ph.D. Creative Music Practice
  • Ph.D. Creative Writing
  • Ph.D. English Literature
  • Ph.D. Ethics and Practical Theology
  • Ph.D. European Theatre
  • Ph.D. Film Studies
  • Ph.D. History
  • Ph.D. History of Christianity
  • Ph.D. Linguistics and English Language
  • Ph.D. Medieval Studies
  • Ph.D. Philosophy
  • Ph.D. Religious Studies
  • Ph.D. Science and Religion
  • Ph.D. Systematic Theology
  • Ph.D. World Christianity
  • MPhil, PhD Architecture
  • Ph.D. Architecture by Design
  • MPhil, PhD Art
  • MPhil, PhD Design
  • MPhil, PhD History of Art
  • Ph.D. Intermediality
  • MPhil, PhD Landscape Architecture
  • Ph.D. Music
  • Ph.D. Musical Composition
  • Ph.D. Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust
  • Ph.D. EPCC - High Performance Computing, Computational & Data Science, Software Engineering
  • Ph.D. EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
  • Ph.D. Informatics - AIAI - Foundations and Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Automated Reasoning, Agents, Data Intensive Resear
  • Ph.D. Informatics - ANC - Machine Learning, Computational Neuroscience, Computational Biology
  • Ph.D. Informatics - ICSA - Computer Architecture, Compilation and System Software, Networks and Communication
  • Ph.D. Informatics - ILCC - Language Processing, Speech Technology, Information Retrieval, Cognition
  • Ph.D. Informatics - IPAB - Robotics, Computer Vision, Computer Graphics and Animation
  • Ph.D. Informatics - LFCS - Theory and Foundations of Computer Science, Databases, Software and Systems Modelling
  • Ph.D. UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Natural Language Processing
  • Ph.D. Engineering
  • EngD Offshore Renewable Energy (Industrial Doctorate Centre)
  • Phd/EngD Wind and Marine Energy Systems and Structures
  • Ph.D. Accounting
  • Ph.D. Financial Technology
  • Ph.D. Management
  • Ph.D. Management Science and Analytics
  • Ph.D. Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
  • PhD, MPhil Geology and Geophysics
  • Ph.D. Human Geography and Environmental Sciences
  • Ph.D. Translation Studies
  • Ph.D. Education
  • Ph.D. Social Work
  • Ph.D. Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences

The University of Edinburgh Scholarships

Below you will find scholarships related to The University of Edinburgh. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.

Read more about eligibility

The University of Edinburgh

For a complete overview of scholarships for The University of Edinburgh, visit our scholarship search .

University Ranking

Student services.

All our postgraduates benefit from our inspiring research culture. The academics involved in your teaching and learning are leaders in their fields and although the emphasis at postgraduate level is very much on independent study, support from our teaching staff is always on hand.

You will be supported by a combination of academic and professional student experience and administration staff, who will provide you with academic and wellbeing guidance and support.

International students will be supported with events and information to settle in and with activities designed to support your experiences as a student.

Housing services

Our students travel from all over the world to study here and we aim to provide the best range and standard of accommodation possible.

Accommodation for postgraduate students is all self-catered and can be found across a range of convenient locations within easy reach of most key University buildings and Edinburgh’s city centre.

University accommodation benefits:

  • Inclusive bills
  • Key locations in the City
  • Access to laundry facilities
  • 24/7 welfare and support service
  • Share with your friends
  • Payment plan options
  • No deposits and no references required

Library services

At Edinburgh you will have access to 10 libraries, including the third largest academic library in Europe, millions of printed and online volumes and access to 700,000 electronic journals and databases.

ICT services

You’ll benefit from 30 open-access computer labs with 24-hour access across key locations. Free laptop loans are available from our libraries and there is almost 100% WiFi coverage in our buildings.

We also support various methods of remotely accessing university services, computers and file stores from outwith the campus, allowing you to work off-site and still stay secure.

Medical services

The University Health Centre is an independent NHS partnership of general practitioners who rent premises from the University. It offers a full GP service to patients who live within the practice area.

