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Educational Planning, Economics and International Development MA

London, Bloomsbury

The Educational Planning, Economics and International Development MA will provide students with the relevant knowledge, understanding and skills to work in educational planning, policy, management and administration in the context of international development. The programme focuses on issues affecting low and middle income contexts.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£12,700
£6,350
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£28,100
£14,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an equivalent overseas qualification is required. Relevant experience of a minimum of six months living/working in a low or middle-income context/country and relating to educational planning, economics of education and/or international development is normally required. Applicants who do not meet these criteria may occasionally be considered on the basis of an excellent personal statement.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting October.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This programme provides students with an opportunity to identify and examine the interconnections between education, society and the economy and their implications for educational planning. The application of economic principles to educational planning issues is a core focus of the programme. It provides opportunities to critique the ways in which economic analysis and evidence are applied to education policy issues, including by international organisations and national authorities. The programme focuses on educational planning in low and middle income contexts specifically, where resource scarcity may be especially acute; attending to the linkages between education and wider social and economic development in these contexts.

Each year students select from a wide range of optional modules, including, for those interested in developing these skills, modules in statistical analysis and quantitative research methods, which in previous years have included regression analysis and impact evaluation methods.

The programme can be taken on campus, online (distance), or a combination of both (mixed mode). Please select the relevant mode of study at point of application. Note that distance and mixed mode options are not available to students applying for a student visa.

Who this course is for

This programme is suited to people who work or would like to work with bilateral and multilateral aid organisations, in the non-formal sector or in government departments concerned with education and international development.  Applicants should have experience in low or middle income contexts as their work will include analysis developed in relation to such contexts.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society has an outstanding and well-established reputation in the field of education and international development. This specialist programme focused on the application of economic theory and principles to issues of educational planning within the broader area of education and development is unique.

Students benefit from teaching by staff with international research reputations in the fields of education and development, within a world-leading institution in policy-oriented research in the field.

The programme offers opportunities to interact and network with: fellow students currently or formerly employed across the education and development sectors; internationally renowned researchers; and with guest speakers including practitioners and policy-makers.  

UCL is located in central London, close to key UK government institutions, think tanks, NGOs, donor organisations and other key actors in the field of international development.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The degree provides an excellent platform from which to pursue and develop a career which draws on the analytic skills and techniques required for educational planning and economic analysis in the context of international development. The programme encourages critical reflection on the application of economic theory and planning tools to 'planning problems' including those relating to project design and evaluation, which have wide application in development practice, research and consultancy. In employment terms, students benefit from the international reputation of the institution and staff at UCL as well as the diverse international perspectives of fellow students and the central location in one of the world's most dynamic and connected cities.

Employability

Graduates are currently working in a variety of roles in aid agencies, UN institutions, government departments, international NGOs, research centres and think tanks. Some graduates go on to work in social entrepreneurship or in development consultancy, while others proceed to doctoral study, some winning competitive scholarships and being published in international journals.

A number of students are mid-career professionals (including teachers, ministry staff and NGO professionals), for whom the programme forms part of their wider professional development, providing access to more senior roles or to a change of career direction.

Networking

During your time at UCL, you will be able to build networks with fellow students on this programme and the other programmes in the Education and International Development cluster, academic staff and alumni in the Centre for Education and International Development, as well as the broader UCL community.

Teaching and learning

This programme is delivered by lectures, participant-led presentations, discussions based on selected readings, inputs by guest speakers, group work and debates. Many modules, including the compulsory modules, are available through online learning and may be studied remotely.

Assessment is through coursework assignments and the dissertation.

For each 30 credit taught module students are expected to contribute 300 learning hours (a little over 37 days at 8 hours per day). Direct teaching/contact hours accounts for 30 hours, assignment tutorial(s) 1 hour, and the remaining hours consist of self-directed study such as, preparation for classes and online learning activities, reading (individual and with other students), searching for new literature related to your area of interest, assignment preparation and completion.

Modules

You will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, completing the programme within one calendar year, September to September.

The programme consists of three compulsory modules (90 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits) plus 30 credits of optional modules (either one 30 credit module or two 15 credit modules). The programme can be studied on campus, online (distance) or a combination of both (mixed mode).

Please select your mode of study at point of application.

Distance and mixed mode options are not available to students applying for a Student Visa (international students.)

You will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, completing the programme within two calendar years, September to September.

You will need to select modules to the value of 90 credits in each year.

The programme consists of three compulsory modules (90 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits) plus 30 credits of optional modules (either one 30 credit module or two 15 credit modules). The programme can be studied on campus, online (distance) or a combination of both (mixed mode).

You must select the Dissertation module in your second and final year of study.

Please select your mode of study at point of application.

Distance and mixed mode options are not available to students applying for a Student Visa (international students.)

You will need to undertake modules to the value of 180 credits split over a maximum of 5 years.

The programme consists of three compulsory modules (90 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits) plus 30 credits of optional modules (either one 30 credit module or two 15 credit modules). The programme can be studied on campus, online (distance) or a combination of both (mixed mode).

Please select your mode of study at point of application.

Distance and mixed mode options are not available to students applying for a Student Visa (international students.)

Compulsory modules






Optional modules











Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Educational Planning, Economics and International Development.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Education and International Development

Are you passionate about shaping global contemporary practice and policy? We welcome you to book your place at our Virtual Open Event. You will meet our Programme Leaders, hear about the programmes you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. These sessions are free and open to all. Be part of a world-leading centre for research and teaching working to make a difference in the world.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £12,700 £6,350
Tuition fees (2024/25) £28,100 £14,050

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their dissertation.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

Deadline: 14 December 2023
Value: Full fees, flights, stipend, and other allowances (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

GREAT Scholarship

Deadline: 14 May 2024
Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-Clarke Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024
Value: Tuition fees, return flights and stipend (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024
Value: Tuition fees and accommodation (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Educational Planning, Economics and International Development at graduate level
  • why you want to study Educational Planning, Economics and International Development at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please make sure that your personal statement also clearly explains your experience in low or middle income countries relating to the field(s) of education (and educational planning), economics and/or international development.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Education, Practice and Society
Education, Practice and Society

c.rolleston@ucl.ac.uk

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