Development Studies (Portuguese)
ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon
About this program
Development Studies (Portuguese)
The Master in Development Studies prepares professionals for roles as consultants, project managers, researchers and development practitioners in government agencies, companies and NGOs worldwide.
The course, sponsored by the School of Social Sciences at Iscte, is organized in collaboration with the Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies (DINAMIA’CET-IUL), o Centro de Estudos Internacionais (CEI-IUL) and the Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA-IUL), for which reason programme research will take place preferentially in these research units.
The MSc intends to develop students' capacities to:
- identify and understand the problems of development, which today confront the most developed countries as much as they do those in the process of development;
- analyse from different perspectives the problems of development posed within specific sectors such as health, the environment, education, the financial sector, and macroeconomic policy, among others;
- consider alternative models of development
- promote and intervene in projects and policies of development in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
The current programme offers an education that integrates various social science perspectives and is oriented to the resolution of the problems connected to development and socioeconomic change.
This Master's prepares students to act as consultants, project coordinators, researchers and development professionals in government agencies, companies and NGOs around the world.
Admission requirements
Iscte is one of the most prestigious universities in Portugal, offering an exceptional range of courses in the areas of Management, Economics, Social Science, Public Policy, Architecture, and Technology, across all levels of higher education. These courses have been crafted to address the interests of the student body, as well as the needs of the market. For this reason, Iscte graduates have a high employment rate, close to 96%.
For those interested in pursuing graduate education at Iscte, information on eligibility, documentation, deadlines and other topics relevant to the application process are available below.
Please note that each master and doctorate programme has specific admission requirements, as well as different deadlines and academic fees.
Please contact the institute for specific admissions requirements.
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Learn moreProgram content
Year One
- Government and Partnership for Development
- History of Social Economy and New Challenges of the Solidarity Economy
- Planning and Evaluation Methodologies of Development Projects
- Theory and Practice of Development
- Globalization and Development Challenges
- International Organizations, N.G.O.S and Social Movements
- Seminar on the Theory and Practice of Development
- Optional Courses - 4
Year Two
- Statistics and Data Analysis
- Macro-Econometrics 1
- Field Research
- Master Dissertation in Development Studies
- Master Project in Development Studies
- Optional Course - 1
Program delivery
The Master's was conceived in accord with the Dublin Descriptors and aims to prepare graduates with the following skills:
- Comprehensive and current knowledge of the various theories and analytic perspectives regarding development
- Understanding of the processes of development and the problems to which they are connected today, namely in terms of local development, human security, global health, and social and environmental sustainability.
- The ability to apply acquired knowledge in the identification of problems of development and the critical evaluation of local, regional, and global development processes
- The ability to critically evaluate the indicators and policies of development
- The ability to prepare technical dossiers to substantiate political decisions that aim at problem-resolution
- The ability to conceive and promote projects of development
Thesis / Final work
Conferral of the master's requires the completion of a dissertation within its disciplinary area or the completion of an innovative applied project; both options correspond to 48 ECTS credits.
The student's opportunity to choose between completing an academic dissertation or an original project is justified by the diverse nature of the programme's target applicants, which include on the one hand students and technicians who intend to pursue second cycle studies, and on the other professionals in direct contact with the subjects of analysis in the course.
The preparation of the dissertation or project is guided by a professor or specialist of recognized merit and will be the object of public evaluation and discussion before a jury chosen for this purpose.
Tuition
EU Students
- Year One: 2,500.00 €
- Year Two: 1,250.00 €
Non-EU Students
- Year One: 3,500.00 €
- Year Two: 1,600.00 €
Career paths
The MSc in Development Studies has as its principal obejctive to educate highly qualified professionals through in-depth academic training, enabling them to perform roles of decision-making, execution or analysis in this area.
The achievement of these objectives is assured by the programme's study plan, which provides students with access to knowledge regarding the most recent scientific, theoretical and technical advances in the domain of Development through both its curricular structure and its teaching methodologies. Furthermore, through its completion, this plan encourages students to progressively gain autonomy over their studies.
This master's prepare its students to perform the following functions:
- Consulting, project coordination, research;
- Development Professionals in international organizations, governmental agencies, public administration entities of diverse levels, companies and NGOs around the world in varied contexts.
Message the school
About this institute
ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon
Founded in 1972, the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) is one of the most prestigious public universities in Portugal, particularly focused on postgraduate studies and scientific research. It is organized in four schools: ISCTE Business Institute, Institute of Sociology and...
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