phd international finance and development

International Development - PhD

Although it has become an important focus of scholarship and a major global policy arena, there is not universal agreement on exactly what the field of international development encompasses. Generally speaking, there is consensus that it broadly focuses on policies and institutions involved in promoting certain core goals—economic growth, poverty reduction, better governance, quality of life improvements, and stronger human rights—in the poorer and less-developed countries of the world. The relative importance of these diverse, interrelated issues and how to approach studying and attaining them, however, has generated robust and evolving debates across disciplines and between academics and policymakers.

Since the end of World War II, an impressive volume of literature on what is known as development studies has accumulated. It can be argued that development, in itself, has gained the status of a field of study within, and beyond, the social sciences. From economics to anthropology, from sociology to environmental sciences, development has become a major intellectual concern.  Development issues are also a focus in the field of public management, and social entrepreneurship in emerging and developing countries has become a prominent interest of some business schools.

Some scholars consider development as a separate discipline, characterized by having its own epistemological stance, theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and even a unique terminology. In contrast, other scholars view development as inherently interdisciplinary, in which none of the traditionally established disciplines can satisfactorily explain the multidimensional and dynamic character of development. Therefore, development can be viewed both as a discipline in its own right, and as particular social phenomenon which can be approached from different disciplinary perspectives. Another relevant debate in the development literature refers to the inherent particularities of developed countries when compared to the developing world with respect to issues such as culture, social capital, institutional change, and so forth, which affect the development process.

The international development field prepares doctoral students to undertake research in this broad-based area. Given its expansive and interdisciplinary nature, International Development is a customized doctoral field in which students design their own areas of study with strong faculty guidance. The field includes an overview component that focuses on foundational ideas in development thinking and the empirical research that has examined it. Beyond that, some students have elected to take a more institutional/public administration perspective, while others have focused more on discipline based social science theory and methods (economics and political economy have dominated). Many have tried to bridge disciplines and approaches to some extent. 

Many students also focus on a particular aspect of development that brings together material drawn from multiple disciplines and methodological approaches as it relates to their focal research interests. Examples of more focused topics have ranged from the broad (poverty reduction, public finance, governance) to the more specific (access to financial services by poor households, fiscal decentralization, performance/outcome evaluation).

Brandeis International Business School

PhD in International Economics and Finance

• Job Market Placements

Class Profile

Program highlights.

Brandeis Advantage

Ranked among the best U.S. universities by U.S. News and World Report. Located close to Boston, a multicultural hub of finance, technology and innovation.

Global Career Preparation

Our doctoral program focuses on research, teaching, high-level policy making and consulting.

Renowned Faculty

Work with   faculty experts   who are leaders in academic research or seasoned financial professionals.

STEM-Designated

International students are eligible for up to 36 months of practical training in the U.S. after graduation.   Learn more.

Scholarships

Nearly all students accepted into the PhD program receive full tuition scholarships, health insurance and living stipends.

A Close-knit Community

Learn more   about our multi-cultural and supportive campus environment.

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PhD Career Outcomes

• Job Market Candidates

Program Value

PhD candidates develop the analytical and technical background required for research, teaching, high-level policy making and consulting in international economics and finance. They pursue jobs in education as well as in the public and private sectors.

Lara Loewenstein

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

MA’12, PhD’16 | United States

Vina Nguyen

Economist, IMF

PhD’14 | Vietnam

Raffi Garcia

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

PhD’18 | Dominican Republic

Cecilia Maya

Chief Operating Officer, Markets, XM

MA’00, PhD’04 | Colombia

Rawley Heimer

Boston College

PhD’13 | United States

Satyam Panday

Standard and Poor's Rating Services

PhD’13 | Nepal

Eugene Kiselev

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

PhD’13 | Russia

Olaf Unteroberdoerster

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

PhD’98 | Germany

• See Details on Career Outcomes
• After completing the first year (normally four courses per semester, including Advanced Microeconomics I and II, Advanced Macroeconomics I and II and Econometrics), students then take qualifying examinations in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
• After completing field courses, usually in one or two years, students take examinations in two fields of specialization.   Current areas of specialization are Applied Methods, Finance and International Economics.
• In the first year, all PhD students also enroll in ECON 399  PhD Dissertation Workshop . The workshop provides opportunities for advanced students to present papers and define thesis objectives.
• In the third year, the PhD candidates begin to  work on the dissertation , prepare initial work on the thesis, and submit a 3rd year paper.
• In the third year and beyond, the thesis takes shape and a formal committee is assembled. Once a thesis defense date is scheduled, the student presents the core of the thesis work, and once completed, the degree is awarded during the next degree period.
• PhD students are required to work as either a teaching or research assistant at Brandeis International Business School in years 1-5 of the program.
• Students receive the Master of Science degree upon successful completion of 13 courses, passing their 2nd year qualifying exams, and at least one of two field exams. 
• View Courses & Timeline

Candidates are considered for admission every other year. The next intake will be Fall 2024.

• Application Requirements
• Tuition & Financial Aid

Median Verbal GRE / Quantitative GRE

Male / Female 

Average Age

42% / 58% 

Domestic / International 

Countries Represented in the Incoming Brandeis International Business School Class

 Albania ● Azerbaijan ● Cambodia ● Chile ● China ● Colombia ● El Salvador ● Ghana ● Hungary ● India ● Indonesia ● Kosovo ● Mongolia ● Namibia ● Nepal ● South Korea ● Taiwan ● Togo ● Ukraine ● United States ● Vietnam ● Yemen 

• Darla Moore School of Business
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• International Business
• Degree Programs
• Ph.D. in International Business

Ph.D. Programs in International Business and International Finance

International business program overview.

Visit the  admissions calendar  for admissions information and application deadlines.

Doctoral students in international business have a close working relationship with the faculty, often participating in joint research projects. Students also have the opportunity to become involved in research at or through South Carolina's Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).

The objective of the doctoral program with emphasis in international business is to prepare students for academic careers. In addition to extensive course work in international business, students are required to develop a cognate or area of functional specialization. Students often select cognate course work in areas such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, international studies and management. Students are encouraged to use the cognate to develop a program of study that establishes a strong multidisciplinary foundation supporting their functional specialization and individual research interests. Quantitative methods courses complement the international business and cognate courses to develop a strong foundation for academic research.

New Ph.D. Scholars Program provides financial support for underrepresented minority groups.

Program of study.

The international business concentration consists of at least 48 hours of course work. The courses offered in the international business area are:

• IBUS 801 Ph.D. Seminar in International Business I
• IBUS 802 Ph.D. Seminar in International Business II
• IBUS 811 Ph.D. Seminar in International Finance I
• IBUS 820 Ph.D. Seminar in International Marketing
• IBUS 830 Ph.D. Seminar in International Management
• IBUS 850 Ph.D. Seminar on Cultural Frameworks and Research

Download a list of research interests of our tenure track faculty [pdf].

International Finance Program Overview

Visit the   admissions calendar   for admissions information.

We are interested in equipping students who have strong interest in international finance to become leading scholars in this field. We encourage students to pursue research topics applying core finance concepts to the international arena. We also encourage interdisciplinary research with a focus on global finance.  

Building on the strengths of the international business and the finance faculties, the international finance concentration incorporates doctoral courses in international business and finance areas as follows:

• Sociological and Political Perspectives of International Business
• Economic Perspectives and International Business Theories
• Psychological and Cultural Perspectives/Strategy
• Financial Markets and Governance/MNC Financial Management
• Advanced Topics in International Finance
• MNC Management and MNC Subsidiary
• Emerging Market/Sustainability
• Doctoral Seminars in Finance
• Principles of Finance
• Corporate Finance
• Asset Pricing
• Empirical Methods in Financial Research

To equip students to research and publish in top finance and international business journals, the doctoral core also includes a substantial background in econometrics, mathematical statistics and stochastic processes, along with other statistical techniques applicable to extending the theoretical and empirical understanding of international finance.

