Study programme

The programme offers a solid foundation in contemporary theories and debates, research skills, ethics in development, understanding positionality, and exploring new forms of collaboration and communication relevant to the field. The concepts of ‘governance’ and ‘inclusive development’ make up the over-arching themes.

Year 1

The first year of the programme is classroom-oriented.

The first semester is made up of our core course entitled Theories, Issues and Debates, a course exploring the philosophies of science, and two thematic electives.

In the second semester, you will prepare to plan your own research project. This preparation includes two required courses which are Research Design: Mixed Methods and a unique course titled Purpose, Portfolio, and Proposal Development. In this course, you will be guided in defining your positionality and research goals, laying the groundwork for your second year of academic independence.

Additionally, you will select two methodological electives during this semester. Another unique course, Re-imagining International Development Studies, will broaden your perspective on IDS beyond academia through innovative practice- or research-based projects with various stakeholders.
Year 2

In the second year, you will work independently as a junior scholar, focusing on conducting your own research for the master thesis. This often involves research in other locations to collect empirical data. You will also complete your individual portfolio, which includes personally tailored professional and academic activities, such as creating webinars or preparing a documentary. These activities will help you gain clarity on your future career aspirations.

When you finish the research phase, you will take the Writing and Dissemination course which provides structure while writing the thesis. You will explore how you can share the conclusions of the thesis with important stakeholders through, for instance, an academic article, policy brief, or infographic. Additionally, career development workshops, held in collaboration with other research master's programmes, will assist you in grant writing, publishing, networking, and other essential skills to build your research careers.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC

Philosophy of Science for Urban and Development Studies

Period 1

6

This course in urban and development studies explores various epistemological and ontological approaches across disciplines, fostering the ability to analyze and evaluate their use in academic literature and policy. Students will critically reflect on these approaches, including positivism, critical realism, and constructivism, forming their own positions through written and verbal presentations on terms like 'urban,' 'development,' and 'poverty.' The course also delves into the dialectical relationship between structure and agency, encompassing recent perspectives on more-than-human approaches.
Theories, Issues & Debates in International Development Studies

Period 1

9

This course covers key theoretical debates and contemporary issues, exploring the political economy of development, colonialism, globalization, poverty, gender, and more. Students will critically assess global and historical perspectives, examining the role of various actors from states to NGOs. The course also emphasizes the culture and politics of representation in shaping development policy.
Research Design: Mixed Methods

Period 4

6

This course introduces students to mixed methods approaches in International Development Studies, focusing on epistemological and methodological perspectives. Students will engage in debates, articulate the need for mixed methods in societal problem-solving, and learn about various research designs. The course covers philosophical foundations, design choices, and inferences in mixed methods research, preparing students to develop their own research proposals in subsequent courses.
Purpose, Portfolio and Proposal Development

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

12

This course prepares students for fieldwork and research proposal development. By the end of the course, students will reflect on their professional goals, design a portfolio plan, and create a research proposal with a focus on ethical standards and safety. The co-created approach enhances students' agency and responsibility in their learning trajectories through collaboration with peers and lecturers.
Re-imagining International Development Studies

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

6

This newly introduced course in International Development Studies focuses on innovative, practice-oriented approaches to prepare students for future roles as change agents. It covers subjects like regenerative development and decolonising theory, emphasizing skills in designing and implementing developmental projects and collaborating with diverse stakeholders. By the end, students will have gained experience, skills, and capacities to communicate and collaborate effectively in inclusive ways.
Restricted-choice electives: Thematic IDS Electives

Period 2

12

You may choose from two thematic electives. These electives may change from each year, but in the current curriculum they are: Sustainable and inclusive economics, Migration and development, Urban perspectives in development, The capitalocene: understanding unequal exchange and environmental conflict, Intersectional feminist engagements with development policies and practices, Critical development theory and social movements
Restricted-choice electives: Method Electives

