Master of Development Studies (097AB)

Overview

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• an undergraduate degree with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance; and
• relevance of previous studies.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 50 points of credit:

• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least one year of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 100 points of credit:

• an honours degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants seeking credit for relevant work experience must document their experience with a brief curriculum vitae detailing the experience, contact details of two referees who can confirm the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed, and a covering letter that explains how the experience is relevant to the program and prepares them for it.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005) and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF127). For the purposes of considering requests for reasonable adjustments, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the overview, attributes, outcomes and skills of this entry. Further details about how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Course structure

Students are required to complete the program requirements/structure from the year that they commenced their program.  All compulsory, core and capstone subjects must be completed to be eligible to graduate from the program.

200 Point Program

• two compulsory subjects (25 points)
• four core subjects (50 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (125 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development (12.5 points)
• minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (total 50 points)
• elective subjects (62.5 points)

150 point program

• two compulsory subjects (25 points)
• two core subjects (25 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (100 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development (12.5 points)
• minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (total 50 points)
• elective subjects (37.5 points)

100 point program

• two compulsory subjects (25 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (75 points)

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development(12.5 points)
• minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (total 50 points)
• elective subject (12.5 points)

Master of Development Studies - Gender and Development Specialisation

200 Point program

• six compulsory subjects (75 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (125 points)

 or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development OR DEVT90048 Research in Development (12.5 points)
• minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (total 50 points)
• elective subject (62.5 points)

150 point program

• four compulsory subjects (50 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (100 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development OR DEVT90048 Research in Development (12.5 points)
• minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (total 50 points)
• elective subject (37.5 points)

100 point program

•  two compulsory subjects (25 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (75 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development OR DEVT90048 Research in Development (12.5 points)
• minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (total 50 points)
• elective subject (12.5 points)

Capstone Requirement:

Capstone Subject Options must be completed in the final hundred points of the program.  All students are required to complete one Capstone Subject Option (at least 25 points).  This requirement cannot be waived or replaced in any circumstances:

Capstone Stream 1: DEVT90060 Internship in Development (25 points) 

Purpose: An opportunity to acquire practical skills in development practice and apply this knowledge to solve problems that arise in a professional context and develop an integrated understanding of knowledge and practice.

Capstone Stream 2: DEVT90054 Development Studies Thesis Part 1 and DEVT90055 Development Studies Thesis Part 2 (total 50 points)
Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a specific development research question.

Capstone Stream 3: DEVT90001 Project Management & Design (12.5 points) and DEVT90035 Monitoring and Evaluation in Development (12.5 point)
Purpose: An opportunity to acquire practical skills in project management and monitoring and evaluation and apply this knowledge to solve problems that arise in a professional context and develop an integrated understanding of knowledge and practice.

External Subject Rule

Student may undertake an external subject (not listed within the program structure) with the permission of the program and subject coordinator.  All external subject requests must be for the elective subject requirement, not as a compulsory, core or capstone subject. The maximum external subjects allowed are as follows:

• 200 point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (2 years): maximum 25 points.
• 150 point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (1.5 years): maximum 12.5 points.
• 100* point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (1 year): 12.5 points
• 50*^ point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (0.5 years): 0 points.

* GC-ARTS, GD-ARTS, GCA-ARTS and GDA-ARTS students are not normally granted permission to undertake external subjects towards their degree.

^ Exception: Students admitted to 50 point programs may apply to take LING90002, Presenting Academic Discourse, as an external subject.

Please note that advanced standing contributes to a student’s remaining points undertaken at University of Melbourne, and may affect how many points the student can undertake outside the enrolled program.

For policies that govern this degree, see the Courses, Subjects, Awards and Programs Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Library. Students also should also refer to information in the Enrolment and Timetabling Policy.

Majors, minors & specialisations

Name	Credit Points
200pt Program	200
150pt Program	150
100pt Program	100
Gender and Development specialisation

Further study

Students who complete the thesis option may be eligible for entry into the PhD.

Last updated: 9 October 2024