Development Studies

Study thisDevelopment Studies programme from SOAS University of Londonto realise your potential to tackle global injustice and transform the world with your research impact.

As a PhD researcher, you’ll join arenowned globally diverse research communitywith access to research and teaching opportunities, as well as a substantial series of seminars presented by leading development professionals and practitioners.

SOAS research students are encouraged to attend weekly training sessions to introduce them to a number of practical techniques and vocational skills utilised within the development profession, seminars on topics relevant to Development Studies and, where appropriate, post-experience workshops.

Please note that fees go up each year. See research fees for further details.

Employment

A degree like Development Studies programme from SOAS University of London will further develop your understanding of the world and how society is organised, with specific focus on violence and conflict, the role of aid, refugees and forced migration. Graduates leave with a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical skills and cultural awareness.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Amnesty International

• BBC World Service

• British Embassy Brussels

• Department for International Development

• Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

• Embassy of Japan

• During the module of your first year, you are required to attend the Department’s Postgraduate Research Training Seminar. These sessions will provide you with the essential training in research methodology and will assist you in getting started: specifically, they will assist you in writing the constituent components of the ‘upgrade paper’ that you have to submit and defend in a viva in Term 3 of your first year.

• Once students have passed their upgrade, they should immediately proceed with designing the details of the empirical work and organising the drafts written in the module of the first year. As most Development Studies students will embark on fieldwork in their second year, it is important to keep the 3-year time limit in mind, and to not postpone writing chapters until after the completion of fieldwork.