University College London (UCL)
Education, Gender and International Development MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
This individual program explores how education intersects with issues of gender and international development. It aims to deepen understanding of how gender influences educational access, quality, and outcomes in different parts of the world. Students will examine social, political, and cultural factors that affect gender equality in education systems and learn how to develop strategies to promote change. The course encourages critical thinking about the role education plays in shaping development goals and addressing inequalities worldwide.
The program combines theoretical insights with practical approaches, preparing learners to engage with global challenges related to gender and development. Students can expect to study topics such as policies for inclusive education, gender-based violence, and the impacts of conflict and migration on education systems. It also emphasizes research skills, enabling students to analyze data and produce evidence-based recommendations. This course is ideal for those who want to contribute to positive social change through education, gender equality, or international development initiatives.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
Teaching is delivered by lectures or other structured inputs by staff; participant-led presentations and discussions based on selected readings or a clearly specified project; tutor-led seminars; workshops; problem/issue-based individual, paired and small-group work; occasional debates and invited speakers; reflections on film and video inputs.
Assessment is via various forms of coursework, depending on your module choices. Different types of assessment include discursive essays, group presentations, reflective blogs, critical analysis of empirical research, reviews of literature, policy or other relevant documents, and the dissertation.
For each 30 credit taught module you are expected to contribute 300 learning hours (8 hours a day for just over 37 days). Direct teaching accounts for 30 hours, assignment tutorial(s) 1 hour, and the remaining hours consist of your own self-directed study such as, preparation for classes and online learning activities, reading (individual and with other students), searching for new literature related to your area of interest, assignment preparation and completion.
Modules
Full-time
This programme can be taken on campus, online (distance) or a combination of both (mixed mode). Please select your mode of study at the point of application. Note: Distance and mixed mode options are not available to students who require a student visa (international students).
If you study the programme full time, you will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits within a one-year period (Sept - Sept).
The programme consists of two compulsory modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits) and a compulsory dissertation module (60 credits).
Compulsory modules are:
- Education and International Development: Concepts, Theories and Issues
- Gender, Education and Development
You can select your compulsory modules in either term 1 or term 2.
Part-time
This programme can be taken on campus, online (distance) or a combination of both (mixed mode). Please select your mode of study at the point of application. Note: Distance and mixed mode options are not available to students who require a student visa (international students).
If you study the programme part time, you will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits split over the two-year period, e.g., 90 credits in each year.
The programme consists of two compulsory modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits) and a compulsory dissertation module (60 credits).
Compulsory modules are:
- Education and International Development: Concepts, Theories and Issues
- Gender, Education and Development
We advise you to select the compulsory modules in your first year. You must select the Dissertation module in your second year.
Flexible
This programme can be taken on campus, online (distance) or a combination of both (mixed mode). Please select your mode of study at the point of application. Note: Distance and mixed mode options are not available to students who require a student visa (international students).
If you study the programme on the modular flexible route, you will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits split over a maximum of 5 years.
The programme consists of two compulsory modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits) and a compulsory dissertation module (60 credits).
Compulsory modules are:
- Education and International Development: Concepts, Theories and Issues
- Gender, Education and Development
We advise you to select the compulsory modules first. You must select the Dissertation module in your final year of study.
Compulsory modules
- Dissertation on Education, Gender and International Development
- Education and International Development: Concepts, Theories and Issues
- Gender, Education and Development
Optional modules
- African Studies and Education
- Education and Muslim Communities
- Planning for Education and Development
- Promoting Health and Wellbeing: Planning, Practice and Participation
- Learners, Learning and Teaching in the Context of Education for All
- Education during Emergency Situations
- Education, Conflict and Peace
- Reimagining `disaster education': perspectives and methodologies
- Migration, Education and Development
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.
You will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Education, Gender and International Development.
Fieldwork
You may undertake fieldwork in relation to your research for your dissertation, but it is not a requirement. If you do undertake fieldwork, it must be self-funded.
What this course will give you
The Department of Education, Practice and Society at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society is the well-established home of an interdisciplinary grouping bringing together high-quality teaching and research in the history, sociology and philosophy of education and international development.
The department has extensive experience and expertise in education planning, health and gender in Africa, Asia and Latin America; 'policy sociology'; education, equality and human rights; issues of gender, 'race', sexuality, disability and social class. Policy seminars and a vibrant student/alumni group provide excellent networking opportunities.
Students on the MA EGID programme benefit from an extraordinarily powerful learning community which links research, policy and practice.
The foundation of your career
Recent graduates from this programme have taken up posts including in United Nations agencies, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), International NGOs such as Oxfam or ActionAid, local civil society organisations, schools and universities. Other graduates have gone on to pursue further study.
Employability
Graduates of this programme work across a broad range of areas and in a range of contexts worldwide. Some graduates work as specialist professionals in NGOs and international development organisations, while others have jobs as teachers and education managers. Graduates also work as government officials, civil servants and university lecturers.
Networking
During your time at UCL, you will be able to build networks with fellow students on this programme and the other programmes in the Education and International Development cluster, academic staff and alumni in the Centre for Education and International Development, as well as the broader IOE and UCL communities.