Our Health and Wellbeing Centre - a dedicated hub for students, houses the Student Counselling Service and Disability Services, the University Health Centre and the University Pharmacy.

Campus life

The University is at the heart of the city of Edinburgh. Regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world, Edinburgh is large enough to offer something for everyone but small enough to feel like home. It is a modern, sophisticated and beautiful European city, with a diverse multicultural community and is ranked 2nd best student city in the United Kingdom, 5th best student city in Europe and 10th in the world*.

* QS Best Student Cities 2023

Sports facilities

We’ve long been recognised as one of the UK’s leading sporting universities, consistently finishing in the top four of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings.

Our facilities include:

  • Outdoor sport at Peffermill Playing Fields
  • Climbing/bouldering walls
  • A range indoor sports from badminton to ultimate Frisbee
  • Eleiko Training Gym – the first any UK Higher Education facility
  • 25 metre six-lane swimming pool
  • FASIC Sport & Exercise Medicine Clinic
  • Fitness classes including the Les Mills range, yoga, dance and Martial arts classes

If you enjoy being active, or just want to try out a new sport, our Sports Union offers over 60 sports clubs in which to get involved.

Student clubs

Edinburgh University Students’ Association has more than 290 societies covering a diverse range of interests, so you’re sure to find something of interest. If not, we can help you set up your own. Societies provide a place to meet like-minded people, indulge in a hobby, or simply socialise.

The Students’ Association also offers opportunities for volunteering in the community, so you may find yourself volunteering as a tour guide at a local heritage centre or playing football with local kids. These rewarding experiences will develop your skills and enhance your employability.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Other programmes from this organisation.

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We have 341 PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

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PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

phd international development edinburgh

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.

Edinburgh Law School

Funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Law Research Programme

Law Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Geotechnical Seismic Isolation Technology for Global Earthquake Resilience and Environmental Sustainability

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Study History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh - funding opportunities available

Humanities research programme.

Humanities Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Choose from 20 PhDs in literatures, languages and cultures at Edinburgh

Social sciences research programme.

Social Sciences Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

University of Edinburgh School of Mathematics fully funded PhD studentships

Maths research programme.

PhD Research Programmes describe the opportunities for postgraduate research within a University department. You may often be asked to submit your own research project proposal as part of your application, although predefined research projects may also be available.

Bringing Palladium Chemistry into the Biocatalytic Toolbox.

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Development of an ambient mass spectrometry platform for rapid mass spectrometry characterisation of proteins

Funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Quantum and Electronic Devices

Synergistic experimental and data-driven catalyst development for sustainable synthesis, electron driven chemistry in the interstellar medium, the physical organic chemistry of non-covalent interactions and solvent effects, combined experimental and computational study of high-pressure order-disorder transitions in soft crystalline materials, bond activation with main group bimetallic bonds, role of endothelium-astrocyte communication in the brain’s response to peripheral inflammation, competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Multiplexed fluorescent biosensors to profile infectious diseases (Bio-Techne and University of Edinburgh)

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School of Social and Political Science

Msc international development (online learning), introduction.

MSc International Development. Learn online

The deadline to apply for September 2024 entry is Monday 15 July 2024.

An unparalleled opportunity to deepen understanding

There is a long history of critical and applied engagement with international development at the University of Edinburgh and our new MSc in International Development via online distance learning is a great addition to our portfolio of world-leading postgraduate study and research in this area.

This programme offers students an unparalleled opportunity to deepen their understanding and engagement with the most pressing challenges confronting people, communities and institutions in the Global South:

  • what are the processes that have shaped poverty and inequality across the world and what have been the responses to them?
  • how do they differ across international, national, and local contexts? 

This programme builds and strengthens critical skills for analysing these development processes and inequities, exploring development issues in a range of different social, historical and political contexts. It aims to provide you with a rigorous multi-disciplinary grounding in major debates, theories and critical concepts as well as proficiency in applying these to investigate contemporary development challenges, policy processes, and initiatives.