Research and Teaching Support

Doctoral students in international finance have a close working relationship with the faculty, often participating in joint research projects. Students also have the opportunity to become involved in research at or through South Carolina's Center for International Business Education and Research. When doctoral students present papers in major academic conferences, financial aid might be given to cover some of the costs.

Within the international business department, there is a computer room and an international business library for students’ use. The Moore School has a business library with an extensive collection of books, magazines and academic journals. The school subscribes to many useful electronic databases such as Datastream, Worldscope, Bloomberg, CRSP, COMPUSTAT, LexisNexis Academic, Wall Street Journal (Pro Quest Direct), EBSCO Business Source Premier, JSTOR and more. Students can download data and articles easily.

Doctoral students are required to teach one or two undergraduate business courses within their program of study. The intention is to let them gain some teaching experience before they enter the academic job market. The students will not be asked to teach many courses since their primary focus is academic research.

Besides examinations in the regular courses, students are expected to take a comprehensive examination at the end of the second academic year. In the fall semester of the third year, students are required to make a presentation of an academic paper they have written in front of the faculty and fellow doctoral students. The purpose is to encourage students to work on high-quality research papers early in the program. In the third academic year, students are expected to defend their dissertation proposal. A formal defense of the finished dissertation is made before students graduate from the program.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

PhD in Sustainable Development

Ph.d. curriculum.

The distinctive and innovative nature of this program requires a core set of courses that provide an interdisciplinary grounding. Each of these courses is taught at the level expected of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in the affiliated departments. The course structure is designed to provide students with PhD-level training in economics and a natural science field, complemented by integrative courses in sustainable development designed specifically for this program and courses in social sciences. The course structure combines flexibility to pursue an individual field of study with broad-based skills and knowledge development. The core curriculum consists of around ten core courses, listed below. Students must also complete two social science electives and a coherent sequence of four natural science courses for a minimum total of 60 credits and should maintain an overall B+ average with no lower than a B- in any of the core classes. In addition to course work, students participate in integrative seminars  Sustainable Development Seminar I ( SDEV U9200 ) / Sustainable Development Seminar II ( SDEV U9201 ) throughout the first three years of the program, and complete the MA thesis and take an Orals Exam (leading to the MPhil Degree), in addition to presenting and defending a Ph.D. dissertation.

Due to the unique interdisciplinary content of the program, students entering with a master’s degree earned at Columbia University or elsewhere are still required to complete all MA and MPhil course requirements and examinations.

Advanced Standing for previously held degrees may occasionally be accorded at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) after successfully completing the first year.

Students must select an advisory committee before the end of the fourth semester, ideally earlier, with the help and approval of the DGS and Program Faculty. The committee ideally comprises 2 to 3 members, one of whom is the academic advisor and must be a member of the SIPA faculty. The remaining advisors can be from other Columbia University schools and departments or from other universities. An advisor from a different university cannot be the main academic advisor. The advisory committee should include faculty whose expertise covers both the social and natural sciences.

For the first year or (at most) two academic years, the DGS will have the role of academic advisor. The role of the advisor is to guide and monitor research progress, including reporting to GSAS on the progress of the student, sitting in on Orals and Defense committees, and other associated duties .

Service Requirements

In addition to completing the requirements for the MA and the MPhil, students have to fulfill a teaching and research requirement. This entails six semesters of work as a teaching fellow (TF) or a graduate research fellow (GRF), as assigned by the director of the program. Students typically serve as TFs in SIPA master-level courses as well as a few undergraduate courses. Students who secure external fellowship funding may reduce this requirement with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Still, in all cases, every student must TA at least two semesters .

The Ph.D. in sustainable development is designed and supported as a five-year program. It is recognized that some students may need to extend their studies for all or part of a sixth year. While this can be accommodated administratively, students cannot assume that funds will be available to support the sixth year of study, and they are urged to make efforts to secure fellowship support or obtain funds through their advisors or from outside sources. Sixth-year extensions may be granted as exceptions and must not be assumed.

John Mutter , Professor  Director of the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development [email protected]

Tomara Aldrich Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development  [email protected]

John Mutter , Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and of International and Public Affairs; Director of the PhD in Sustainable Development program

Douglas Almond , Professor of International and Public Affairs and of Economics

Scott Barrett , Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics

Geoffrey Heal , Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise in the Faculty of Business and Professor of International and Public Affairs

Cristian Pop-Eleches , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Sachs , Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development; Professor of Health Policy and Management; Director of the Earth Institute

Wolfram Schlenker , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Shrader , Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs

Rodrigo Soares , Lemann Professor of Brazilian Public Policy and International and Public Affairs

Joseph Stiglitz , University Professor

Requirements for the MA Degree

Sustainable development courses.

These courses are designed and taught specifically for the PhD students in Sustainable Development, although they may be open to students from other programs.

Core Economics Courses

All core economics courses are taught in the Economics Department and are drawn from the Economics PhD syllabus. More information about these courses can be found from the Economics department Web site .

Social Science Courses

Students must take at least 3 social science courses. 

Natural Sciences Courses

Students must also take 3 natural science electives drawn from the following departments:

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B)

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) at the Mailman School of Public Health

Department of Earth and Environmental Engineerin g (DEEE) at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

The master’s thesis should be completed by May 1 in the fourth semester and should address a problem in sustainable development using data and methodologies from the four natural science courses completed in the first two years of the program. The thesis consists of an article (around 30 pages long), which would be publishable in an appropriately refereed academic journal reflecting the disciplinary orientation of the project.  Students should submit the Masters paper to their research advisor(s) with a copy to the DGS. The advisor later meets with the student and submits a pass/fail grade to the Assistant DGS for processing. For titles of MA thesis projects previously completed by students in the program please see here .

Requirements for the MPhil Degree

Completion of the MA requirements with a minimum of 60 credits and a B+ average.

Complete 4 out of 6 semesters of service requirements (Teaching Assistant, TA or Research Assistant, RA appointments) . Students with outside funding need to complete a minimum of 2 TA appointments.

Fulfillment of research tools requirement

Core courses in quantitative methods (Introduction to Econometrics I and II, and a third Quantitative Analysis course).

Either a two-course sequence in GIS or other analytic modeling systems or a proficiency examination in a non-English language, as selected with the approval of the academic adviser.

Submission of a final draft of the dissertation prospectus , approved by the adviser, to the MPhil Examining Committee three weeks prior to the MPhil examinations. The prospectus should:

be a single, 10-page document

be distinct from the Master’s thesis though it can build on similar research

cover the methods and objective of the research project

Two-hour long oral exam designed to examine the candidates’ formal learning and their capability to do independent research, including the presentation of a dissertation prospectus/proposal. The examination committee will consist of three faculty members, normally from the Sustainable Development core faculty, and will be chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), who will lead the discussion of the prospectus. Examinations are conducted as follows:

5 minutes: the candidate will give a formal presentation of the prospectus

30 minutes: all members of the examining committee, led by the DGS, will ask questions.

30 minutes: examination of proficiency in fields most relevant to the proposed research, from within the following subjects:

Natural Science

Sustainable Development

(Optional) An elective field, such as study of a region

Each component will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. If the average grade is 3.5 or above the student receives a clear pass. If the average grade is below 3.0 the student will be required to leave the program by the end of the current semester. If the average grade is between 3.0 and 3.5 or if any individual grade is below 3.0 the committee require the student to take further courses, revise their prospectus, or provide a revised research paper.

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Phd dissertation.

The PhD dissertation will be on a social science topic in sustainable development. The social science research will be informed by an understanding of physical and natural science constraints and opportunities influencing economic development.

Students with a regional area of interest to their dissertation may wish to do research abroad, so as to conduct field studies, use archives, improve language skills, or confer with local experts. In order that students may complete the PhD program without delay, it is preferred that they make use of summers to conduct such research. Students who feel they require a longer period of field research or language training need the approval of their advisor, and of the DGS. Students may not receive extended residence credit for study or research away from Columbia before the completion of all course work requirements and comprehensive examinations.

