The Master of Arts degree is designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research in development studies. The thesis should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge and make an independent contribution to existing scholarship in the area of research. Candidates may advance to the Doctor of Philosophy degree after successful completion of the masters or may apply to convert to the PhD at an earlier stage. An honours grade of at least H2B (70%) must be attained to qualify for the award of the masters degree.

The philosophy of the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath is to create a lively and informed research community. We have a strong international research reputation, covering all the mainstream fields of economics, as well as a wide variety of development-related areas and disciplines. The Department has attracted substantial research funding for its work on environmental economics and on wellbeing in developing countries. Many of our academics are acknowledged as leading the field in their disciplines and for their forward thinking.