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

12

The current methodological electives being offered are: Introduction to geographical information systems, Advanced geographical information systems, Data and measurement, The practice of ethnographic research, Research skills: ethnography and beyond, Working with quantitative data, Policy oriented research, Analysing talk and language: discourse and conversation analysis, Computational social science analysis

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC

Portfolio

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

15
Professional and Academic Skills Seminar

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

6
Scientific Article

Period 6

6
Fieldwork and Thesis Project

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

33

Compulsory course

Elective

Find more information in the online course catalogue

Thesis

You will write a final thesis based on your independent research. This thesis will contribute to ongoing debates in theory. You'll be able to do independent research in various contexts relevant to understanding development issues better. This can be in the Netherlands or another country. Your research can focus on development, as well as on decision-making processes that impact development outcomes.
Independent research & fieldwork

Independent research is an important aspect of our programme. When you are carrying out primary data collection, you are doing more than addressing development issues in a classroom. Rather, you have the opportunity to explore them first-hand and develop your own lines of inquiry to understand them better.

Most students consistently highlight their fieldwork experiences as one of the most valuable parts of their education.

You can travel all over the globe for your research. We encourage exploration in a variety of contexts. This might include studying development agencies or issues in Northern countries, diving into issues like inequality, exclusion and/or power asymmetries in your home country, or looking beyond to the majority world.

It's important to note that students cover the costs of their fieldwork, typically ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 euros. Fieldwork activities are also subject to rules regarding the safety of the country to which you are travelling and any health-related or visa restrictions.
Portfolio

The Portfolio is one of the most unique aspects of our programme and stands out as a particularly valuable experience. It makes up 15 EC in the programme which you mostly fill in yourself. You can choose to make an academic profile to prepare yourself for a PhD, a professional profile to enter the professional field, or a combination of both.

The portfolio activities are usually carried out in the same period of time as your independent research. These activities can include research or professional internships, but also less conventional activities or projects such as mini-documentaries, photo-narration projects, volunteer work, and extra-curricular courses, among many others. We will guide you in making your decisions about the portfolio.
Workload

Embrace the extended fieldwork opportunity Alumna Maria Hagan about the Research Master's International Development Studies

Frequently asked questions

What are the main differences between the one year master's and the two year research master's programme?

The first major difference between the regular Master and the Research Master programmes is the length of the programme. The regular Master is one year, and the Research Master runs for two years. This also means that students spend 8-10 weeks doing independent research in the one-year programme, and 14-16 weeks of independent research in the two-year programme.

The one-year Master programme focuses on leading students towards becoming “academic professionals” where they can use their knowledge and research skills to join the professional field of development. The same is provided in the Research Master, but more emphasis is placed on preparing students for being competitive in applying for Ph.D. programmes once they have graduated. This is facilitated by including more methodology courses and the requirement of writing an academic article based on the thesis.

A key component in the two-year programme is the development of the Portfolio. This is 15 EC of independent work which is normally carried out in the same period of time as the field research. Portfolio activities help students make crucial decisions about how they want to contribute to the field of development. Portfolio activities have included research or professional internships, but also less conventional activities or projects such as mini-documentaries, photo-narration projects, volunteer work, and extra-curricular courses, among many others. Students will be guided in making their decisions about the portfolio.
When and how long can students undertake fieldwork?

Once the thesis proposal has been approved by your thesis supervisor, one-year master students (MIDS) undertake three months of fieldwork in Block 4, i.e. between the end of January until early April. The research master students (RMIDS) undertake three to six months of fieldwork in Block 1 and 2 of their second year or between the end of August until early January.
What can I expect from a thesis supervisor?

While every supervision is different depending on the student and the supervisors, all students are entitled to a maximum of eight meetings with his/her first supervisor to discuss data-analysis, chapters, the final draft or other issues the student or supervisor considers relevant. The date of submission of the thesis, the date of the thesis defense and planned graduation date have to be carefully coordinated with the supervisor and second reader, to ensure their availability in the planned period.
What are the estimated costs for fieldwork?

Study programme

Cookie Consent