PhD Defense

Complete the GSAS deposit application and pay the $85 processing fee;

Submit the required Survey of Earned Doctorates online;

Upload and submit a PDF copy of your dissertation;

Obtain a signed Approval Card that certifies you have made all required revisions and that the dissertation has been approved for deposit by your sponsor and by your doctoral program.

Open defenses (optional)

If both the candidate for a defense and the Advisory Committee choose to have an “open” defense, the following will apply:

The candidate will have a maximum of 40 minutes to present major conclusions of the thesis research, with at least half of the time devoted to a description of new findings or insights in the field discussed that directly resulted from research by the student.

 Any member of the University community or other interested parties can attend the first part of the thesis defense.

Questions following the initial presentation are permitted for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Following the oral presentation by the candidate and the brief period for general questions, the defense committee will question the candidate in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes.

If either the candidate or the Advisory Committee prefer, the procedures for “closed defense” (i.e., 20-minute oral presentation followed by questions from the defense committee in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes) will be followed.

Candidates must consult with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies about scheduling the defense. Every Ph.D. student must submit the Intent to Distribute and Defend form directly to GSAS.

The final examination will not be scheduled until the Director of Graduate Studies has recommended the dissertation for defense. A five-person examining committee will be appointed by the department and must be approved by GSAS. The DGS will then officially invite the examiners.

The Application for Defense must be completed by the Candidate and the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted by the program’s office to the GSAS Dissertation office.

Members of the PhD examining committee must be given a minimum of three weeks to read the thesis, so the defense may comfortably be scheduled after submission of the thesis to the Advisory Committee. Before being recommended for defense, the candidate must submit to his/her Advisory Committee draft copies of the thesis, including figures, plates and tables and obtain the Advisory Committee’s written approval of the draft. (Written approval by the Advisory Committee indicates only that the thesis as it stands or with revisions suggested by them is in good enough form to justify scheduling the defense.)

After the Advisory Committee has given its preliminary approval in writing, and the candidate has made any revisions suggested by them, he/she must distribute copies of the dissertation to the external readers. Instructions for the correct form for preparing the manuscript and information on publication options may be obtained via the Graduate School’s website ( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/ )

The candidate must see that outstanding fees or loans to the University are paid and make sure that he/she has fulfilled all other Departmental requirements. When these requirements have been fulfilled and the examining committee has been appointed by the DGS, the candidate is notified of the examination date, usually about two weeks in advance.

After passing the final examination, the candidate must see to any minor revisions and their approval by the examining committee before final deposit. If major revisions were called for (a defense-vote of “incomplete”), these must be made and submitted within a stated period (usually no fewer than three months and no longer than one year from the date of the defense) to the supervising committee, whose approval will have to be certified in writing before the candidate can be recorded as having passed the final examination. From the time of the “pass” vote, the student has a maximum of six months to deposit the thesis. There are four steps to completing your deposit -- the steps can be done in any order, but your deposit is only considered complete when all four steps are done.

Doctorate degrees are awarded in October, February, and May. Check the academic calendar for specific deadlines for the final deposit of the dissertation. (You may, however, call yourself “Dr.” as of the day of your deposit, since that date will appear on your official transcript.)

PhD in Sustainable Development Courses

SDEV U6240 Environmental Science for Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: EE, EPD:Sustainable

This course provides a rigorous survey of the key areas of natural science that are critical to understanding sustainable development. The course will provide the theories, methodological techniques and applications associated with each natural science unit presented. The teaching is designed to ensure that students have the natural science basis to properly appreciate the co-dependencies of natural and human systems, which are central to understanding sustainable development. Students will learn the complexities of the interaction between the natural and human environment. After completing the course, students should be able to incorporate scholarly scientific work into their research or policy decisions and be able to use scientific methods of data analysis. This is a modular course that will cover core thematic areas specifically, climate, natural hazards, water management, public health/epidemiology, and ecology/biodiversity. To achieve coherence across lectures this course will emphasize how each topic is critical to studies of sustainable development and place-based case studies in recitation will integrate various topics covered. In the lectures and particularly the recitation sections this course will emphasize key scientific concepts such as uncertainty, experimental versus observational approaches, prediction and predictability, the use of models and other essential methodological aspects

SDEV U9200 Sustainable Development Seminar I. 1.50 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

SDEV U9201 Sustainable Development Seminar II. 1.50 Point.

SDEV U9240 Human Ecology ＆ Sustainable Development. 4.00 Points.

Category: EPD:Sustainable, PhD in Sustainable Development Open to PhD Students Only

This course has two primary objectives: first, to provide a structured way to think about—and conduct research in—the field of sustainable development. Second, to introduce formal models of dynamic, coupled human and environmental systems

SDEV U9245 Environment ＆ Resource Economics. 3.00 Points.

This course aims to introduce you to the basic concepts of environmental economics

SDEV U9248 Collective Action for Global Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: PhD in Sustainable Development Registration restricted to PhD Students

When externalities go uncorrected, and public goods go undersupplied, the reason is not that the market fails; the reason is that governments are unable or unwilling to intervene effectively. The biggest problem is with transnational externalities and regional and global public goods. This is partly because of the scale of these problems, but it is also because the institutional arrangements at this level make effective intervention difficult. There is no World Government. Instead, there are around 200 sovereign states. To support sustainable development globally, states must cooperate, and yet states' self-interests often conflict with their collective interests. This is why all countries agree that collective action must be taken to limit climate change, and yet, though they try and try again, countries seem unable to muster the individual action needed to meet their own collective goal. The aim of this course is to develop an apparatus for understanding international collective action for sustainable development. By an apparatus, I mean a theory, a structured way of looking at and understanding the world. Rather than just present the theory, my aim is to show you why theory is needed, how it has been constructed, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. Basically, in addition to teaching you principles and tools, I want you to come to see how this field has developed, what it has achieved, and where it has fallen short. Throughout the course, we shall also be looking at tests and applications of the theory-empirical and experimental papers in addition to case studies. The course draws from a number of disciplines, especially economics, game theory (analytical and experimental), and international relations-but also international law, philosophy, history, the natural and physical sciences, and engineering. The focus will be on institutions, and the way that they restructure the relations among states to cause states to behave differently-that is, to cause them to undertake collective action. In terms of applications, the course will address not only climate change but also depletion of the ozone layer, trans-boundary air pollution, pollution of the oceans, over-fishing, biodiversity loss, and the emergence and spread of infectious diseases

ECON GR6211 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS I. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies' permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6212 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS II. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6411 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS I. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies' permission. Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference

ECON GR6412 INTRODUCTN TO ECONOMETRICS II. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies permission. Introduction to the general linear model and its use in econometrics, including the consequences of departures from the standard assumptions

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MRes/PhD International Development

• Graduate research
• Department of International Development
• Application code Y2ZI
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Closed
• Overseas full-time: Closed
• Location: Houghton Street, London

This programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to international development. You will begin on the MRes, and will need to meet certain requirements to progress to the PhD.

The Department of International Development promotes interdisciplinary graduate teaching and research on processes of social, political and economic development and change. The Department is dedicated to understanding problems of poverty and late development within local communities, as well as national and international political and economic systems.

The Department conducts research and teaching across seven broad themes: complex emergencies, security, and humanitarianism in war-torn societies; comparative politics of development; governance, civil society, and informal politics; development management; development economics; the demography of developing countries and the politics of global health. Faculty have considerable experience of living and working in the developing world, and most have engaged in policy-relevant research and consultancy work with international development agencies or non-governmental organisations.

This is a vibrant MRes/PhD programme with students employing a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary methods from across the social sciences to research questions of development around the globe.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mres/phd international development.

Taught master’s degree with 65 or above overall and in the dissertation element, or the equivalent.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

GRE/GMAT requirement

Highly recommended but not compulsory.

Find out more about GRE/GMAT

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate  staff research interests  before applying.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications) - statement of academic purpose - references - CV - GMAT/GRE - outline research proposal - sample of written work.