The MSc International Development is a part-time online learning programme which can be pursued over two or three years.

All courses are taught through a combination of:

  • independent study
  • online group activities

This will allow you to continue your life and career uninterrupted whilst returning to university study.

Core courses

There are three core courses:

  • Politics and Theories of International Development
  • Analysing Development
  • Global Development Challenges

These will equip you with a solid grasp of the key theories, issues, and actors of International Development, providing an optimum balance between policy and academic approaches. Option courses

You will then further your interests in specific areas of international development, such as:

  • mobility and migration
  • monitoring and project design
  • the environment
  • global health

New optional courses, based on successful on-campus courses, will be added.

Research training

Research training is provided via a core course:

  • Researching International Development

This introduces you to cutting-edge innovations in the field whilst preparing your for your dissertation – be it a research or applied project.

Dissertation

In your final year, you will complete a standard research dissertation or a placement-based project. You will have the chance to discuss dissertation plans with tutors and the Programme Director; and you will also be allocated your own dissertation supervisor whom you can meet with individually.

Compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note this information may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode 
MSc 2 YearsPart-time
MSc 3 YearsPart-time

Personal Statement

In your  personal statement,  you should explain what attracts you to this particular programme of study at the University of Edinburgh. This might include references to the overall programme structure, particular courses you would like to take, people you would like to be taught by, and so on. In short, what exactly is it about this programme which motivates you to apply?

You may use the following questions as a guide:

1. What do you understand about International Development, and why does it interest you?  2. What specifically about the programme attracted you? Are there specific courses, areas of research, academics that are of interest?  3. What do you bring to the programme? Tell us about your past work/study experiences that you think might help you in this course and how? How does your previous experience and study fit to the programme? 4. Tell us what you want to achieve with this programme. What are your career goals? How will this programme help you achieve those goals?  

You may use examples gained from non-academic aspects of your life, including things like volunteering, work, travel, or other relevant life experiences you had growing up, but you must be specific about how this shaped the way you think about global development challenges

When outlining your  relevant training/knowledge,  you should try to explain how your particular educational, professional, or other qualifications and experiences prepare you for this degree. This can be as free-flowing text or with the use of bullet points.  

Please remember to include your CV with your application which you may use to demonstrate experience in international development or other relevant sectors including volunteering.  

You are required to submit a reference with this application (please ask your referees to submit their references as soon as possible). References can be either academic or professional (or both).

Finally, please note that applicants who receive an offer will  not  be allowed to defer their admission to a following year.

In previous years, we had projects with our partners in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Finland, Kenya, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Malawi, Peru, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.

Students undertaking these placements work on various themes including, refugees and asylum seekers; borders, migration and diasporas; food security; digital inclusion; gender; disaster risk reduction; climate change and sustainability; humanitarianism; mental health and resilience; and community empowerment among others.

With a solid background in international development study and practice, our graduates pursue current and future careers in a range of institutions including:

  • United Nations agencies
  • non-governmental organisations
  • government ministries
  • private sector
  • research institutions

Whether you plan to work or continue working with communities, charities, businesses, policy-makers, or researchers, the MSc in International Development is your stepping stone to a critically engaged and research-informed career. Past students of our online programmes have gone on to secure competitive jobs in government and diplomacy, top international organisations and NGOs, policy making, research (including PhD programmes), and the private sector all around the world. 

The programme combines a strong core curriculum with the flexibility to develop individual interests towards specialist expertise. With its combination of practitioners’ and researchers’ courses, including a research dissertation, it is perfectly suited to both policy/practice and research-oriented students.

Recognising the need for flexibility, our online programmes are an excellent way for those with professional or family commitments to gain a further qualification with minimum interruption, or to introduce students to a virtual learning environment.

Our award-winning online learning technology is fully interactive, enabling you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.

