Master’s in International Development Studies

In the MSc in International Development Studies, you learn to understand processes of social transformation, and also how to integrate and share your knowledge. The programme runs annually beginning in September each year, and it comprises 120 credit points (ECTS), equivalent to two academic years.

The academic year consists of 6 periods. Period 1, 2, 5 and 6 comprise six weeks of classes, one week of self-study, and the exam week. In these four periods, students often follow two courses worth 6 credits each. Period 3 and 4 consists of four weeks in which both the lectures and the exams take place. In these two periods, students follow one course worth 6 credits. The expected workload is 40 hours per week. For more information about this programme's profile and learning outcomes, check the Study Handbook.

A variety of themes are studied in this programme, including: social unrest, the way people cope with conflicts and disasters, migration, refugees, poverty, food (in)security, sovereignty, property rights, sustainable use of natural resources, resource conflicts, and access to social and natural resources.

Tailor your programme to your personal interests by following one of the four specialisations, depending on your background and interest. The specialisations differ primarily in the disciplinary lens through which development processes are studied. 

You also learn to include the diverging views of various stakeholders, as well as how to work in multidisciplinary teams, thereby investing in your professional aptitude by working on a ‘real life’ project for a client in the 9 credits Academic Consultancy Training (YMC-60809). You improve specific skills that are useful for you professionally by following modules of the Modular Skills Training.

The second year allows you to put everything you learned in the first year into practice. During an internship of four months, you will develop your professional abilities and explore your ambitions by working at an external organisation. Next to that, you will also set up and perform your own research, possibly including fieldwork, during a thesis of approximately six months.

You select one of the following specialisations in consultation and agreement with your study adviser. Your specialisation depends on your academic background, and interest. For a more detailed information on the programme structure please refer to the study handbook.  

If you have a BSc or BA in the social sciences, you can choose one of the following:  

• Sociology of Development
  The Sociology of Development specialisation trains you to critically analyse development in the context of inequality, crisis, and social change. You study both mainstream and alternative approaches—such as peace-building, activism, degrowth, and diverse food networks—while following courses on theory, exclusion, and specialised tracks in areas like inequality, food systems, environment, or conflict. It prepares you for research, policy, and professional roles in international and local development.
• Innovation and Communication for Development
  The Innovation and Communication for Development specialisation focuses on rethinking development in the face of global challenges like climate change, migration, and digitalisation. It explores how communication, innovation, and technology shape socially just solutions, highlighting colonial legacies, global-local dynamics, and the inclusion of marginalised voices. Core courses cover inclusive innovation, communication and change, and researching practices and futures, preparing you to engage critically and action-oriented in areas such as global health, energy and food transitions, activism, and grassroots initiatives.
• Politics and Governance of Development
  The Politics and Governance of Development specialisation examines social transformation through political anthropology, legal pluralism, and international relations, with a focus on governance dynamics in development. You study how state and non-state actors interact in arenas like the UN and bilateral institutions, while exploring issues such as resource access, land and water conflicts, climate change, human rights, and migration. Core courses address theories of governance, politics in international arenas, and state, property, and resistance, with the option to apply for the Sustainable Development Diplomacy track.

If you have a BA or BSc in relevant economics, you can follow:  

• Economics of Development
  The Economics of Development specialisation studies social transformation from an economic perspective, focusing on theory and evidence-based policymaking. You explore issues such as conflict, employment, rural development, food security, gender inequality, poverty, trade, and institutions. Core courses include econometrics, impact assessment of policies, and central themes in development economics, preparing you for analytical and policy-oriented roles in both developing and developed contexts. 

The programme includes: 

• Lectures: a lecturer presents and explains the course material.
• Tutorials: you work individually or in small groups on an assignment.
• Group work: you collaborate with a group and a supervisor to solve a case study.
• Self-study: time is allocated in your schedule, but you can also arrange additional study periods independently.