See further information on supporting documents

Your research proposal for the MRes/PhD International Development should be approximately 1500 - 2000 words. It should have a descriptive title to enable us to identify the broad theme of the project. You will also be prompted to complete the box for programme specific information, when filling out the online application form. You must  include the following under programme specific information:

-the title of your research proposal -a short summary of your research proposal -the name of your proposed supervisor(s) in the department. (Please note: this does not mean you need to have made contact with supervisors or obtained their approval in advance, it simply helps us when assessing your application).

If any of this information is missing or incomplete, it may delay consideration of your application.

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do.  See our English language requirements .

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 . However, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details.

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme.  The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover  living costs  or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MRes/PhD International Development

Home students: £4,829 for the first year (provisional) Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for  LSE PhD Studentships , and  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.  

Funding deadline for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.   Find out more about financial support.

External funding 

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

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LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

Introductory course.

Accepted students who are planning to use advanced quantitative analysis in their PhD research are required to take the summer Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics, particularly if you want to take advanced statistical courses.

Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics Provides the essential mathematical, statistical, economic and econometric background for the core Economics courses of these programmes.

First year (MRes)

The MRes programme is the entry point to doctoral research and is designed both to train you in development approaches and perspectives, and to provide significant flexibility to develop advanced methodological and theoretical skills within disciplinary specialisms appropriate to your research interests.

In addition, you will develop any necessary language skills and background knowledge of specific topics related to your research.

(* denotes a half unit)

Development History, Theory and Policy for Research Students* An interdisciplinary course that examines major trends, concepts and perspectives in the history and theory of development.

Research Design and Proposal in International Development You will work with your academic supervisors to structure a doctoral research proposal that has the potential to make a significant contribution to knowledge and that reflects a sophisticated mastery of advanced theoretical and methodological tools from one or more academic disciplines related to international development.

Research Design in International Development This course is designed for engagement with methodological and research design issues in international development research. Sessions are organised around methodological choices and research design (eg. inference, case studies, fieldwork challenges, and ethics), and involve presentation of research projects in the second term.

Methodology courses to the value of one unit

Methodology or theory courses to the value of 0.5 units

Subject to satisfactory performance, you will be upgraded to the PhD programme and will implement your research plan.

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.  

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.  

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information page.

Supervision, progression and assessment

Supervision.

You will be assigned a lead supervisor (and a second supervisor/adviser) who is a specialist in your chosen research field, though not necessarily in your topic. Lead supervisors guide you through your studies.

Progression and assessment

At the end of the first year you will complete the assessments for your courses and finalise your Research Prospectus, the provisional research plan for your PhD. If you achieve the required marks in your Research Prospectus and other assessments, as outlined in the progression requirements, you will be upgraded to the PhD part of the programme.

Your final award of the PhD will be determined by the completion of an original research thesis and a viva oral examination.

More about progression requirements.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

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As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of International Development

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £32,000          

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Government, Public Sector and Policy   
• Education, Teaching and Research            
• Health and Social Care  
• Consultancy      
• International Organisations

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the  support available to students through LSE Careers .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

Related programmes, mres/phd political science.

Code(s) M1ZN

MPhil/PhD Social Policy

Code(s) L4ZA

MPhil/PhD Economic History

Code(s) V3ZE

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The field of finance covers the economics of claims on resources. Financial economists study the valuation of these claims, the markets in which they are traded, and their use by individuals, corporations, and the society at large.

At Stanford GSB, finance faculty and doctoral students study a wide spectrum of financial topics, including the pricing and valuation of assets, the behavior of financial markets, and the structure and financial decision-making of firms and financial intermediaries.

Investigation of issues arising in these areas is pursued both through the development of theoretical models and through the empirical testing of those models. The PhD Program is designed to give students a good understanding of the methods used in theoretical modeling and empirical testing.

Preparation and Qualifications

All students are required to have, or to obtain during their first year, mathematical skills at the level of one year of calculus and one course each in linear algebra and matrix theory, theory of probability, and statistical inference.

Students are expected to have familiarity with programming and data analysis using tools and software such as MATLAB, Stata, R, Python, or Julia, or to correct any deficiencies before enrolling at Stanford.

The PhD program in finance involves a great deal of very hard work, and there is keen competition for admission. For both these reasons, the faculty is selective in offering admission. Prospective applicants must have an aptitude for quantitative work and be at ease in handling formal models. A strong background in economics and college-level mathematics is desirable.

It is particularly important to realize that a PhD in finance is not a higher-level MBA, but an advanced, academically oriented degree in financial economics, with a reflective and analytical, rather than operational, viewpoint.

Faculty in Finance

Anat r. admati, juliane begenau, jonathan b. berk, greg buchak, antonio coppola, peter m. demarzo, darrell duffie, steven grenadier, benjamin hébert, arvind krishnamurthy, hanno lustig, matteo maggiori, paul pfleiderer, joshua d. rauh, claudia robles-garcia, ilya a. strebulaev, vikrant vig, jeffrey zwiebel, emeriti faculty, robert l. joss, george g.c. parker, myron s. scholes, william f. sharpe, kenneth j. singleton, james c. van horne, recent publications in finance, behavioral responses to state income taxation of high earners: evidence from california, beyond the balance sheet model of banking: implications for bank regulation and monetary policy, fee variation in private equity, recent insights by stanford business, cashless: is digital currency the future of finance, nine stories to get you through tax season, “geoeconomics” explains how countries flex their financial muscles.

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Mphil/phd in international development.

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Key information

Home student fees (full-time) : £4,860 per year Home student fees (part-time) : £2,430 per year Overseas student fees (full-time) : £22,490 per year Overseas student fees (part-time) : £11,245 per year

Please note that fees go up each year.   See  research fees  for further details.

We normally require a 2.1 bachelor's degree plus a Masters degree with a Merit classification in a Social Science plus one reference. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants who do not meet these criteria if they show evidence of a strong Masters degree and/or appropriate level of relevant work experience. International applicants should also see Doctoral School English language requirements . 

Identifying a supervisor

Potential applicants are advised to personally discuss their (draft) research proposal with (a) potential supervisor(s) (see departmental staff list ) and sound their willingness to supervise. This significantly increases the chance of a successful admission application.

Course overview

Study our on-campus MPhil/PhD in International Development Studies at SOAS to realise your potential to define and solve pressing global forces and transform the world with your research impact.

As a PhD researcher, you’ll join our renowned globally diverse research community with access to research and teaching opportunities, as well as a substantial series of seminars presented by leading development professionals and practitioners.

Students may follow the PhD pathway in International Development by being based at either SOAS, LSHTM or IoE. All PhD students on the International Development pathway will attend an advanced research training seminar run by LIDC.

The series will provide students in the ESRC Doctoral Training Centre's International Development Pathway with a broad understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to development, and a detailed understanding of selected areas of interest.

All MPhil/PhD in International Development research students will participate in the compulsory course work and attend research student seminars in the college and department where they are registered for the MPhil/PhD. At SOAS the Economics and Development Studies departments hold seminar series and students will be expected to involve themselves in the work of the relevant research clusters.

Admissions process

There are three admissions routes to the MPhil and PhD in International Development:

• The 1+3 structure: Following successful completion of the MSc Research for International Development at SOAS. ESRC 1+3 studentships are available to fund this route.
• The +3 structure: By direct applications for MPhil/PhD in International Development admission . ESRC 1+3 studentships are available to fund route.
• The 4 structure: not currently available at SOAS.

Why study MPhil/PhD in International Development at SOAS?