You will learn through a mix of online methods, including:

  • video lectures
  • study guides
  • self-directed and guided reading
  • a range of interactive online reflection and discussion activities

Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

Studying online at Edinburgh

More information on Postgraduate online learning

Apply for September 2023 entry

Tuition fees

International Development means different things to different people. We understand it as the idea of  good change , and our programme seek to understand who decides what constitutes good change, what  good  change is, and how to get there. We take a multidisciplinary approach and our readings reflects this, with topics from theories on development, history of poverty and underdevelopment, to international and national politics, etc. The University of Edinburgh Library is incredibly well-stocked, and also holds a rich variety of relevant electronic journals. The list below gives you a flavour of the kinds of readings that we suggest in preparation of the course.

  • Chang, H. (2014). Economics: The User’s Guide . Bloomsbury.
  • Easton-Calabria, Evan. (2022). Refugees, Self-Reliance, Development . Bristol University Press.
  • Escobar, A. (1995). Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World . Princeton University Press.
  • Faist, T., & Fauser, M. (2011). The migration–development nexus: Toward a transnational perspective . Palgrave Macmillan UK.
  • Ferguson, J. (2015). Give a Man a Fish: Reflections on the new politics of distribution . Duke University Press.
  • Ferguson, S., & McNally, D. (2015). Precarious migrants: Gender, race and the social reproduction of a global working class. In Socialist Register (No. 51).
  • Harrison, G. (2020). Developmentalism: The Normative and Transformative Within Capitalism . Oxford University Press.
  • Khan, T., Kanakulya, D., & Sondarjee, M. (Eds.). (2023). White Saviorism in International Development: Theories, Practices and Lived Experiences . Daraja Press.
  • Kothari, U. (Ed.). (2019). A radical history of development studies: Individuals, institutions and ideologies . Bloomsbury Publishing.
  • Pailey, R. N. (2020). De‐centring the ‘white gaze’ of development. Development and Change , 51(3), 729-745.
  • Rist, G. (2008). The History of Development: From Western origins to global faith . Zed Books.
  • Rodney, W. (2018). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa . Verso Books.
  • Sen, A. (2001). Development as freedom . Oxford Paperbacks.
  • Veltmeyer, H., & Bowles, P. (Eds.). (2021). The essential guide to critical development studies . Routledge.
  • Veltmeyer, H., & Wise, R. D. (2018). Critical Development Studies: An introduction . Practical Action Publishing.
  • Wilson, K. (2013). Race, racism and development: Interrogating history, discourse and practice . Bloomsbury Publishing.

The University of Edinburgh and the  Centre of African Studies  in particular, are committed to include more non-Western authors on reading lists, thereby contributing to de-colonising academia and enabling more, and more different, voices to be heard in debates. We will tell you more about this initiative during our courses.

Student testimonials

MSc International Development (Online Learning) student Ana Castro discusses the unique journey of pursuing a masters degree online and the unwavering support she has received from the University. 

Hear more from our students and graduates about studying with us:

MSc International Development (Online Learning) testimonials

The University of Edinburgh home

  • Schools & departments

Scholarships and Student Funding

Funding for international students

In addition to financial assistance provided by UK Government agencies and external funding sources, the University offers a number of general and subject-specific funding schemes.

Awards by region

College of arts, humanities and social sciences, college of medicine and veterinary medicine, college of science and engineering, edinburgh global scholarships, economic and social research council, other funding, great scholarships 2024.

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    The University of Edinburgh has funded the development of an ethics toolkit for researchers, practitioners and others who conduct or support research in complex, low income or fragile settings. This toolkit is the result of a series of discussions with more than 200 global researchers from more than 30 countries designed to inform and support ...

  12. International Development PhD at The University of Edinburgh

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  19. International Development (Online Learning)

    Introduction. The deadline to apply for September 2024 entry is Monday 15 July 2024. An unparalleled opportunity to deepen understanding. There is a long history of critical and applied engagement with international development at the University of Edinburgh and our new MSc in International Development via online distance learning is a great addition to our portfolio of world-leading ...

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    This year, in partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, the University of Edinburgh will be offering five scholarships for students, across Mexico, Ghana, Malaysia, Turkey and Vietnam applying for an eligible one-year postgraduate Masters programme for the 2024-2025 academic session. This article was published on 17 ...