International Development

Global concerns of international development, human security and environmental sustainability have never been more important. Core challenges include sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, access to education and healthcare, and more participatory and transformative forms of governance. From the local to the global, we live in a world of overlapping crises: from geopolitical instability to food insecurity, from climate change to the ecological overshoot of excessive economic production and consumption. Facing our global polycrisis, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and strategizing towards just transitions must involve a holistic envisioning of development that addresses the intersecting political, social, economic and environmental challenges of our precarious world. This is the core ambition of the MA in International Development at the University of Galway.



The MA in International Development is deigned to equip you with the knowledges and skills to tackle the most urgent concerns of international development in the world today. From climate action to food security, from gender equality to youth participation, from environmental justice to human rights, the programme engages key overlapping challenges of global development, through tailored modules incorporating interdisciplinary expertise from human geography, international relations, international development and political ecology. It is taught by highly experienced staff who have worked in leading academic institutions and multilateral global governance agencies. They bring a rich background in human rights, human security, planning, gender, migration and urban studies, and extensive field-based research experience from many countries worldwide. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity, we aim to support you in embarking upon a distinct career path in the field that draws upon expert, critical and participatory knowledges in shaping a more sustainable world.

NQAI Level 8 degree at H2.1 in a relevant subject area and H2.2 overall

GPA 3.0, or equivalent international qualification in a relevant subject area

1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Next start date September 2026

A central vision for the MA in International Development is to empower graduates with the capacity to work productively and creatively in communities, governments and international development programme environments. On the programme, you will benefit from a range of lecturers and development practitioners from international organisations and NGOs, focused on real-life case studies. In addition to being intellectually rewarding, the programme offers you an opportunity to shape fairer, more resilient societies, and to have the necessary knowledges to pursue productive and meaningful careers, be they with NGOs, UN agencies, governments, the private sector or research institutions.