• We are ranked second in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• We are ranked 27th in UK for Economics (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• We are top 40 in the UK for Economics (Complete University Guide 2023)
• This is an on-campus programme, as such you will receive the benefit of learning and working in close proximity with the Department's expert scholars and researchers
• Our academic staff create an intellectually stimulating and challenging space across the many branches of international development and humanitarianism that make up Development Studies. All modules engage with questions of climate crisis, recognising its impact and interaction with processes of inequality and change
• Our staff specialise in a range of thematic areas including sustainability and climate change, migration and displacement, conflict, humanitarian action, labour, political ecology, and aid and institutions
• Combined with exceptional resources and our interdisciplinary approach, we offer a unique learning and research opportunity for our diverse and vibrant student community

This course has been created to:

• encourage and enable students to complete an original thesis in the expected time
• provide training and experience in fieldwork and across a variety of schools of thought and in a variety of statistical techniques
• allow flexibility in training to suit students with different backgrounds and subsequent research needs
• make available and to monitor first class research supervision with the involvement of at least two members of staff through individual Research Student Committees
• encourage knowledge of other relevant disciplines and the adoption of an interdisciplinary approach where appropriate
• equip students with the ability to assess one another's work critically, whether in response to written or spoken presentation
• obtain language skills as appropriate
• ensure a congenial and productive environment for the conduct of research through availability of a wide range of facilities and full participation in the intellectual life of the Department and School. Library facilities are outstanding and computing facilities are attuned to student needs
• emphasise the relevance of research to theoretical, empirical and policy issues
• draw upon the Department's particular strengths, especially its expertise in different approaches to economic problems and its experience in problems of development, specific regions, and comparative analysis
• involve students in the specialised Centres of the School where appropriate
• form part of the academic community of the Department, participating where appropriate in collaborative research with members of staff, with some opportunities for teaching
• offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary and regional research, and the scope to learn or improve a language where appropriate

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. 

Teaching and learning

Supervision.

1. The role of the second and third members of the Supervisory Committee (SC) will be focused on the following two core tasks:

• Participate in the upgrade process of the student, including the final decision relating to his/her transfer from MPhil to PhD.
• Participate in other decisions relating to his/her eligibility for enrolment on Extension of  Writing-up (Continuation) Status or, where necessary, termination of registration.

2. In addition to these core roles, the second and third members of the SC may be expected to:

• Enhance or augment the supervision of the student by contributing additional guidance and expertise, if required/sought by the student and/or the supervisor throughout the time of active research.
• To act on behalf of the supervisor during unforeseen periods of absence. This role will have to be agreed by consent of all parties (student, supervisor and the two members of the SC) and one of the two members will be designated as cover in absence for the period in question.

3. Only rarely is joint supervision allowed, for which a strong case would need to be made. Whilst the primary responsibility for guiding student's research and to review written work and progress rests with the supervisor once upgrade is successfully completed, other members of the supervisory committee must receive student’s thesis drafts at appropriate times, with support also available to students from the Departmental Empirical Support Committee (DESC).

Part-time students

Part-time students are expected to follow the same programme as the full-time students, except that they will take the initial training over two years instead of one. The Research Student Seminar and Departmental Seminars take place in the early evening to allow students in full-time employment to attend. Supervision is available in the evenings where necessary, and research student committees consider the progress of part- time students as regularly as for full-time students.

Computing facilities

Full computing facilities are available to postgraduate students. Computers dedicated for the use of research students in the Economics Department are also available. Software includes word-processing, specialised statistical, econometrics and spreadsheet packages. The Schools' computing staff are on hand to assist with general computing problems.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Scholarships

Fees and funding, fees for 2023/24 entrants per academic year.

Please note that fees go up each year. See  research fees  for further details.

A degree from the Department of Development Studies at SOAS will further develop your understanding of the world and how society is organised, with specific focus on violence and conflict, the role of aid, refugees and forced migration. Graduates leave with a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical skills and cultural awareness.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Amnesty International
• BBC World Service
• British Embassy Brussels
• Department for International Development
• Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
• Embassy of Japan
• Government of Pakistan
• Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• Overseas Development Institute
• Royal Norwegian Embassy
• Save the Children UK
• The World Bank
• Thinking Beyond Borders
• US Department of State
• UN World Food Programme
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Find out about our Careers Service.

Dr Subir Sinha

South Asia; social movements; civil society; the environment; institutions; agrarian questions; Marxist and postcolonial theory; Social theory in Development studies.

SOAS Voices

Poverty, disasters and human trafficking: Unravelling the connection

New research highlights the invisible challenges faced by communities post-disaster, which creates an environment conducive to exploitation.

How to develop a career in the humanitarian sector 

Oyessorzo studies MSc Humanitarian Action online while working in the humanitarian sector. She offers advice for anyone hoping to develop a career in humanitarianism.

Remitting through crisis: learning lessons from the pandemic

As the world confronts ongoing climate, conflict and cost-of-living problems, what can we learn from the pandemic period about people’s remittance practices through times of crisis?

Careers: "Making a tangible difference in someone’s life is a really motivational concept"

Chris Bowden studied BA Swahili and Development Studies at SOAS and is now Head of Cargo - Global Partnerships at Cathay Cargo. We asked him about his time at SOAS and his career journey so far.

Ken Loach discusses austerity in neoliberal Britain

Tipping points: could this be the climate movement we need?

A global movement against the climate crisis has finally emerged, and it could be one of the most positive breakthroughs for social justice in a generation.

Border Crossings: Exploring history and community through virtual reality at the 75th anniversary of the Partition

Border Crossings examines how public narratives and memories of the 1947 partition are changing in Britain and how technology, specifically Virtual Reality (VR), can facilitate dialogue across generations and communities.

London International Development Centre Migration Leadership Team

Developing a shared and participatory global strategy for identifying and supporting migration research.

Research and Evidence Facility: Informing migration policy in the Horn of Africa

Collating and producing evidence and policy relevant knowledge to generate a better understanding of the drivers of instability, migration, and displacement in the greater Horn of Africa, and the dynamics of cross-border economies and centre/periphery relations.

Drugs & (dis)order

A SOAS-led consortium researching into the role of illicit drug economies in conflict-affected borderlands of Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar.

The AGRUMIG project: "Leaving something behind"

Studying comparatively the impact of large-scale labour out-migration on agricultural and rural change in seven countries (Morocco, Ethiopia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Thailand, PR China) to inform regionally specific combinations of rural development and migration policies.

Industrial Development, Construction and Employment in Africa (IDCEA): A comparative analysis

Exploring evidence on the employment effects of firms investing in manufacturing and building infrastructure in African economies.

A Thousand Cuts: Social protection in the age of austerity

One of the first systematic assessments of how austerity has impacted people's lives and livelihoods around the world, including new findings on the impact of International Monetary Fund programs on social protection.

SOAS Inaugural Lecture Series: Professor Michael Jennings (School of Development Studies)

This lecture looks back at the first Development Decade of the 1960s, with particular focus on the ways in which ideas around global solidarity, local action and radical ideas of decolonised practice were reflected in Tanzanian development.

Religious inequalities and heritage blind spots: Why transcendence matters for inclusive development

The talk will be about redressing discrimination experienced by people on the basis of faith and non-faith in its intersections with other inequalities, why freedom of religion or belief is such a blind spot in development and how our search for legitimacy may lead us to unconventional approaches of engagement, such as one informed by heritage-sensitivity.

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Department of Economics

The Department of Economics at SOAS University London.

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Department of Development Studies at SOAS University of London.

MSc/PGDip/PGCert Climate Change and Development (online)

MSc/PGDip/PGCert Climate Change and Development (Online) at SOAS University of London

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International & Development Economics, MS

The rapid pace of globalization has increased the demand for professionals with training in international economics and economic development. Our one of a kind Master of Science in International and Development Economics (IDEC) provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand how market forces can be harnessed to empower developing countries to break from cycles of poverty.

• Program Overview
• Student Research
• Financing Your Education
• How to Apply

Apply Now for 2024

Applications for Fall 2024 are open and we will continue to review for Fall admission on a rolling basis. We recommend you submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for Fall.

An International Development Economics Program That Prepares You for the Future

Graduates are prepared to pursue PhD programs or professional work as development researchers, program analysts, policy makers, practitioners for government agencies, international business, nonprofits, and NGOs in developing countries.

A Career in International & Development Economics

The intersection of international development and economics provides a wide range of opportunities in both the public and private sectors, as well as within non-governmental and international organizations. Here's a list of job roles you might pursue with this degree.

Read the Article

Learning Development Economics Through International Fieldwork

During the summer, you’ll form a small group with fellow students to collect primary data and access secondary data as part of an internship or partnership with an international institution. Your research will be the basis for your master’s thesis, which you’ll develop under your adviser’s supervision.

