Subject guides / Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and Evaluation
Also appears in programme titles as: Programme Evaluation · Impact Evaluation · MEL
What a monitoring and evaluation degree actually is
Every development programme, grant and policy eventually faces the question "did it work?" — and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is the profession that answers it rigorously: impact evaluation, results measurement, evidence for decisions. It is one of the most reliably employable specialisations in the whole development sector.
UEA runs the UK's impact-evaluation-flavoured MSc; Melbourne the dedicated Master of Evaluation; Saarland the blended-learning European master; Stellenbosch's CREST the leading African M&E programme.
What you study — and the quantitative bar
Evaluation theory and design, impact-evaluation methods (experimental and quasi-experimental), monitoring systems and results frameworks, and mixed-methods and qualitative evaluation. The impact-evaluation routes (UEA, Melbourne) carry a genuine quantitative load — statistics and causal inference — while the broader programmes balance it with qualitative methods. Comfort with data is expected.
Where it leads
M&E and results roles across development organisations, the evaluation units of the World Bank, UN agencies and bilateral donors, evaluation consultancies (a large market), government policy-evaluation offices, and NGOs. The demand is structural: donors mandate evaluation, so every programme needs M&E people — and good ones are perennially scarce.
Who it suits — and who it does not
A good fit if you are…
- Development practitioners specialising into the sector's most employable technical skill
- Government and NGO staff building evaluation capacity — a priority funded profile
- Quantitatively-inclined social scientists targeting applied evaluation
Probably not the right degree if…
- Applicants who dislike data and methods — M&E is methods-first
- Those wanting programme design over measurement — related but distinct
- Anyone expecting a purely campus-based menu — some strong rows are blended/distance
Where to study it: the programme map
Five verified programmes: UEA (UK), Melbourne (dedicated Master of Evaluation), Saarland (blended Europe) and Stellenbosch CREST (Africa). Blended/distance formats are flagged for scholarships.
| University | Official programme title | Length | Tuition (intl) | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London School of Economics and Political ScienceUnited Kingdom | MSc Development Management (Applied Development Economics) | 12 mo | — | — |
| Saarland UniversityGermany | Master of Evaluation — MABLE (blended learning) | 24 mo | — | Blended/distance-learning format; most scholarships fund campus study only. |
| Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa | MPhil in Monitoring and Evaluation (CREST) | — | — | — |
| University of East AngliaUnited Kingdom | MSc Global Policy and Evaluation | — | — | — |
| University of MelbourneAustralia | Master of Evaluation | 18 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
UEA is the one-year Chevening-compatible UK route; Melbourne the dedicated Master of Evaluation (Australia Awards); Saarland the blended European option (flag: blended/distance formats sit outside most scholarship rules); Stellenbosch's CREST the strong, affordable African programme. An evaluation-capacity narrative — naming the programme or ministry whose results you would rigorously measure — is concrete and central to development-scholarship priorities.
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
- Saarland University — study destination outside the scheme
- Stellenbosch University — study destination outside the scheme
- University of East Anglia — course length not on file
- University of Melbourne — study destination outside the scheme
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- Saarland University — study destination outside the scheme
- Stellenbosch University — study destination outside the scheme
- University of East Anglia
- University of Melbourne — study destination outside the scheme
Frequently asked questions
Is M&E really that employable?
Among the most, in development terms: donors mandate evaluation, so every programme needs M&E capacity, and skilled evaluators are chronically short. It is the specialisation development-sector recruiters name most often as hard to fill.
How quantitative is it?
The impact-evaluation routes (UEA, Melbourne) carry real statistics and causal-inference content; broader programmes balance quantitative and qualitative methods. Either way, comfort with data is non-negotiable.
Which scholarships fit?
Chevening/Commonwealth for UEA; Australia Awards for Melbourne. Note Saarland's blended format sits outside most scholarship rules; Stellenbosch is affordable enough to widen options.
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.