The MA in Development Studies is a one-year, 60-EC programme that combines 40 EC of coursework with a 20 EC thesis, completed within 12 months.
Your academic year is divided into four 10-week blocks. Each block includes eight weeks of classes, followed by a week of exams and assignments, and a final week dedicated to extracurricular activities.
You’ll start the programme with three core courses:
- An introduction to the field of Development Studies
- A course on Grand Challenges and Societal Transformations
- A methodology course exploring research design, epistemology, and the role of the researcher
In the second and third blocks, you’ll choose from a range of elective and research methodology courses, allowing you to tailor your studies to your own interests and apply your learning to real-world cases of development and social change.
In the first weeks, all students take:
- An English academic writing test
- A numeracy and quantitative skills test
These help you identify areas for academic support.
All students follow two General Courses:
- Histories and Theories of Development – explores the roots of development studies.
- Grand Challenges in Development Studies – looks at critiques of “development” and alternative approaches.
- Doing Development Research – introducing research ethics, critical approaches to data (including AI), and basic research methods.
Choose two elective course (5 EC each) and one research methods course (5 EC).
Electives | Electives | Research methods courses |
| Political Economy of Agriculture and Food | Economic Analysis of Households, Firms and Institutions | Multi-methods Research in International Development |
| Economic Perspectives on Globalization and Development: Theory, Evidence, and Policy | Policy Analysis, Design and Implementation | Qualitative Research Methods and (Digital) Fieldwork |
| Feminist Perspectives on Gender and Development | Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics and Challenges | Quantitative Methods for Development Research |
| Social Protection and the Life Course | Political Ecology of Natural Resources and Development |
Please note that elective classes will only run if there are enough students registered for the class.
Option 1: Students choose two elective courses (5 EC each)
Option 2: *one research methods course (5 EC) and one elective course - if you want a stronger research profile.
Electives | Electives | Research methods courses |
Climate Crisis, Disasters and Humanitarian Action
| Entrepreneurship and Organizations in Development | Discourse Analysis and Critical Social Research |
| Armed Conflict, Collective Violence, and Epistemologies for/of Peace Governance | Migration, Mobilities and Development: Global Entanglements, Livelihoods and Intersectionality | Deep Diving into Quantitative Analysis |
| Monitoring and Evaluation | Politics of Global Order: Debating Liberal Internationalism | Decoloniality in the Development Research Context: Decolonizing Knowledge |
| Humanizing Digital Design for Development | Behavioral Perspectives and Development
| Neo-Liberalism |
Please note that elective classes will only run if there are enough students registered for the class.
Thesis: Your Oppurtunity to specialize
The thesis is the final and most significant part of the MA in Development Studies. At the start of the programme, you’ll receive a list of thesis topics available for the academic year.
During the Thesis Market in Block 1, you’ll have the chance to meet staff, explore topics, and discuss related coursework to help shape your research direction.
You can choose between theory-oriented and practice-oriented theses:
- A theory-oriented thesis emphasizes critical engagement with academic literature and conceptual analysis.
- A practice-oriented thesis integrates the same theoretical and analytical components with practical experience, such as a practice-oriented assignment commissioned by a development practitioner organization.
This final project allows you to apply your knowledge, develop independent research skills, and make a meaningful contribution to the field of development studies.
Some examples of topics:
- Queer Feminist Approaches to Conflict and Peace
- The Global South in the Changing International Order
- The Emerging Platform Economy: Transforming or reinforcing inequalities in the world of work?
- Evaluating School Feeding Programs– a quantitative analysis
- The future of international cooperation to address global challenges – with a practical component at the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs
| Period | Block / Activity | Credits (EC) | Duration | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 4 Sep | Intro Week | _ | 1 week | Orientation & introduction |
| 7 Sep – 13 Nov | Block 1 | 15 EC | 10 weeks | General Course 1, General Course 2, Doing Development Research |
| 16 Nov – 20 Dec | Block 2 (part 1) | 15 EC | 5 weeks | Elective Course 1, Elective Course 2 |
| 21 Dec – 3 Jan Winter Break –2 weeks | ||||
| 4 Jan – 5 Feb | Block 2 (part 2) | _ | 5 weeks | Continuation: Elective Course 1, Elective Course 2 Methods Course |
| 8 Feb – 16 Apr | Block 3 | 15 EC | 10 weeks | Elective Course 3, Elective Course 4 |
| 19 Apr – End Aug | Block 4 | 15 EC | 10 weeks | Start Thesis, Thesis Writing, Thesis Defence |
| Graduation ceremony | ||||
At the end of Blocks 1, 2, and 3, you’ll enjoy a week designed to relax, recharge, and broaden your horizons.
Take part in study trips to international organisations based in The Hague, join seminars and debates, and participate in skills workshops that help you connect your studies to real-world practice and professional development.