Programme summary for MSc NGO and Development Management
About the programme
The MSc in NGO and Development Management offers you the opportunity to examine the central issues facing developing countries in today’s globalised world and to learn practical skills that will enable you to work in development. This programme not only addresses the theories of development, but also explores how development works at the grassroots. It analyses in detail how development programmes and projects are designed, implemented and managed.
The programme enables the learning of participatory approaches to development that are designed to mobilise people to actively take part in their own development. It equips students with understanding of the role that NGOs can play in promoting social and economic progress. We encourage students to work with NGOs on placements.
A central aim of the MSc is to teach practical skills that are used in development. These include methodologies of programme and project design such as:
- The Logical Framework Approach
- Participatory Methods
- NGO Approaches to Development such as Advocacy and Networking
- Project Evaluation and Impact Assessment
All of these are important transferable skills of use in doing development and are highly sought after by development agencies.
International Scholarships 2013-14
- International Scholarships - This is a tuition fee scholarship only. For more information please follow this link
- Conflict Zone Scholarships - This scholarship is for students from conflict zones only. For more information please follow this link
- IDS in association with International Students House - This scholarship is only open to applicants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia who hold a high 2.1 (Second Class Upper) qualification with a 67%+ overall or equivalent and have a minimum two years' work experience in an NGO. For more information please follow this link
Why study the MSc NGO and Development Management at UEL?
The MSc NGO and Development Management at UEL will:
- Teach you practical skills that will equip you for employment in the field of development
- Promote understanding of practical approaches to development in the field
- Familiarise you with central themes in contemporary development, notably pertaining to how developing countries may progress in a globalising world
- Critically examine the key approaches to development theory and practice
- Analyse how the poor may be mobilised to exit poverty and will focus on how they can bring about positive change in their own lives.
- Connect you to a diverse group of other wonderful people interested in making the world a better place
What future careers and jobs are possible?
The Programme has a strong employability focus. The degree will help you work as a professional in:
- Development Agencies
- Aid and Relief Organisations
- Charities and the Voluntary Sector
The course will also provide a good foundation for postgraduate research towards M.Phil /Ph.D. Some students with this degree have set up their own NGOs and the lecturers on the programme have a wealth of experience in this area.
Special Features of the Programme
- Diversity of the student population at UEL who come from all over the world – primarily from developing countries
- Placement opportunities in the UK, Africa, Asia and Latin America
- Students design their own projects
- Focus on practical skills for doing development and managing development projects
- Teaching staff with specialist experience in a range of development contexts and NGOs
- Commonwealth Scholarships available to eligible international applicants http://www.uel.ac.uk/international/fees/commonwealth.htm
Structure of the Programme
The programme consists of 4 modules and a dissertation. If you study full-time the programme should take one year to complete. You will take 2 modules in the Autumn Semester followed by 2 modules in the Spring Semester and the dissertation is completed over the summer. The MSc comprises 3 core modules designed to familiarise you with a broad range of skills that will help you to play a positive role in practical development interventions. It will also enable you to effectively carry out research in development.
Core Modules
Development Management in the International Context
The central aim of this module is to introduce students to the impacts of globalization and development and their implications for management of development programmes and projects. Key areas include:
- What is development?
- How does globalisation affect the context within which development takes place?
- Current development paradigms including the Capability Approach, the Human Wellbeing Approach, and the role of the market and the state in a post-MDG (Millennium Development Goal) context
- Approaches to development management, including New Public Management, decentralisation and public private partnerships
- The role of aid agencies,NGOs and the state in development management
Project and Programme Design
The central aim of this module is to familiarise you with the key methods used by NGOs and other aid agencies to design and implement development projects and programmes. This module introduces methodologies for designing, implementing and managing development programmes and projects. It incorporates the following areas:
- Definitions of development programmes and projects
- Programme and project design methodologies
- Approaches to project implementation and management
- The role of sustainability in project/ programme design
- Critiques of project/programme design
- Alternatives to the project approach, including participatory development.
Research Methods
This module will familiarise you with the theoretical, ethical and practical principles that guide social and development research and covers the following areas:
- Theoretical and philosophical origins of research and its uses.
- Sampling and participant’s involvement in research
- Ethnographic research and observations
- Interviews and focus group discussions
- Planning and writing a research project
- Research ethics
You will gain an understanding of the role of research in both theoretical and policy development. The module considers issues involved in sponsored or organisational research and consultancy.
You can select one optional module from:
- Sustainability and the Commons
- Introduction to Forced Migration
- Psycho-Social Perspectives of Forced Migration
- International Human Rights
- Global Environmental Politics
- Cultural Encounters in International Relations
Entry Requirements
Applicants are normally required to have a good honours degree in a cognate area of study. Under special circumstances applicants without a relevant first degree but with substantial professional experience may be considered for admission, usually on the basis of an interview. If English is not your first language we require that you demonstrate your English language skills by achieving an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.
Career opportunities
This MSc prepares you for employment in many areas related to development and working with the poor. It also develops the skills appropriate for further academic research in development issues as well as development management.
Support
Each student is supported by tutors who provide regular guidance and support in relevant areas of personal and academic life. In addition, students will have regular access to academic tutors on each of their modules.
Additional support for study and research skills is available in weekly workshops and via the School’s Student Support & Referral Unit. There is a twelve week course for developing written language skills for students whose second language is English.
All students benefit from access to seminars and workshops organized by the MSc programme.
CONTACTS
Dr. Meera Tiwari – Programme Leader
Email: M.Tiwari@uel.ac.uk
Or the Programme admissions co-ordinator
Julia Layzell
Email: j.layzell@uel.ac.uk
University of East London
University Way
London E16 2RD
Key facts
You can start many programmes in either September or February and applications are simple to make. Click below to:
Apply online NGO and Development Management (MSc)
View full specification NGO and Development Management (MSc)
Tuition Fees - 2013/14
Home/EU Fees
- Module fee: £1,100
- Full time fee: £6,600 per yr
International Fees
- Module fee: £1,770
- Full time fee: £10,620 per yr
Fees based on 30 credit modules (unless otherwise indicated) For further information regarding postgraduate fees please refer to www.uel.ac.uk/fees/
