International Development Management MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
14 Jul 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 14,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* International Deadline | Home Deadline – 4 September
** international | UK: £11,900
Key Summary
Book to attend an Online Open Day to find out more - Undergraduate event on March 21 and Master's event on March 4.
With momentum around the United Nation’s (UN) sustainable development goals and the rise of a collaborative effort to reduce or eliminate poverty in developing countries, never has there been a more exciting time to get involved with international development. Our course prepares you to make a positive impact on the world.
Whether your future lies in practical aid, emergency response, fundraising, research, education or policy development, this Master’s degree will build your knowledge and expertise in a range of development disciplines. It will give you a firm understanding of development theory in an international context, with a particular focus on how to bring theory into practice deriving solutions to issues or problems for developing nations. That’s one of many reasons why we attract students from countries around the world including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Brazil, Columbia and the Philippines.
Experienced field practitioners working in international development organisations and NGOs contribute regularly to course content. You will learn from examples across the globe, studying real-life case studies, using official project materials and survey data from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other development agencies.
Throughout the course, we aim to build your management skills, for example, you’ll develop valuable project management techniques. Additionally, you can choose to develop your skills and knowledge further by embarking on a field-based work placement programme with an NGO during the holiday period.
You’ll enhance your ability to critically evaluate the economic, political and social factors that affect the development policy environment on a national and international level, anything from the financial crisis and its repercussions to the impact of a global pandemic like COVID-19, for instance. We’ll also examine ways to appraise development interventions, increasing your technical and practical capability to put forward workable and sustainable solutions.
The course is designed to prepare you for a career in development management with an international organisation, a non-governmental body or a government development agency. Our graduates have gone on to work as NGO programme officers, trade advisors, project managers, microfinance specialists and development consultants.
Top reasons to study with us
- Study in central London, one of the world’s major cities and international business hubs.
- Become business-ready through intensive practical experiences and practitioner input which has previously included the United Nations (UN), Tuberculosis Foundation and NGOs like the Red Cross.
- Opportunity to obtain a PRINCE2® Foundation certification in project management paid for by us (if you meet the assessment requirements).
- Wide range of topics covered will greatly enhance your employment opportunities in the global job market.
- Field trips and social events provide an opportunity for networking and extending learning in new environments.
- Engaging delivery methods, including action-based practical activities and challenges, which may be set by businesses and enterprises, a community or other appropriate partners.
Once you begin this course, we will encourage you to register as a member of the Development Studies Association (DSA) and Devex, the world's largest community of international development experts and professionals. Although these organisations do not provide professional accreditation, they offer platforms for networking and the sharing of research, which will assist your postgraduate learning experience and greatly benefit your future career development.
Why study this course?
- Combine theory and practice
Link theory to global practice through real-life case studies, problem-solving and live business projects. - Strengthen business insight
Strengthen business insight through interaction with businesses and discussions about current market challenges. - A multicultural and international teaching staff
A multicultural and international teaching body that comes from professional practice and/or is regularly published in top international journals.
The course will particularly suit those seeking to work within NGOs and the international development community (including the World Bank, IMF, central and development banks, and government economic planning directorates), as self-employed development specialists, consultants or as a trade attaché in foreign diplomatic offices. Should you wish to complete the PRINCE2® project management qualification, this will also enable you to work with multinational corporations where, alongside good technical skills, an awareness of global development issues and challenges and the ability to think critically about the world are highly valued.
Graduates from this programme have worked as specialist advisers with top NGOs across the globe and as advisers with trade and economic departments in government offices. Others are currently working as development consultants, microfinance specialists and as advisors on UN-sponsored projects. Some have also set up their own development charities or proceeded to PhD research and teaching.
The University's Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
- Build connections
Build connections with peers and future business leaders. - Develop your CQ
Develop your cultural intelligence – or ‘CQ’ – by studying alongside students and staff representing more than 100 nationalities. - Kickstart your career
Learn how to use social media in your job hunt or LinkedIn to kickstart your career.
Industry links
Westminster Business School is one of London’s leading centres for business education based in the heart of London and its political, media and financial services scene.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Business advisor
- Trade advisor
- Development consultant
- Programme analyst
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- Survivors Fund (SURF), Rwanda
- World Bank Group
- The United Nations Organisation
- UN Volunteers
- Save the Children (US)
Westminster Employability Award
Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.
The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, comprising a set of core and optional extracurricular activities.
Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible students.