STUDENT RESEARCH

A Development Economics STEM Program

We are designated as a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and math). Eligible international students may apply to work in the United States for up to three years after graduation via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and STEM extension.

STEM Program

Summer Bridge Program

The Summer Bridge program is uniquely offered to non-economics, non-math students. The Summer Bridge option allows for flexibility in prerequisites and provides students a refresher in calculus and statistics.

Summer Bridge Option

Faheema Eissar MS '23

Turning development economics theory into action.

I came to USF because I want to learn to do things that will actually help not just in theory but in action — to have a specific focus and to know how to tackle a specific problem.”

Chat With a Current Student

Get your questions answered by our student ambassadors. Read their stories and connect with them to get the student experience first-hand.

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USF Offers a Related Economics Program

Learn to acquire, visualize, and analyze data. Use data to understand consumers, to solve problems, to make smart decisions, and to land a job you love.

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Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis: International Trade, Finance, and Development Program

"The excellence and reputation of the program is well-known in the academic world"

Marta Guasch ’17 Research Assistant, The World Bank PhD Student, London School of Economics

Program Director

Jaume Ventura

PhD, Harvard University

CREI, UPF, and BSE

Scientific Director

Fernando Broner

PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

See all faculty below

International Trade, Finance and Development is a rigorous Master's program taught by world-class faculty.

The ITFD Program provides rigorous training in International and Development Economics. Its design reflects the view that a broad-based program focused on these fields offers the best training for ambitious students who want to pursue challenging careers in international organizations, government agencies, central banks, financial institutions, research and consulting firms and NGOs. Many ITFD graduates also pursue academic careers, either immediately or after one or two years working in non-academic jobs.

ITFD students receive a thorough preparation in theoretical modeling, quantitative and empirical analysis, and handling of large datasets. Starting in September, students take refresher courses in Mathematics and Statistics, and introductory courses in Matlab, R, and Python. In the first term, they take core courses in Econometrics, Data Science, International Trade and Finance, and Economic Growth and Development. In terms two and three, students choose from a varied set of courses in different fields, ranging from the more applied and policy-oriented to PhD level courses. They also attend a series of policy lessons delivered by international experts and complete their Master Project, under the supervision of ITFD faculty

ITFD faculty consists of internationally renowned scholars who have previously taught at top academic institutions, including MIT, Chicago, Stanford and Harvard. ITFD faculty has also held positions at leading international organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Central Bank.

Tailor ITFD to fit your interests and goals

The ITFD Program is very flexible, in terms of both covered fields and teaching style. Students can take advantage of the broad set of elective courses in terms two and three to specialize in international trade, finance or development. For example, students particularly interested in Economic Development or International Economics can choose itineraries focused on these fields. Students interested in Econometrics and Data Analysis can take up to five courses in Quantitative and Statistical Methods and in Data Science as part of the program.

Students interested in pursuing a PhD can opt for advanced courses, including up to four PhD-level courses offered by the UPF PhD Program (organized jointly with BSE). After completing ITFD, students can stay for a second year and enroll in either the Program in Economics, the Program in Finance, or the program in Data Science for Decision Making. Automatic admission to these programs is granted upon successful completion of the ITFD Program. Relative to traditional two-year programs, this option is more flexible since students can decide after the first year whether to stay for another year and obtain a second degree.

ITFD opens the door to a world of career paths

Past ITFD graduates have found employment in international organizations, government agencies, central banks, financial institutions, research and consulting firms and NGOs. For example, past placements include World Bank, OECD, Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Trade Organization, UN Development Programme, European Commision, HM Treasury, European Central Bank, UBS, BBVA, NERA Economic Consulting, McKinsey, J-PAL and Harvard’s EPoD.

After graduating from ITFD, students who opted for the more advanced courses are fully prepared to start a PhD at prestigious programs in the United States and Europe, including the Economics PhD program at UPF. For example, our alumni have pursued graduate studies at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, New York University, London School of Economics, Stanford GSB and Cambridge.

Program schedule: 

The course offer displayed is for next year's edition. Course offer is subject to change.

Course list for current students

Master project

The master project is a required component of all BSE Master's programs. Working individually or in groups, students use the tools and knowledge they've acquired during the entire year to explore a topic of their choice. A professor supervises throughout the project.

Examples of master projects from recent International Trade, Finance, and Development cohorts

Select a project to view a summary on the BSE Voice , our student and alumni blog:

From Trade Winds to Tsunamis: Examining the Effects of China’s WTO Integration on Chilean SMEs

Shaken foundations: the impact of the 2007 peru earthquake on human capital accumulation, a blessing or a curse: oil dependence and human capital in nigeria, fleeing the floods: the local health effects of internally displaced malawians, where does the money flow understanding allocations of post-epidemic foreign aid, criminals or victims evidence on forced migration and crime from the colombia–venezuela border, the effectiveness of debt relief in mitigating the macroeconomic consequences of natural disasters, bank interconnectedness and monetary policy transmission: evidence from the euro area, household level effects of flooding: evidence from thailand, can import promotion increase export performance in times of global value chains firm-level evidence from russia, the effects of the south african minimum wage on labour market outcomes for low-income earners, master's degree awarded.

Upon successful completion of the BSE International Trade, Finance, and Development Program, students will receive a Master's Degree in Specialized Economics Analysis awarded jointly with Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF).

All Barcelona School of Economics Master's degrees have been recognized by the Catalan and Spanish Education authorities within the framework of the Bologna Process (in Spanish, “Master Universitario o Master Oficial”).

Quality indicators for this Master's degree

BSE commitment to quality

• Gain a thorough understanding of the economics of international trade, finance and development
• Build an in-depth knowledge of the analytical tools of modern economics
• Receive extensive training in econometric and statistical methods
• Acquire the ability to apply theoretical and empirical tools to address pressing policy issues
• Graduates with a strong quantitative background from all fields, particularly Economics, Business, Engineering, Political Science
• Junior professionals from private firms, research centers, central banks, financial institutions, the civil service, and NGOs
• Aspiring PhD students looking for a solid foundation in the theory and empirics of international trade, finance, and development

Student profile in more detail

• Consulting Firms
• Financial Services
• Government & Authorities
• International Organizations / Non-profits
• Research & Academic Institutions
• Other Industries

Examples of recent ITFD placements:

• Amazon - Planning Analyst  (London, United Kingdom)
• Bank of England - Analyst (London, United Kingdom)
• Department for International Trade (DIT) - Regional Advisor - Latin America and the Caribbean (London, United Kingdom)
• ECB - Trainee in the DG International, Int. Policy Analysis (Frankfurt, Germany)
• European Commision - Bluebook Trainee (Brussels, Belgium)
• FactSet - Development Program Intern (Frankfurt, Germany)
• Focus Economics - Economist (Barcelona, Spain)
• Government of Singapore - Policy Manager (Singapore, Singapore)
• Idinsight - Senior Associate (Lusaka, Zambia)
• IMF - Research Assistant for Colombia + Peru (Washinghton, DC, United States)
• J-Pal - Policy Associate (Washinghton, DC, United States)
• OECD - Consultant (Paris, France)
• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Economist (Washington, DC, United States)
• The World Bank - Research Assistant (Washington, DC, United States)
• The World Bank - Trade Analyst (Indonesia, Jakarta)
• United Nations Development Programme - Junior Economist - Business operations and finance (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Alumni career paths in more detail

Students who successfully complete the International Trade, Finance, and Development Program are eligible for direct admission to the following programs, if they stay for a second consecutive year:

Master’s Degree in Data Science:

• Data Science for Decision Making

Master’s Degree in Economics and Finance:

A 20% discount will be applied on the second program's tuition fees. All BSE Alumni are eligible for this discount at any time.

