University of Bradford

Bradford Centre for International Development

Awarding and teaching institution: / University of Bradford
Final awards: / [English National Qualifications Framework level M]
MSc in Development and Project Planning
MSc in Project Planning and Management
MSc in Macroeconomic Policy for Development
MSc in International Economics
M.Sc in Public Policy and Programme Management
MA in International Development Management
Programme title: / Masters Degrees in International Development Studies by part-time study
Duration: / Up to 5 years part-time
UCAS code: / Not applicable
Subject benchmark statement: / Not applicable
Date: / October 2007

Bradford Centre for International Development (BCID) is a multidisciplinary department within the School of Social and International Studies. The Centre’s activities include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, short training courses for development professionals, overseas-based consultancy, training and research. Teaching staff have academic backgrounds in branches of economics and other social sciences, but they share some common areas of interest, including international economics, globalisation, investment appraisal and managing the development process. All BCID courses have strong vocational and skill-based elements, in line with the University’s mission of ‘Making Knowledge Work’, and are designed to be relevant to contemporary issues and professions.

The Masters Programme in International Development Studies offers six one year taught courses. Each degree is based on core course units that define and explore the main subject area of the degree, supplemented by a range of optional courses offered in BCID. Taught courses comprise 120 credits, or two thirds of the degree. One third of the degree (60 credits) consists of a dissertation on a topic chosen by the student, written under the supervision of an appropriate member of the academic staff.

The MSc in Development and Project Planning combines the critical study of alternative approaches to development issues, with a thorough training in techniques for the planning, design and evaluation of development projects and programmes.

The MSc in Project Planning and Management develops a critical understanding of the processes and issues involved in the planning and management of development projects, together with technical, managerial and people-related skills for their effective implementation.

The MSc in Macroeconomic Policy for Development provides insight into the analytical tools and quantitative techniques used by economists for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of macro-economic policy in the particular contexts of developing and transitional countries.

The MSc in International Economics is focussed on the understanding and analysis of issues relevant to economic policy-making in an international context, including globalisation, transition to market systems, trade and development.

The M.Sc in Public Policy and Programme Management provides students with a systematic understanding of the policy process and its application to sustained economic and social development, at the same time equipping them with the skills that are essential for translating policies into programmes with defined outcomes.

The MA in International Development Management studies the theories, policies and practices pursued by institutions, communities and practitioners at all levels to further the objective of poverty reduction through development.

Part-time Programme

All six degrees can be studied on a part-time basis. Units are taught in blocks of normally twelve weeks, beginning in late September or late January. Part-time students will register for one or more units at a time, and accumulate credits towards a degree by undertaking assessment at the end of the teaching period. Attendance at lectures, seminars and other course activities alongside full-time students throughout the teaching period is also required for satisfactory completion of a unit. All units carry 20 credits. Part-time students working towards a Masters degree may qualify for interim awards by means of the accumulation of credits, as shown in the Regulations for Progression below.

Completion of the assessed research methods element of the Dissertation may be undertaken EITHER during attendance at the University whilst taking a taught unit in Semester 2 ORwholly by distance learning at any time during the period of study. All part-time students must take the opportunity whilst registered for a Semester 1 taught module in Bradford to follow an intensive programme of familiarisation with the University’s learning resources during the first week of the Academic Year. Part-time students may not proceed to write the Dissertation itself until permitted to do so by the Board of Examiners. This will normally be undertaken during a period of non-attendance, using email to communicate with your supervisor and the department and internet access to University resources.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes indicate what a graduate should know and understand, and be able to do, on successful completion of a degree. With a Masters degree from the Bradford Centre for International Development you will have acquired:

  • knowledge and understanding appropriate to each field of study, including: theories, concepts and current debates in development and international economics; alternative approaches, policies and practices; the resources and priorities of institutions, policy-makers, practitioners and recipients of development interventions.
  • discipline skills appropriate to each field of study, including analytical tools quantitative methods, models and techniques applied in policy analysis, investment appraisal, planning and decision-making, project and process management.
  • personal transferable skills in critical thinking, independent and group study experience, numerical and statistical techniques, IT skills, using written and electronic sources of information, effective communication in speech and writing. Management skills including leadership, motivation, conflict management, problem solving and team working.

Course structure

The structure and content of the six Masters degreesare shown on the last page. These may change, subject to the University's course approval, monitoring and review procedures. A further choice of elective course units is available in the School of Social and International Studies or elsewhere in the University.

Regulations for Progression

The detailed and definitive regulations for progression are incorporated in the University Regulations. In summary, if you complete 40 credits with a mark of at least 40% and a further 20 credits with at least 35%, you are eligible for a Postgraduate Certificate. If you complete 100 credits at 40% and a further 20 credits at 35% you are eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma. For the award of an MSc, you must complete 160 credits at 40% with a further 20 credits at 4035%. You will be awarded a Masters with Distinction if your overall average exceeds 70% and with Merit if your overall average exceeds 60%. The learning outcomes for these awards are consistent with those of the national framework for higher education qualifications inEngland.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies

Most teaching is lecture or group-based for taught course units, while individual supervisors provide specialist guidance during dissertation writing. Hence, as the course progresses, the main learning method gradually becomes more individualised and student-centred.

