The Research Master’s in International Development Studies provides students with an academic training at an advanced level in international development studies and its research, methodologies and skills. It aims to prepare students for an academic career or a career in applied research. It allows students to tailor their studies to their individual interests, both thematically and regionally.

A special feature of this Research Master’s programme is a fieldwork project of roughly three months in a developing country. Fieldwork projects can be undertaken within the framework of ongoing research of staff members. In that way, students become part of the dynamic academic environment of the institute. This programme is characterised by students participating in academic meetings of the research group Governance for Inclusive Development at the AISSR (Amsterdam Institute for Social Sciences Research).

Conducting independent academic research in a developing country and reporting on the results in a thesis and (draft) research article constitute a major part of the curriculum. Students can also opt for a variety of specialist courses in both the disciplines concerned and in related fields.

The programme spans two years, each of which has a course load of 60 ECTS credits.

Studying International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is a major international centre for the study of human geography, planning and international development. All lecturers in the MSc in International Development Studies are prominent researchers at the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR). Within this institute, especially the research groups Governance and Inclusive Development and Geographies of Globalization have tight links to the research Master’s programme.

Students will be actively involved in academic activities of AISSR, and graduates of the research Master will be well positioned to apply for the English-language PhD programme of AISSR. In addition, our students can attend conferences and lectures organised by CERES (Research School for Resource Studies for Development).