Master Degree

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Accredited
6 Years
30 Jul 2020
Accreditation DGES
Initial registry R/A-Cr 37/2012 de 06-06-2012
Update registry R/A-Cr 37/2012/AL01 de 30/05/2019
Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Application
Sedas Nunes Building (Building I), room 1E05
candidaturas.ecsh@iscte-iul.pt
(+351) 210 464 016
9:30 - 18:00

Tuition fee EU nationals (2025/2026)

1.ndYear 2500.00 €
2.thYear 1250.00 €

Tuition fee non-EU nationals (2025/2026)

1.stYear 3500.00 €
1.ndYear 
2.rdYear 1600.00 €
2.thYear 
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Lectured in Portuguese and English
Teaching Type In person

The MSc in Development Studies is promoted by the Department of Political Economy (DEP) of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (ECSH) and has the collaboration of the Centre for Studies on Socioeconomic Change and Territory (DINAMIA'CET-IUL), Centre for International Studies (CEI-IULand Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA-IUL).

In the 1st year/1st semester, students in the MSc in Development Studies reflect and discuss the theories, processes, policies and practices in global development.

In the 1st year/2nd semester, students learn how to design, implement and evaluate development projects and meet with professionals in this area to learn about their daily challenges and the complexity of the problems they face in order to try to contribute to positive change. This semester also provides for the attendance of electives in research methodologies, specialized areas as well as the possibility of undertaking an internship.

In the 2nd year/1st semester, students have two free electives and need to mandatorily attend the UC Dissertation that prepares them to write a proposal for the master's thesis or project-based work necessary to finish the master's degree. 

In the 2nd year/2nd semester, students are expected to focus exclusively in writing their master's thesis or project work.


Programme Structure for 2025/2026

1st Year
Anthropology and Developement
6.0 ECTS
Cooperation for Global Development
6.0 ECTS
State and Development
6.0 ECTS
Seminário Desafios do Desenvolvimento Global
6.0 ECTS
Modernity and Development
6.0 ECTS
Global Development Project Management and Evaluation
6.0 ECTS
Theories of Development
6.0 ECTS
2nd Cycle Internship
6.0 ECTS
2nd Year
Master Project in Development Studies
48.0 ECTS
Master Dissertation in Development Studies
48.0 ECTS

Recommended optative




Optional Courses > Research Methods


Optional courses will only be held if they achieve a minimum number of enrollments.

Objectives


The MSc in Development Studies aims to develop skills to:

  1. Critically analyze the complexity of global development challenges,
  2. Understand the importance of territorial specificities in terms of history, governance, ideologies and power relations in global development processes,
  3. Know and critically analyze the role of the various actors (governments, multilateral agencies, civil society and the private sector) in global development processes,
  4. Be able to identify, analyze and discuss a set of global development issues using appropriate analytical frameworks and methodologies respecting scientific rigor,
  5. Be able to collect, interpret and evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively facts and evidence on processes, indicators, results and impacts of public policies and private practices for change,
  6. Be able to lead, design, negotiate, implement, manage and evaluate impacts of change programs and projects,
  7. Be able to communicate the results of your research to multiple audiences, ranging from academics, policy makers, media, local communities, businesses and non-governmental organisations.


The MSc in Development Studies aims to develop skills to:

  1. Critically analyze the complexity of global development challenges
  2. Understand the importance of territorial specificities in terms of history, governance, ideologies and power relations in global development processes
  3. Know and critically analyze the role of the various actors (governments, multilateral agencies, civil society and the private sector) in global development processes
  4. Be able to identify, analyze and discuss a set of global development issues using appropriate analytical frameworks and methodologies respecting scientific rigor
  5. Be able to collect, interpret and evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively facts and evidence on processes, indicators, results and impacts of public policies and private practices for change
  6. Be able to lead, design, negotiate, implement, manage and evaluate impacts of change programs and projects
  7. Be able to communicate the results of your research to multiple audiences, ranging from academics, policy makers, media, local communities, businesses and non-governmental organisations

Thesis / Final work


The completion of the master's degree implies the completion of a master's thesis or a project work corresponding to 48 credits.


The diversity and personal paths of master's students justify the possibility of choosing to carry out a master's thesis or a project work.


The completion of a master's thesis or project work is supervised by a doctorate or by a specialist of recognized merit and is subject to public appreciation and discussion, before a jury appointed for this purpose.


Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Application
Sedas Nunes Building (Building I), room 1E05
candidaturas.ecsh@iscte-iul.pt
(+351) 210 464 016
9:30 - 18:00
Apply
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