At WUR, we place great importance on personal guidance and connection. That’s why we offer far more support staff—lecturers, study advisors, and student counsellors—than most other universities in the Netherlands. This extra support not only helps you stay on track and lowers the risk of dropping out, but also creates a more personal, engaging academic journey. It’s our way of showing genuine commitment to your success.

• Master's in Governance of Sustainability Transformations
  The MSc in Governance of Sustainability and the MSc in International Development Studies overlap in their concern with governance and societal change. However, the MSc in Governance of Sustainability studies ecological or sustainability transformations mostly based on Western scientific knowledge, distinctly focusing on the environment and planetary boundaries, while International Development Studies retains a more decolonial scope, starting from social or political matters of e.g. injustice, inequality, exclusion.
• Master's in Environmental Science
  While the MSc in International Development Studies focuses on social justice, governance, and human development issues such as poverty and migration, Environmental Sciences dives deep into the natural and technical dimensions of sustainability. It emphasises ecology, environmental quality, technology, and modelling, equipping students with strong quantitative and scientific skills.  

Check more information on Studiekeuze123.nl. 

Graduates of International Development Studies work in a diversity of sectors, including for NGO’s, international- or governmental organisations, commercial businesses, or research institutes.  

Alumni are employed as project coordinators, consultants, advisers, policymakers, researchers, or trainers. To give you an even better idea about your career opportunities after the MSc programme, our alumni share their career experiences with you. 

Interested in the master's programme International Development Studies? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements  

The admission requirements for the master’s programme of International Development Studies are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the programme nominally in two years. To comply, student should have sufficient knowledge on social sciences and/or economics.  

The criterion used for admission is  

a WUR BSc degree in International Development Studies, Tourism, Health and Society, Economics and Governance, Management and Consumer Studies, Communication and Life Sciences, or equivalent.  

The norm for this equivalence is  

≥60 ECTS in:  

• Social sciences (for example: sociology, anthropology, communication sciences, human and cultural geography) and/or Political sciences (international relations, governance studies)  

Or ≥40 ECTS in:  

• Economics (micro- and/or macroeconomics, business economics, behavioural economics, development economics).  

And:  

• Research methodology (socio-economic research methods, basics in statistics)  

Method of assessment whether this norm is met  

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;  
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.  

Scores attributed by the Admission Board  

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition of obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master. 

You can apply for this Master's here.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:  

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies, as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;  
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.  

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.  

Contact us through the contact button above to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.  

Admissible study programmes

Graduates from the following (or similar) programmes may meet the knowledge requirements:

• Sociology
• (Cultural) Anthropology
• International Development Studies
• (international) Political Sciences
• International Relations and International Organisations
• Economics
• Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
• Human Geography
• Liberal Arts & Sciences
• Environmental Social Sciences
• Global Sustainability Sciences

If you have a relevant University of Applied Sciences (NL: hbo) degree in the Netherlands related to the social sciences, economics, or development studies, you may meet (part of) the admission requirements. You might be directly admissible, or admissible after completing a pre-master. Hbo degrees that may meet the admission requirements include: European Studies, Global Project and Change Management, and International Tourism Management and Consultancy.

Inadmissible study programmes

Graduates from the following study programmes rarely meet the admission requirements: Psychology, Languages and Educational and Child Sciences (NL: Pedagogische Wetenschappen).

Did you do a bachelor’s in technical sciences, life sciences or (relevant) management sciences?

Probably you are not admissible to the MSc International Development Studies (MID). However, you may be admissible to the MSc Development and Rural Innovation (MDR).

MID and MDR are sister programmes, designed for different target groups. MDR is specifically designed for students who haven’t done a Bachelor’s in social sciences or economics, but would like to do a social sciences master’s with an emphasis on international development. Please check the admission criteria for both study programmes to see what applies to you.

Studying comes with expenses. Want to know what budget to plan for? All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page. 

Being a student goes far beyond hitting the books. From getting your own place to enjoying vibrant nightlife, social events, festivals, and distinctive sports clubs, there’s always something to do, both in Wageningen and elsewhere. All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.