Master of Science - Development Economics with Placement Year (PGTF0277)

The MSc Development Economics with Work Placement Year is the flagship Master's programme offered by the SOAS Economics Department.

It combines the two core intellectual traditions nurtured for decades in this unique department: a pluralist approach to economics and a focus on real-world development issues. If students are interested in understanding how the global economy works, what economic challenges and opportunities countries in the Global South face, and what to do about intensifying inequalities and ecological breakdown, this degree is for them.

In macroeconomics, students will engage with different schools of macroeconomic thought on issues like inflation, unemployment, inequality, money creation, climate change and macroeconomic policy. In microeconomics, different theoretical perspectives on issues like market failures, risk, market structures and production are compared and contrasted. In development economics, students are introduced to economic theories and policies for development through a historical, pluralist and decolonial approach.

For their placement year, students will have the opportunity to take part in a full-time, 10–12 month work placement at an organisation of their choice. 

Students on this programme can apply for a dissertation co-supervised with key international organisations, such as the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Bank.