MA in Development Politics
Course Overview
The MA in Development Politics is a UK Level 7 research-informed Master's degree running one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance-learning routes. The programme focuses on the political dimensions of development, from state-building and aid architecture to democratic transitions and the politics of policy reform. The syllabus is aligned with themes referenced by the Political Studies Association, the Overseas Development Institute and the Institute of Development Studies.
By graduation you will have produced political economy analyses of developing states, drafted governance risk assessments for hypothetical donor programmes, prepared briefings on aid effectiveness debates, and completed a dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project for a development body or think tank.
Key Features
- Level 7 credential aligned with Political Studies Association and ODI themes.
- Applied political economy analysis training.
- Case-room seminars using live UK development and aid programme documents.
- Guest sessions from ODI-adjacent researchers and development practitioners.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Dissertation supervised by an LSLPE tutor with active development-politics profile.
- Careers-service introductions to NGOs, multilateral bodies and Whitehall.
What You Will Learn
- The political economy of state-building and fragile states.
- Aid architecture and the FCDO successor context.
- Democratic transitions and hybrid regime analysis.
- Political economy of policy reform in developing countries.
- Reading ODI, IDS and World Bank governance outputs.
- Governance risk assessment for programme design.
- Drafting political economy analyses to donor standards.
- Producing an evidence-led dissertation for a development audience.
Who This Course Is For
- NGO staff and multilateral practitioners formalising Level 7 credentials.
- Government staff on development portfolios.
- Bachelor's graduates targeting careers in development.
- Think tank researchers moving toward senior positions.
- International applicants planning national or multilateral development careers.
Career Pathways
- Development Analyst at an NGO or multilateral body.
- Political Analyst on development files.
- Programme Manager for donor-funded initiatives.
- International Development Officer in the FCDO successor context.
- Think Tank Researcher at an ODI or IDS-adjacent institute.
- NGO Programme Officer in fragile-state contexts.
- Strategy Adviser on development portfolios.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates introductions with NGOs, multilateral bodies and think tanks and runs at least one careers day each academic year.
Entry Requirements
- A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent in politics, international relations, development or a related discipline.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Applicants without a Bachelor's but with 5+ years of senior development or programme experience are considered on portfolio.
- One academic and one professional reference.
- A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches in small, tutor-visible cohorts and reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London gives MA students access to Chatham House, the ODI, and the LSE-adjacent development research ecosystem within a short tube ride of every classroom.
Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Political Studies Association guidance.
Apply for MA in Development Politics
Applications for the MA in Development Politics are reviewed on a rolling basis. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme, dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising policy advisers. Enrol Now.
