Course overview

Description

This course will provide students with a grounding in international development concepts, theories and approaches. Students are equipped with the analytical and practical skills they need to engage critically in development issues and debates from a interdisciplinary perspective, and to work across broad areas of development research, practice, and policy. The course begins with foundational units in development theory and case studies of development practice, before enabling students to specialise in a number of related fields across the development disciplinary area.

Course title
Master of International Development (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
Award abbreviation
MIntDev
Course code
71550
Course type
Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
Status
Current / 2025
Administered by
Social Sciences
CRICOS code
083850D

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year and mid-year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Articulation
The Master of International Development has the following exit awards: 73250 Graduate Certificate in International Development (24 points) (24 points), 73350 Graduate Diploma in International Development (48 points) (48 points)
Credit points required
72
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
1.5 years
Time limit
3 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Professor Richard Vokes
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Enquiries and course advice

[email protected]

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
NS
non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Take all units (36 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2ECON5001Economic Development in Theory and Practice
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
42620 Master of Economics
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 71550 Master of International Development
or 71570 Master of Geographic Information Science
or 73530 Master of Agricultural Economics
or 62540 Master of Ocean Leadership
lectures/tutorials/labs: 4 hours per week (for 10 weeks)
S1ENVT5518The Sustainable Development Goals
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72530 Master of Environmental Science
and Successful completion of
ENVT4421 Fundamentals of Environmental Management
or Enrolment in
25530 Master of Urban Design
or 72520 Master of Biological Science
or 72560 Master of Urban and Regional Planning
or 71550 Master of International Development
or 73530 Master of Agricultural Economics
or 13550 Master of Environmental Planning
or 62540 Master of Ocean Leadership
Lectures: 2 hours per week for nine weeks; workshop/practical classes: 2 hours a week for nine weeks
S2GEOG5411Regional Development in the Global Context
Incompatibility
All of the following Unit(s) PLNG5411 Urban and Regional Analysis
40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours)
NSLAWS5260Intersections of Law, Policy and Governance
Incompatibility
Enrolment in
Unit(s) LAWS6260 Intersections of Law, Policy and Government
Enrolment in
Unit(s) LAWS4260 Intersections of Law, Policy and Governance
The on campus session for this unit will run in the mid semester break in semester 2, with the online pre-recorded modules to be completed beforehand.
NSPOLS5010NGOs, Governance and DevelopmentNoneseminars: 18 hours
NSSOCS5672Global Development Debates
Incompatibility
POLS5672 Global Development Debates
seminars: 18 hours

Coursework and Dissertation

Take all units (24 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2GEOG5011Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 1
Prerequisites
a final grade of 70% or higher in SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills
or permission from the unit coordinator
Supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOG5012Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 2
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills
Co-requisites
GEOG5011 Master's Research Project in Geography, Environment and Planning Part 1
Supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOG5013Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 3
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills
supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
NSSOCS4100Social Sciences Research Skills
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
any Honours Programme
or a Masters dissertation project.
Incompatibility
COMM4101 Concepts in Communication, COMM7481 Honours Seminar 1 (Communication Studies)
seminars: 4 hours per week

"Coursework and Dissertation" students only: take units to the value of 12 points:

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1ECON5516The Economics of Public PolicyNoneseminars: 3 hours per week
NSPOLS5641International Security
Incompatibility
POLS8604 Problems of International Security.
POLS5642 Contemporary Issues in International Security
S2PUBH5783Health in an Era of Environmental ChangeNoneonline lectures and discussions: 3 hours per week
S2SCIE5507Food Fibre and Fuel Security
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
71580 Master of Biotechnology
or 72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or 74230 Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics
lectures, tutorials and/or workshops: 6 hours per week
NS, S1, S2SVLG5001McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship
Prerequisites
The vast Majority of students - No prerequistes
or Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor and the following units ( LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and LAWS4102 Criminal Law .
and LAWS4103 Contract
and LAWS4104 Property
and LAWS4106 Torts
and LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
)
Incompatibility
for Juris Doctor students: LAWS5174 Legal Internship
Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours

Coursework only

"Coursework" students only: take units to the value of 30 points:

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1ECON5516The Economics of Public PolicyNoneseminars: 3 hours per week
NSPOLS5641International Security
Incompatibility
POLS8604 Problems of International Security.
POLS5642 Contemporary Issues in International Security
S2PUBH5783Health in an Era of Environmental ChangeNoneonline lectures and discussions: 3 hours per week
S1, S2SCIE4403Ethical Conduct and Communication in Science
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
73660 Master of Medical Physics
Incompatibility
SCOM1101 Communicating Science (ID 1553)
or SCOX1101 Communicating Science
and SCOM2208 Science Writing (ID 1559)
Weekly face-to-face OR online workshops. This unit runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2, and can be taken in either semester.
S2SCIE5507Food Fibre and Fuel Security
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
71580 Master of Biotechnology
or 72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or 74230 Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics
lectures, tutorials and/or workshops: 6 hours per week
S1URBD5803Sustainability and CitiesNone1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week

"Coursework" students only: take 1 unit (6 points) from this group.

Practicum requirement

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NS, S1, S2SVLG5001McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship
Prerequisites
The vast Majority of students - No prerequistes
or Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor and the following units ( LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and LAWS4102 Criminal Law .
and LAWS4103 Contract
and LAWS4104 Property
and LAWS4106 Torts
and LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
)
Incompatibility
for Juris Doctor students: LAWS5174 Legal Internship
Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours
NS, S1, S2WILG5001Work Integrated Learning Internship Program
Prerequisites
Completion of 24 points of post graduate units and approval from the unit coordinator.
Industry experience: 100 hours Online sessions with Unit Coordinator: 1-2 hours

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—a relevant Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—the relevant requirements under Rule 4.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:

  • 73250 Graduate Certificate in International Development (24 points)
  • 73350 Graduate Diploma in International Development (48 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of International Development course before completing it, but has completed 24 points of which 18 points are made up of core units and one other unit from the course, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in International Development.

(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of International Development course before completing it, but after completing at least 48 points, including 36 points of core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in International Development.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 72 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules
Research project

14. Students who request approval to undertake a research project in this course must have achieved—

(a) a 70 per cent average in 24 points of coursework comprising Level 4 or 5 units, with a minimum of 18 points core units of the Master of International Development in order to undertake the Research Design unit; and

(b) a minimum of 70 per cent in the Research Design unit in order to continue with the research project and take the remaining three 6-point units