To ensure the systematic development of knowledge of key subjects, course units are assessed by a variety of assessments in addition to essays and formal examinations. Group work, where the assessment may be based on a report or a presentation, provides both team work experience and practice for students in different ways of expressing arguments and information. Where appropriate to the subject matter, computer-based exercises may be set.

Extensive use is made of the Blackboard VLE for access to learning materials, communication between staff and students, administrative information, and the submission of written assessments. Email is used to maintain contact between students, dissertation supervisors, lecturers and personal tutors and to disseminate urgent messages and information. Students are given guidance to enable them to make the most of ICT and electronic data sources throughout their course by the subject Librarian and the Learning Support Officer.

Admission requirements

Each year, the Masters programme admits up to 120 students across the six degree courses. In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of the University, applicants are expected to have a good Honours degree (or its equivalent). Those wishing to study the MSc in Macroeconomic Policy for Development, or the MSc in International Economics, will normally have a first degree in economics or a related subject. Applicants’ relevant work experience is also taken into account. International students need to show competence in English to a high level, for example, IELTS with overall band score of 6.0.

Student support and guidance

We aim to help you become a confident and independent learner who is able to source information in the student handbook, the University website and virtual learning environment, course study guides, internet and library sources. However, interaction is also vitally important to successful learning. The Centre has a reputation for friendly and open staff-student relations. It is also a truly international community, with nationals from about twenty countries represented in the student population at any one time. Each student is allocated a personal academic tutor who acts as a mentor and adviser. Personal tutors are able to arrange for appropriate specialist help from the wide range of experts across the University, as well as advise on any matter to do with their tutee’s work or welfare. Student representation in BCID is organised through the Staff Student Liaison Committee, chaired by an appointed academic staff member. The University infrastructure for student support and guidance is very strong, and includes the Student Advice Centre, Disabilities Office, Career Development Service, and the Health Centre. Welfare and social support are also provided through the Student Union.

Learning resources

The Learning Support Services of the University of Bradford, comprising the Library the Computer Centre and the Career Development Service, provide comprehensive, user-friendly facilities for students . BCID Students also have access to the School of Management Library, and to the Development Collection in the University Library, which consists of specialist materials relating to developing countries and international development. The University Library is a designated European Documentation Centre, with a comprehensive coverage of EU information.

Employability of graduates

Many BCID postgraduates show a personal commitment to development and have some work experience in related areas of the public, private and voluntary sectors. They may see the degree as a means to change careers: to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge and qualifications to become a development professional. Other Masters students may already have embarked on a career that has some involvement with international development - in finance, say, or human resource management. A high proportion of BCID postgraduate students are from overseas, studying for a higher degree with the support of their employer. A BCID postgraduate degree course provides the knowledge and skills required for advancement to more senior, specialist posts.

Course structure

Unit Code
Code / Title / Semester
Sem / Credits
Cred / MSc Development and Project Planning / MSc Project Planning and Management / MSc Macroeconomic Policy for Developmentes / MSc
International Economics / M.Sc in Public Policy and Programme Management / MA
International Development Management
ID-7022D / Project and Programme Management / 1 / 20 / O / C / n/a / n/a / C / O
ID-7065D / Project Planning Design and Appraisal / 1 / 20 / C / C / n/a / n/a / O / O
ID-7018D / Issues in Development Theory / 1 / 20 / O / n/a / n/a / n/a / O / C
ID-7032D / Quantitative Methods / 1 / 20 / O / n/a / C / C / O / O
ID-7043D / Macroeconomic Analysis for Development / 1 / 20 / O / n/a / C / C / O / O
ID-7040D / Public Policy Analysis and Management / 2 / 20 / C / O / C / O / C / O
ID-7029D / Project Appraisal and Economic Analysis / 2 / 20 / C / O / n/a / n/a / O / O
ID-7072D / Human Resource Management and Development / 2 / 20 / O / C / O / O / O / O
ID-7045D / Microeconomic Analysis / 2 / 20 / O / O / O / C / O / O
ID-7071D / Public Action: Civil society, government & the private sector in partnership / 2 / 20 / O / O / O / O / C / O
ID-7017D / Issues in Development Policy / 2 / 20 / O / O / O / O / O / C
ID-7044D / International Economics / 2 / 20 / O / O / C / C / O / O
ID-7090Z / Dissertation (Distance route)++ / Diss / 60 / C / C / C / C / C / C
ID-7060Z / Dissertation++ / Diss / 60 / C / C / C / C / C / C

++ Alternative routes

Effective for the academic year 2006/07