Social SciencesPostgraduate · Social Sciences · 📍 Lund, Sweden
MSc Development Studies
- Duration
- 2 years Full-time
- Next intake
- August 2026
- Indicative annual fee
- SEK 130,000 / year
Course overview
This two-year master's treats development as a contested field rather than a technical one, combining political economy, sustainability and area studies with serious methods training.
The second year includes a field-based thesis, and Swedish development agencies and international NGOs based in the Nordics are the usual destination for graduates.
Key modules
- Theories of Development
- Political Economy of Development
- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
- Environment and Sustainable Development
- Fieldwork and Research Design
- Master's Thesis
Entry requirements
Academic
A bachelor's degree in the social sciences with a strong grade average, plus a statement outlining your development interests.
English language
- IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: 90 overall
- PTE Academic: 62 overall
Not quite meeting these? Ask about a foundation or pathway route — your counsellor advises on those too.
Intakes
Apply roughly 6 to 12 months before your intended start for the widest choice of places and scholarships.
- 🗓️ August 2026
Career prospects
Roles this programme prepares you for. Your counsellor can also advise on post-study work routes in Sweden.
- Programme Officer, NGO
- Development Consultant
- Policy Analyst
- Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
- Research Associate
Post-study work in Sweden: Up to 12 months. Read the Sweden student visa guide.
Related courses
See all Social Sciences coursesSocial SciencesSocial SciencesSocial SciencesBA International Liberal Studies
Waseda University
- Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Indicative tuition
- ¥1,600,000 / year
MSc Development Studies: your questions, answered
What are the entry requirements for MSc Development Studies at Lund University?
A bachelor's degree in the social sciences with a strong grade average, plus a statement outlining your development interests. English language: IELTS 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 90 overall; PTE Academic 62 overall. Your Tutopiya counsellor checks your specific qualifications against these requirements before you apply.
How much does MSc Development Studies cost?
Indicative tuition is SEK 130,000 / year for international students. Fees are set by the university and can change between intakes, so your counsellor confirms the exact figure before you apply. Tutopiya's own counselling and application service is for a flat SGD 50.
When can I start MSc Development Studies?
This course has intakes in August 2026. Applying 6 to 12 months ahead gives you the widest choice of places and scholarships.
What does the placement service cost?
A flat SGD 50, billed as two monthly instalments of SGD 25. That covers everything: counselling, university matching, application support and guidance right up to your offer. There are no hidden extras, no agent fees and no commission on your tuition, because our counselling is funded by our university partners, the SGD 50 only covers administration. Separately, you pay the university’s own tuition or semester fees directly to the university after you accept your offer.
What exactly do you help with?
Everything from start to finish: understanding your options, shortlisting the right programme, preparing your application and personal statement, submitting to the university, and guiding you through the offer, enrolment and visa paperwork, all with a dedicated counsellor.
Which universities can you place me into?
We place students into a range of UK and international universities, and we shortlist the best-fit options for your grades, budget and goals rather than pushing a single school. On some pages we run dedicated SGD 50 placement drives for a specific partner university, and we are always adding more partners. Tell us your goals and your counsellor will map out your options.
Do I need my final results before I apply?
No. We work from predicted grades, so you can start the process well before results day and secure a conditional offer. Once your final grades are in, we help you confirm your place.