Course Type: Postgraduate (taught)
Training Provider: University of Bath
School/Institute/Dept./Centre: Department of Economics and International Development (DEID)

• to systematically review and evaluate different research skills, methodologies and paradigms in International Development;
• to review systematically, and to evaluate critically, the application of these approaches in the specific areas of social and educational enquiry in which students are specialising;
• to support students, within an active research community, in identifying and investigating their own original research questions;
• to equip students with the skills to contribute to research projects using any of the main methodologies of the social sciences.
  
  

• First, those professionals who want to further develop their research and analytical skills in International Development.
• Second, those who wish to pursue a Masters in research as a precursor for PhD studies in International Development. The Master of Research in International Development is approved by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a top quality research training degree that students can use for ESRC-funded PhD studies. ESRC is the most prestigious national institution for funding research in Britain and only few Masters have this recognition. The ESRC now requires that all the students whom it funds for doctoral studies should first complete a recognised programme of this kind (see http://www.esrc.ac.uk/esrccontent/postgradfunding/foindex.asp). Students applying for the MRes in International Development as preparation for a PhD at Bath are therefore eligible to apply for ESRC funding for the MRes/PhD 1+3 programme.

Programme Structure

Semester 1

• Principles and Skills of Social Research
• Qualitative Methods 1
• Quantitative Methods 1
• International Development and Poverty
• Short Research Apprenticeship Project (SRAP)*

• Comparative European Social Policy
• Economics of Development
• Policy Theory and the Politics of Developing Countries
• Public Sector Economics 1 (taxation)
• Sociology & Social Anthropology of Development
• International Policy Analysis 1
• Globalisation 1: political sociology of globalisation

Semester 2

• Long Research Apprenticeship Project (LRAP)
• Either Qualitative Methods 2 or Quantitative Methods 2

• Language Foundation
• Management of Development
• Critical Issues in Social Development
• Well-being, Welfare Regimes & Social Policy: a global perspective
• International Development: Extended Essay

• Postgraduate Dissertation Workshop

Summer

Hits: 1603

                                                                     

Staff:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/econ-dev/staff.htm

Entry Requirements:

- 2.2 or higher first degree or equivalent in a social science subject, or a
- 2.1 in another subject, or
- relevant professional experience.

Students should normally have prior experience of working in development. Underlying these conditions is a belief that students must bring a minimum combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to the programme. Marginal cases are often dealt with at interview, and it is not uncommon for relatively inexperienced students to be asked to defer entry.

Applicants should have a good command in English, oral as well as written. In particular, non-Anglophone students should have obtained a minimum score in English language tests of:

- IELTS 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components) or
- TOEFL 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test)

If you wish to improve your English proficiency before commencing your studies, pre-sessional language training can be arranged through the university\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s English Language Centre.

Intake/Applications (previous year):
8/50

Course Duration:
One-year full-time, up to five years part-time.

The Masters Programmes are available for part-time study. We recognise the often significant challenges associated with balancing study and other activities, and so adopt a flexible approach (wherever possible) to part-time study. A typical example might be: to take two or three taught units in each of the four semesters over a two-year period - the aim being to complete the taught component of your studies by the end of semester 2 in the second year. Development of the Dissertation may be commenced in the first summer, being completed in the second summer, possibly extending into the third year.

(If the compulsoiry units are taken in the first year, this might provide the necessary key knowledge to be able to identify and pursue the dissertation in the first summer.)

Obviously, such a pattern will not be suitable to all students - our recommendation would be to meet with the Director of Studies to identify a tailor-made study programme to suit your particular requirements.

[Whilst there will be constraints regarding timetabling and that some units require other units to be taken before them, we continue to strive to reduce such constraints. For example, the MRes core units are delivered on just two days of the week - Tuesdays and Fridays in both semesters 1 and 2 ).]

We also recognise that studying a programme on a part-time basis can impose a range of problems, different to those encountered by full-time students, particularly regarding the balance between studying and other life activities (such as home or work). We therefore provide advice to students as to how to tackle this balance, and expect Directors of Study to maintain regular contact with p/t students. To enable part-time students to adapt study arrangements as they continue to juggle study and outside commitments, students can suspend their registration for a period of one or more semesters ? this is sometimes useful to work-around outside activities although should only be considered where absolutely necessary.

Language(s) of Instruction:

• English

Mode of Study:

• residential

Thematic Focus:

• Development Economics
• Development Studies
• Globalisation
• Poverty Analysis
• Research Methods
• Rural Development
• Social Policy and Development

Country(ies):

• United Kingdom

Town(s) or City(ies):
Bath

Course fees:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office/finance/pgfee_schedule.pdf

Scholarships & Awards:
see web address below...

Further Funding Information:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/econ-dev/pg/funding.htm

Course's Webpage:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/econ-dev/pg/res-development.htm