Subject guides / Development Economics
Development Economics
Also appears in programme titles as: Economics of Development · International and Development Economics
What a development economics degree actually is
Why do some countries grow rich while their neighbours stay poor — and which policies actually change that? Development economics is the branch of economics built around this question, and its modern form is intensely empirical: randomised trials of cash-transfer programmes, natural experiments on schooling reforms, micro-data on how households survive shocks. A master's here is an economics degree first, with development as the application domain.
The names split along a real fault line. Oxford's Economics for Development and SOAS's Development Economics are economics degrees (econometrics-heavy); LSE's Economic Policy for International Development and Development Management sit closer to applied policy. The same two words in a different order can mean a different admissions bar and a different career — the programme map below spells out which is which.
What you study — and the quantitative bar
The economics-track programmes run macro, micro and econometrics cores at graduate level, then apply them: growth, trade, labour markets in poor countries, programme evaluation. The policy-track versions swap some theory for management, political economy and case work.
Be honest with yourself about the quantitative bar: Oxford and SOAS expect a strong economics or quantitative first degree, and graduate econometrics is unforgiving without it. If your background is public policy or social science, LSE's policy-flavoured routes are designed exactly for you — that is the single most common mismatch we see applicants make in this field.
Where it leads
This is the credential the international financial institutions actually hire against: World Bank and IMF entry programmes, regional development banks, J-PAL/IPA-style evaluation labs, finance ministries and central banks, and the economics teams of UN agencies. The evaluation skill set (causal inference, survey data) also travels into philanthropy and development consulting, where demand currently outruns supply.
Who it suits — and who it does not
A good fit if you are…
- Economics graduates from developing countries heading for their finance ministry, central bank or the World Bank system
- Analysts in development agencies or NGOs who keep hitting the limits of their statistics training
- Scholarship applicants: development economics is the closest thing to a universal funder priority — it is what JJ/WBGSP exists for
Probably not the right degree if…
- Applicants without real mathematics — the economics-track cores assume calculus and statistics fluency
- Those who want field practice and programme management rather than analysis: see International Development instead
- Anyone chasing private-sector finance pay: this field's currency is influence, not bonuses
Where to study it: the programme map
Note the fault line in the titles below: "Economics for Development" and "Development Economics" are econometrics-heavy economics degrees; LSE's two applied programmes are policy degrees. Same words, different products — links and verification dates on every row.
| University | Official programme title | Length | Tuition (intl) | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London School of Economics and Political ScienceUnited Kingdom | MSc Economic Policy for International Development | 12 mo | — | — |
| London School of Economics and Political ScienceUnited Kingdom | MSc Development Management (Applied Development Economics) | 12 mo | — | — |
| London School of Economics and Political ScienceUnited Kingdom | MSc Development Studies | 12 mo | — | — |
| SOAS University of LondonUnited Kingdom | MSc Development Economics | 12 mo | — | — |
| University of OxfordUnited Kingdom | MSc in Economics for Development | 9 mo | — | — |
Every row verified against the official programme page; oldest verification 15 Jul 2026. Nothing here is a paid placement.
Application strategy and funding routes
Decide track first, then school: economics-track (Oxford, SOAS) if you can clear the quantitative bar, policy-track (LSE's two applied programmes) if your strength is policy experience. Oxford's nine-month format is the fastest and, unusually for Oxford, fits every major scholarship length rule.
Funding here is the richest of any field we cover: the Joint Japan/World Bank programme funds exactly these degrees for developing-country nationals; Chevening covers all the 12-month UK options; Commonwealth Master's targets the same audience; DAAD's EPOS list carries several German development-economics courses. If you qualify for JJ/WBGSP, note its rule that you must already hold an unconditional admission before applying — sequence your university applications a full cycle ahead.
Which scholarship funds which programme
Computed from each scheme's published rules (destination, level, course length) — not a guarantee; list-based schemes still require checking the official list.
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- SOAS University of London
- University of Oxford
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- SOAS University of London
- University of Oxford
- London School of Economics and Political Science — study destination outside the scheme
- London School of Economics and Political Science — study destination outside the scheme
- London School of Economics and Political Science — study destination outside the scheme
- SOAS University of London — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Oxford — study destination outside the scheme
- London School of Economics and Political Science — depends on the official participating list
- London School of Economics and Political Science — depends on the official participating list
- London School of Economics and Political Science — depends on the official participating list
- SOAS University of London — depends on the official participating list
- University of Oxford — depends on the official participating list
Frequently asked questions
Development economics vs development studies — which should I choose?
Development economics is an economics discipline (models, econometrics, evaluation); development studies is interdisciplinary (politics, sociology, anthropology plus some economics). Choose by your strongest tool: if you can write regressions, economics opens more doors; if your strength is field and policy experience, development studies uses it better.
How much maths do I need?
For Oxford and SOAS: comfortable calculus, statistics and ideally prior econometrics. For LSE's applied-policy routes: solid quantitative literacy but not graduate-economics maths. No programme in our map admits students who avoid numbers entirely.
Which scholarship is built for this field?
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program — it exists specifically to fund development-related master's degrees for developing-country nationals, through two application windows each spring. Chevening, Commonwealth and DAAD EPOS all fund it too.
Can this lead to a PhD?
Yes — the economics-track programmes are standard PhD feeders, and Oxford's EfD regularly sends graduates into doctoral programmes. The applied-policy tracks are practice degrees; moving to a PhD from them usually requires extra economics coursework.
Related fields
Sources
Official programme pages (linked per row above) · official scholarship rules and participating-programme lists · university admission regulations. Every data row records its source URL and verification date; stale rows are re-checked or removed.
Global Study Prep is independent and not affiliated with any university or scholarship programme. Programme details change — always confirm on the official page before applying.