University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business
Master of Commerce in Development Finance

Cape Town, South Africa

DEGREE TYPE

Master degree

DURATION

2 years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Part time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

EARLIEST START DATE

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

Key Summary

About : The Master of Commerce in Development Finance focuses on equipping students with advanced skills in financial management, development economics, and project evaluation. This 2-year program prepares graduates to tackle challenges in socio-economic development through financial instruments. Key topics include microfinance, financial inclusion, and risk management.

Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue various career paths, including roles in international development agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and policy-making institutions. Opportunities may also arise in project management, financial consulting, and roles within community development initiatives.

Turn Your Ideas into Long-Term Development Solutions

Spark meaningful change through development finance in Africa

The Master of Commerce degree in Development Finance at the UCT Graduate School of Business gives you the practical know-how to turn your ideas into long-term development solutions that improve lives, uplift communities, and place Africa on the global stage.

You don’t need to be working in a development finance institution to benefit from this degree. Development finance skills are also widely used by people in other contexts including banking and financial services.

Influence Development Trends In Emerging Markets

The UCT GSB MCom is the first to reflect development finance activities in the continent

Our MCom in Development Finance will give you the ability to conduct high-level research and engage in the policy decision-making process in development finance institutions, government, NGOs, and the private sector.

As your financial skills grow, you will gain a solid understanding of application in the international development context and gain the expertise to start initial investments that can thrive in economically challenging markets and provide sustainable outcomes.

Nine courses, an elective, and a research report

The MCom in Development Finance is a rigorous modular program that is taken over two years. The program covers nine compulsory core courses and students must choose 1 elective and deliver a research report.

Students attend classes at the UCT GSB Breakwater campus in Cape Town twice a year of between 2–-3 weeks each during February/March and in August. Lectures are structured to cover theories in development finance, development finance practice, and real-life case studies in development finance.

Year 1: Block 1 (March)	Year 1: Block 2 (August)	Year 2: Block 3(February)	Year 2: February to December
Contact sessions for 4 courses	Examines for the 4 courses in Block 1	Examines for the 4 courses in Block 2	Completion of a 60-credit minor dissertation
4 assignment submissions at monthly intervals after the block	Contact sessions for 4 courses (after 2 days' break)	Contact sessions for 2 (1 core and 1 elective) courses (after 2 days' break)
	4 assignment submissions at monthly intervals after the block	2 assignment submissions at monthly intervals after the block
		Completion of a 60-credit minor dissertation

*Please note: Course designs are updated and adapted annually, therefore the topics listed for each course are a guideline as to what students can expect will be covered on each course. A minimum of 13 students is required in order to run any elective.

Pre-Reading Preparation

Before arriving for the contact sessions at the GSB, students are expected to read all prescribed material.

Contact / Block Sessions

Students are required to attend and fully participate in all contact sessions at the GSB during the three-block periods. The lectures are designed to facilitate interactions and knowledge sharing among students to draw on the diverse experiences of the student profile and enrich the theoretical and practical insights provided by the lecturer.

During block sessions, students are allocated into syndicate groups and rooms for after-lecture discussions during evenings.

Individual Assessment

There are three assessments for each course, made up of class text (during block sessions), assignments, and final examinations.

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