International Development Studies:
Sustainability, Participation, Innovation

This Master’s programme is a full one year option within the master’s speciality “Innovation et territoire” of the geographical department at Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France.

Programme content
This master’s programme is designed for students with a strong background in social sciences (e.g. Geography, Regional Planning, Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Development, etc.) and an interest in addressing development issues critically. A general introduction to international debates on “development” and its governance will form the basis for addressing major challenges to sustainable local development from theory to practice. Multi-level case studies from development programmes and projects in Africa, South-East Asia, Latin America, Pacific, Indian Ocean and Europe will be used to assess the possibilities and limits of transferring strategies and tools from one regional context to another.

The programme comprises one year of post-graduate studies (60 ECTS), starting in September. It consists of 8 interactive courses followed by an internship within a host organization or field research in a developing or transition country and the writing of a Master dissertation. Upon successful completion of this programme in International Development Studies, students receive a Master of Social and Human Sciences, “Sciences du Territoire” (Local Planning and Development).

Career opportunities
Our rapidly changing world has a growing need for professionals with international experience, able to formulate innovative policy proposals. Our students will find employment in the fields of development cooperation and regional/local planning, within government departments and agencies, supranational and multilateral development organisations, non-profit organisations, as well as in the corporate sector. We also actively support students wishing to continue with a PhD thesis.

Modules
What Development for Whom? An Epistemology of Development Paradigms and Models (3 ECTS)
Politics of Development (3 ECTS)
Enhancing Economic Sustainability: Paradigms, Strategies and Tools ( 6ECTS)
Alleviating Poverty and Inequalities: Paradigms, Strategies and Tools (6 ECTS)
Facing Environmental Issues: Paradigms, Strategies and Tools (6 ECTS)
Comparative Case Studies of Participatory Development Projects (3 ECTS)
A foreign language to be chosen by the student (3 ECTS)
Overseas internship preparation (3 ECTS)
3-5 month internship or field research and Master dissertation (27 ECTS)

Special features
An integrated, interdisciplinary, comparative approach
Problem-oriented analysis
A people-centred view
Experienced lecturing staff with an extensive network of local and international development and research organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Indian and Pacific Oceans and Europe.

Admission requirements
Applicants should have a minimum qualification equivalent to four years of French university studies. All applicants are expected to have a solid background in the field of international development studies.
As students must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part in classroom discussions and undertake written work in English, English B2 (upper intermediate) language proficiency has to be shown by one of the following:
- TOEFL score of at least 87 (internet based)
- IELTS score of at least 5.5 (internet based)
- Cambridge/Oxford – Advanced Certificate of Proficiency
- A degree from a university where English is the language of instruction
 
French students are legally exempted from these proficiency certificates. Their English language knowledge will be evaluated by the admissions committee.
Applications will be carefully evaluated by the admissions committee. The committee assesses the quality of each application compared to the other applications received.

How and when to apply
Submission deadline: 15 May
Details and application forms are available online at:
French version
English version

Please note that this master’s programme in English is an option of the speciality “Innovation et territoire” of the master “Sciences du territoire”. Candidates shall register for “Innovation et territoire” and tick the box ‘option International Development Studies’ in the annex of the registration document.

Contact
Dr Kirsten Koop
Phone: +33 (0)4 76.82.20.91
Email: development.studiesatujf-grenoble.fr

Details on the contents of the courses: click here