Master's Degree Programme in Development, Education and International Cooperation
Jyväskylä, Finland
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
22 Jan 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* applications open from January 8th to January 22nd.
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Key Summary
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The Master’s Degree Programme in Development, Education and International Cooperation (DEICO) seeks to provide students with tools for functioning creatively and effectively in the world of international development cooperation, with a specific focus on development and education. The programme broadens and deepens students’ understanding of international development institutions, policies, and actors from a critical, reflexive and interdisciplinary perspective.
- Development Studies Specialization consists of courses or seminars under the themes of: (1) Orientation to Graduate Studies; (2) Thesis and Research Skills; (3) Critical Development Studies; (4) Development Policy and Practice; (5) Electives; and (6) Communication and Language Studies
- Educational Sciences Specialization consists of courses or seminars under the themes of: (1) Orientation to Graduate Studies; (2) Thesis and Research Skills; (3) Critical Development Studies; (4) Development Policy and Practice; (5) Electives; and (6) Communication and Language Studies. In addition, the DEICO students specializing in education (in Finnish: kasvatustieteiden opintosuunta) must complete a minimum of 10 ECTS from course offerings of EDUMA (Master's Degree Programme in Educational Sciences).
DEICO is a two-year, 120-ECTS international master's programme conducted entirely in English. Successful completion of the programme leads to an advanced university degree. Graduation with merits qualifies the graduate to apply for doctoral studies.
After completing the two-year programme the student has a deep understanding of concepts, theories, policies and practices related to global development and education, their evolution, and the critical debates around them.
Specializations: DEICO students can specialize in either Development Studies or Educational Sciences. The final choice of specialization is done while applying for admission in the programme.
Awards: Upon graduation, DEICO students will be awarded the degree Master of Social Sciences (MSSc Development Studies) or Master of Arts (MA Education).
The Master’s Degree Programme in Development, Education and International Cooperation (DEICO) seeks to provide students with tools for functioning creatively and effectively in the world of international development cooperation, with a specific focus on development and education.
The students will learn both intellectual tools and practical skills, with which to encounter multi-faceted and contradictory phenomena in the field. The programme thereby broadens and deepens students’ understanding of international development institutions, policies, and actors from a critical, reflexive and interdisciplinary perspective.
Development Studies graduates from the University of Jyväskylä have found employment with a range of governments, intergovernmental organisations, charities, donor agencies, consultancy firms, or non-profit organisations. These include the United Nations, Red Cross, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and various embassies around the world. Others have gone on to pursue doctoral studies and/or a career in academia.