MSc International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies

The MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies provides a solid foundation in humanitarian issues such as the nature of vulnerability, the drivers and management of international emergency responses and a broad range of development issues.

This programme provides you with academically rigorous graduate-level interdisciplinary training in the fields of humanitarianism, emergencies and international development. The core and semi core courses provide an excellent overview of the key issues and debates in the practice of humanitarian action, optional courses enable you to shape your studies to your own needs and interests.

A valuable part of the programme is the humanitarian consultancy project, where you’ll work in a small team on a current policy issue for a humanitarian, development, or emergency-based organisation.

Previous clients involved in the project have included UNICEF, UNHCR, the UK Disasters Emergency Committee, DFID, International Alert, the ICRC, MSF, NATO, the UK Army, and Save the Children. This exposure to real-world organisations is an excellent experience and can boost your employability.

Recent graduates from the MSc have secured promising professional careers in public, private and voluntary agencies, dealing with development and humanitarian problems at both national and international levels.

Students who choose to concentrate their electives and dissertation in a certain topic area may elect to have a specialism in "African Development” and “Population Studies” attached to their degree certificate and transcripts. To obtain the specialism indication, students must meet the criteria below.

African Development: students must take African Development (DV418) and African Political Economy (DV435). Further to this, their dissertation topic must be approved as being appropriate for this specialism.

Population Studies: students must take two courses from the following: Global Health Challenges: Epidemics, Disease, and Public Health Response (DV444); Population Analysis: Methods and Models (MY476); and Population, Health and Development: Evidence and Projections (DV456). Further to this, their dissertation topic must be approved as being appropriate for this specialism.

If no such election is made, the degree certificate will state “Development Management” without further specification.

Formed in 1990, our department provides a focus for postgraduate teaching and research on the processes of social, political and economic development and change.

We’re proud of LSE’s reputation as one of the top universities in the world for development studies. Our academics and researchers explore the causes of poverty, social exclusion, economic stagnation, humanitarian crises and human security. We look at why and how some late developing countries have succeeded in overcoming these problems while others have not or have seen their progress derailed by disasters and conflicts.

Currently, we offer six taught MSc programmes and a stimulating research programme – with research projects across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Teaching staff, who have considerable experience living and working in the developing world, engage in policy-relevant research and consultancy with international development agencies and non-government organisations. Research within the department spans several broad themes.

Our study programmes attract talented students from all over the world. Graduates find rewarding careers in a wide variety of government, non-government, UN, academic and private-sector organisations.

Department of International Development

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Recent graduates have secured promising professional careers in public, private and voluntary agencies dealing with development and humanitarian problems at both national and international levels.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.