Read more about taking a second BSE Master’s degree

• ITFD provides thorough training in theoretical modelling and econometrics.
• ITFD students have access to advanced PhD-level courses offered by the UPF PhD Program.
• ITFD students with outstanding performance in the first term have the opportunity to apply to the UPF PhD Program at the beginning of the second term and be admitted before finishing the ITFD Program.
• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• Columbia University
• New York University
• London School of Economics
• University of Cambridge
• University of Rochester
• Universitat Pompeu Fabra
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Stanford Graduate School of Business

Vladimir Asriyan

PhD, University of California, Berkeley

ICREA-CREI and BSE

Christian Brownlees

PhD, University of Florence

UPF and BSE

Andrea Caggese

PhD, London School of Economics

Ruben Enikolopov

ICREA-UPF and BSE

Simon Evenett

PhD, Yale University

University of St. Gallen and CEPR

Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell

PhD, University of Amsterdam

IAE-CSIC and BSE

Luca Fornaro

CREI, UPF and BSE

Elisa Giannone

PhD, University of Chicago

CREI and BSE

Giacomo De Giorgi

PhD, University College London

Professor, GSEM-University of Geneva

Albrecht Glitz

Priit Jeenas

PhD, New York University

Humberto Llavador

PhD, University of California-Davis

Gianmarco León-Ciliotta

PhD, University of California-Berkeley

Alberto Martin

PhD, Columbia University

Geert Mesters

PhD, VU University Amsterdam and Tinbergen Institute

Martí Mestieri Ferrer

PhD, Massachussets Institute of Techonology

Gabriel Pérez-Quirós

PhD, University of California San Diego

Unit Head of Macroeconomic Research, Bank of Spain

Maria Petrova

Giacomo A.M. Ponzetto

CREI, UPF and BSE - on leave

André B.M. Souza

Assistant Professor, ESADE

Victoria Vanasco

PhD, University of California, Berkeley

ITFD Student Profile 2023-24

34 students from 22 countries (88% international)

Most represented countries in this year's cohort:

• Spain and United States (4 students each)
• Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Venezuela (2 students each)

Most common academic background:

• Economics and Finance

ITFD alumni career paths

An overview of ITFD career paths for recent cohorts (Class of 2021, 2022, 2023)

• Most common industries:  International Organizations and Non-Profits, Consulting Firms, Financial Services
• Cities with the most ITFD alumni: Barcelona, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels

Marta Guasch '17

The program not only prepared me academically to work as a researcher, but it also offered me career paths that I could have never dreamed of. The excellence and reputation of the program is well-known in the academic world. For instance, all research assistants in my unit at the World Bank were BSE alumni who studied the ITFD program.

Joana Carreiro '14

My first position after the ITFD master was a traineeship in the Monetary Policy Divison of the European Central Bank. At the ECB, we were eight BSE students from our cohort, and I believe that this confirms how well our BSE profile fits the requirements of institutions such as the ECB.

Yajna Sanguhan '14

My research looks at gender and poverty in the context of post-war Sri Lanka. Understanding the gendered dimensions of poverty not only requires superior data but a better use of the currently available data.

Bea Tanjangco '14

My work with the World Bank group falls under the Trade and Competitiveness global practice and my current project there concerns Philippine logistics and export competitiveness.

Bernard Yaros '14

One of the most interesting moments in the job was when the Swiss National Bank unexpectedly abandoned its exchange-rate ceiling, which sent the franc soaring in value. From one month to the next, I had to completely change our forecast for Switzerland.

Henrik Sigstad '13

I believe the most important way the ITFD program impacted me was by maturing my way of thinking about Economics. It taught me about the interaction between theory and empirics, and how to reason precisely around economic problems.

Max Bode '11

ITFD prepared me very well for my current job, as I apply the skills I learned in class every day. Also, outside the classroom, the faculty at the BSE never hesitated in taking time to give career advice or share their personal take on the world of economics.

Palwasha Mirbacha '11

It had been a long-term dream to get a job with the WBG. One of the interview panel members knew about UPF and when I told him about the BSE, he automatically recognized the value of my education. It sealed the deal for me with the World Bank Group.

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Support NYU Law

• Public Interest Law Center
• Post-Graduate Fellowships
• IFD Fellowships

International Finance and Development Fellowships

The International Finance and Development (IFD) Fellowships are funded post-graduate fellowship placements with major international organizations working in the field of international finance and development.  Host organizations in past years have included:

•  The United Nations (UN)
• The World Bank
• The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
•  The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• The International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
• The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Students are placed in a range of practice areas including law and development, trade law, climate change, sustainable investment, and finance.

The placements are for 10-12 weeks during the summer or fall following graduation.  All current full-time LLM students at NYU School of Law are eligible to apply and fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. 

© 2024 New York University School of Law. 40 Washington Sq. South, New York, NY 10012.   Tel. (212) 998-6100

• Faculty and Staff

Dominik Balthasar, PhD

• Peace, conflict, and fragility (FCV); development policy; strategic foresight

Associate Professor Academic Program Director, Master in Development Management

Academic background.

• PhD in International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science
• MSc Development Studies (Best Dissertation Award), London School of Economics and Political Science

Professional and Academic Experience

• Independent Consultant, Freelance
• Portfolio Manager, KfW Development Bank
• Sector Economist Peace & Fragility, KfW Development Bank
• Senior Researcher, swisspeace/ Swiss Peace Foundation
• Consultant, Institute of Peace and Security Studies
• Fellow, European Union Institute for Security Studies
• Fellow, United States Institute of Peace
• Fellow, Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House)
• Lecturer, University of Basel
• Consultant, i.a. World Bank, United Nations Development Program, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UK Department of International Development, Oxford Analytica, Saferworld
• Researcher, Small Arms Survey
• Teaching Fellow, London School of Economics
• Teaching Fellow, School of Oriental and African Studies

Affiliations, Awards, and Honors

• Research Associate, Overseas Development Institute
• Digital Executive Fellow, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
• Member, Next Generation Foresight Practitioner Network
• Member, Association of Professional Futurists
• Fellow, Global Diplomacy Lab
• Associated Researcher, swisspeace/ Swiss Peace Foundation
• Research Grant, Swiss National Science Foundation
• Transatlantic Post-Doc Fellowship for International Relations and Security
• Post-Doctoral Scholarship, German Academic Exchange Service
• Global Governance 2022 Fellow, Global Public Policy Institute
• Post-Graduate Program for International Affairs Best Dissertation Prize, London School of Economics and Political Science
• German National Academic Foundation
• Cusanuswerk
• Global Public Policy Network Award

Professional Certifications

• Certificate: Foundations in Design Thinking, IDEO U
• Certificate: Oxford Scenarios Programme, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
• Certificate: General Management for Juniors, Business School of St. Gallen

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DFC and IDB Invest Expand the Americas Partnership Platform by Creating a New Co-Financing Framework to Promote Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and IDB Invest today launched a new co-financing framework that furthers their collaboration to support high-impact development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. DFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Nathan and IDB Invest CEO James Scriven signed the framework to finance projects in key sectors such as renewable energy, transportation infrastructure, the digital economy, and financial inclusion. This new framework is an extension of the Americas Partnership Platform, which President Biden announced at the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit.

The framework creates a streamlined process where DFC and IDB Invest can provide up to $50 million each to meet the financing needs of strategic deals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The streamlined procedures aim to simplify the due diligence process between the two institutions, providing greater opportunities for DFC and IDB Invest to co-finance deals in countries where financing may be limited. The program is available for transactions in all sectors and countries in which DFC and IDB Invest jointly operate.

“IDB Invest is a valued partner in promoting economic development,” said DFC CEO Scott Nathan . “This new co-financing framework will help both of our organizations more effectively drive investment dollars to high-impact projects across the Americas.”

“By partnering with DFC, we are not only driving financing; we are creating impact,” said James Scriven, CEO of IDB Invest . “To make a real dent in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we need to scale our impact to support our member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially those that need it the most.” 

The new framework expands the ways in which DFC and IDB Invest can partner to support economic development in the region under the Americas Partnership Platform. Further information can be found on the Americas Partnership Platform website .

DFC and IDB Invest are committed to finding new ways of working together to harness private sector resources that promote high-quality investments in Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes joint travel, beginning with a trip to Colombia later this year.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the U.S. Government's development finance institution. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. DFC invests across sectors including energy, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and small business and financial services. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.    

