ISS stood out to me for its critical approach to global issues and its multicultural, engaging environment.
Komal Malik
Komal chose ISS for its interdisciplinary approach to development and global learning environment, with scholarship support making it her top choice.
Komal Malik will be joining ISS in September 2026 on the MA in Development Studies programme. In this excerpt, she shares what why ISS became her top choice.
"I chose the MA in Development Studies at ISS because of its versatile and interdisciplinary nature. The programme combines development theories with critical perspectives on contemporary issues such as feminism, human rights, armed conflict, and the environment, alongside rigorous research training.
"Through feedback from current students, I learned that ISS offers a critically engaging and multicultural learning environment. I believe this will help me develop ethical clarity, a sense of global solidarity, and strong technical expertise.
"Receiving the Excellence Scholarship and Early Bird discount also played an important role in my decision, as it made studying at ISS more financially accessible. Altogether, these factors made ISS my first choice for postgraduate study!"