About IDB Invest

IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $21 billion in assets under management and 394 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries.    

These are the 25 best internships of 2024, based on pay and career opportunities

• Summer internship season is almost here, and students will soon be filling the most coveted opportunities.
• Glassdoor published a ranking Wednesday of the 25 best internships of 2024, based on interns' reviews.
• It's largely tech, finance, and consulting, and includes gigs with reported pay of $9,000+ a month.

With summer internship season fast approaching, many students and recent grads will soon find themselves in prestigious internships — some of which could actually be pretty lucrative.

A new ranking from workplace review site Glassdoor lays out the best internships of the year, as determined by pay and career growth opportunities, based on reviews and ratings from interns themselves.

The list is dominated by industries like tech, finance, and consulting and includes several internships with reported pay exceeding $9,000 a month.

Companies had to have received at least 30 salary reports and at least 15 career opportunities ratings by US-based interns from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, to be considered for the list. The named companies didn't verify the reported compensation and might not be actively hiring for internships right now. But they still offer a glimpse into the most exclusive roles for students and recent grads .

Take a look at the best internships of 2024, according to Glassdoor:

Median Base Monthly Salary: $7,500

Career Opportunity Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Median Base Monthly Salary: $7,666

Career Opportunity Rating: 4.5

23. ServiceNow

Median Base Monthly Salary: $7,000

Career Opportunity Rating: 4.7

22. McKinsey & Company

Median Base Monthly Salary: $7,083

21. BlackRock

Median Base Monthly Salary: $7,166

Career Opportunity Rating: 4.6

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,400

Career Opportunity Rating: 4.4

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,000

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,666

15. LinkedIn

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,333

14. Boston Consulting Group

13. Microsoft

Median Base Monthly Salary: $7,890

12. Salesforce

11. Qualcomm

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,500

8. Barclays

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,833

7. Capital One

6. Atlassian

Median Base Monthly Salary: $8,166

Median Base Monthly Salary: $9,000

4. J.P. Morgan

Career Opportunity Rating: 4.9

Median Base Monthly Salary: $10,333

1. Bain & Company

• Main content

GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A Case postale 1672 CH - 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland +41 22 908 57 00  

[email protected] + 41 22 908 58 98  

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

[email protected] +41 22 908 57 54  

[email protected] + 41 22 908 57 55

• One-Year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Finance and Development

DRIVE THE SUSTAINABLE FINANCE REVOLUTION!

The One-Year MAS (60 ECTs) in Sustainable Finance and Development is a selective post-graduate programme focused on preparing students for employment in the financial sector, international organisations, NGOs and think tanks. 

The programme combines training in the advanced empirical and analytical tools that are required for employment in the rapidly developing and high-demand field of ESG and impact investing. Most of the core courses of the programme are taught by the faculty of the International Economics Department and of the interdisciplinary programmes, and provide students with the necessary analytical skills and the transdisciplinary background they will need in order to apply the tools of sustainable finance to the world of socially responsible investments aimed at financing the SDG goals . Our practitioners course on sustainable finance offers a unique exposure to sustainable finance firms from the financial sector, accounting, consultancy as well as multinational organisations. 

This applied approach – teamed with our close connection to one of the globally dominant sustainable investment hub  that benefits from the presence of many  sustainable finance players and international organisations based in Geneva,  and to our close links to international financial organisations such as the World Bank and the IFC – opens up many career opportunities in banking, wealth management and impact investing, both in the financial sector and with multinational organisations.

• Anthropology and Sociology
• International Economics
• Our master programme
• Our PhD programmes
• Department Faculty
• Job Market Candidates
• Department Seminars
• Research Projects
• Publications
• Our Courses
• Our PhD Researchers
• International History and Politics
• International Law
• International Relations & Political Science

Watch the recorded information session about the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

RECORDING AVAILABLE HERE

RECORDING AVAILABLE HERE. Ask your academic and practical questions as you get ready to apply for the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development

Key benefits

Acquire analytical and quantitative skills demanded by the financial system and international organisations

Identify the main challenges of sustainable finance and how to overcome them

Design and build innovative sustainable financial instruments aligned to the latest regulatory frameworks

Be able to quantify the impact of your portfolios

Be equipped to implement change in your organisation

Unique learning experience

Learn from an unparalleled variety of world- renowned faculty and leading practitioners in the field of sustainable finance 

Tailor your studies according to your particular interests with interdisciplinary electives in sociology, political science, international law and history 

Build your professional network

Benefit from an exceptional student–faculty ratio

Join the Graduate Institute’s network of 22’000 alumni, and be part of a diverse community of 110 nationalities from all 5 continents

The one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development combines training in the advanced empirical and analytical tools that are required for employment in the rapidly developing and high-demand field of impact investing, ESG and socially responsible investment aimed at financing the SDG goals .

curriculum   

Core courses of the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development are taught by the faculty of the International Economics Department and faculty from our other departments. Courses provide students with the necessary analytical skills and the transdisciplinary background they will need in order to apply the tools of sustainable finance to the world of socially responsible investment aimed at financing the SDG goals.

Anna-Riikka Kauppinen , Assistant Professor, Anthropology and Sociology & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Faculty Affiliate, Centre for Finance and Development and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Beatrice Weder di Mauro , Professor, International Economics; Faculty Associate, Centre for Finance and Development

Dawid Bastiat-Jarosz , Lecturer (Ph.D.), Member of the European Platform on Sustainable Finance, European Commission; Research Fellow, Centre for Finance and Development

Frédéric Robert-Nicoud , Full Professor, Institute of Economics and Econometrics, University of Geneva

Imelda , Assistant Professor, International Economics & Andre Hoffmann Assistant Professor in Environmental and Resource Economics

Joëlle Noailly ,  Senior Lecturer, International Economics; Associate Professor, Environmental Economics, VU Amsterdam

Kristen McNeill , Assistant Professor in Anthropology and Sociology & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Faculty Affiliate, Centre for Finance and Development and Gender Centre

Lilach Zacharia-Trabelsi , Lecturer (Ph.D.), Institute of Management, University of Geneva

Nathan Sussman , Full Professor, International Economics & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Director, Centre for Finance and Development; Director, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance

Ugo Panizza , Professor, International Economics & Pictet Chair in Finance and Development; Director, International Centre for Monetary and Banking Studies; Deputy Director, Centre for Finance and Development; Faculty Associate, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

In partnership with

Application

Who should apply:  Graduates and Professionals holding a bachelor degree. No professional experience is required. Background in economics and finance is preferred.

Admission requirement : GRE or GMAT results accepted until 1 March 2024. (Please send us your GRE or GMAT results by email)

Format: Full-time programme 

Duration: 12 months - including internship

Dates: September - September

Fee: CHF 35’000

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Deadlines: Application deadline: 1 March 2024 Decision notification: 15 March 2024 Confirmation Deadline: 16 April 2024

General Contact: [email protected]

To book a consultation meeting with Professor Nathan Sussman, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development >>> Click here >

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Admitted students

A warm welcome to the students starting the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development in September 2024!

Admitted students can find more information on the MAS admitted students' website .

We look forward to welcoming you to the Geneva Graduate Institute, located at Maison de la paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot. 2a, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.

APPLICATION FORM

2024-2025 Scholarship Application Form

MAS IN SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT

Upcoming events, our program's professors at the building bridges summit 2022.

Building Bridges

Building Bridges is a joint initiative, launched in 2019 by Swiss public authorities, the finance community, the United Nations and other International partners to accelerate the transition to a global economic model aligned with the SDGs. Learn more

Building Bridges 2023

Building Bridges 2023 took place in Geneva on October 2-5, 2023 . Below the links to the 2023 programme:

Summit     Action Days    High-Level Plenaries

The Building Bridges Report 2023 will be available in December 2023.

Building Bridges 2022

Download the BUILDING BRIDGES Report 2022  

Learn more on Sustainable Finance

Q&As on Sustainable Finance            Recent Developments in Sustainable Finance

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