Development Studies M.Sc. at Lund University | Mastersportal
Highlights
Tuition fee
135000 SEK / year
Free
Unknown
Tuition fee
135000 SEK / year
Free
Unknown
Duration
24 months
Duration
24 months
Apply date
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Campus location
Lund, Sweden
Campus location
Lund, Sweden
Taught in
English
Taught in
English

About

This Development Studies programme from Lund University is an interdisciplinary  programme in social sciences, which deals with key issues in development as well as different theoretical perspectives to increase your understanding of the preconditions for and content of development.

Overview

Key features

The objective of the Development Studies programme from Lund University is to provide you with the background knowledge and concrete skills to understand, assess and work in development-related fields, whether in direct poverty reduction or in other aspects of social and institutional development.

The medium of instruction is English. This means that lectures and seminars will be given in English and that examinations (including the master's thesis) will be in English.

During the third term (third semester) you are free to choose to do an internship, exchange studies, or take elective courses. You will be given ample opportunities for developing your intellectual capacities, expanding your skills and competencies, building up your network, as well as preparing for your life after your master's, whether your goal is to stay in academia or find work in NGOs, the private sector or the public sector.

After completing the Master of Science Programme in Development Studies, you will acquire a degree of Master of Science in Development Studies (120 credits), with a major in one of the following disciplines: Gender Studies, Development Studies, Human Geography, Political Science, Social Work, Social Anthropology, Sociology, or Sociology of Law. The major corresponds to the major in your Bachelor's degree.

Career prospects 

The programme provides you with both the background knowledge and the practical skills needed to work in development-related fields. You will gain a critical understanding of trends and debates within development work. You will be prepared to make contributions to sustainable development in a role such as policymaker or practitioner in government agencies, private firms and NGOs. Alternatively, you can pursue doctoral studies and a continued academic career.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

  • Historical Aspects of Development 
  • Research Methods
  • Elective courses, Internship, Fieldwork and/or Studies Abroad
  • Key information

    Duration

    • Full-time
      • 24 months

    Start dates & application deadlines

    Language

    English
    TOEFL® IBT
    90
    IELTS
    6.5

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    • 4.9/5 student rating

    Credits

    120 ECTS

    Delivered

    On Campus

    Campus Location

    • Lund, Sweden

    What students do after studying

    Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

    Academic requirements

    We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

    English requirements

    TOEFL® IBT
    90
    IELTS
    6.5

    Prepare for Your English Test

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    AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

    • Trusted by 300k learners
    • 98 accuracy using real exam data
    • 4.9/5 student rating

    Other requirements

    General requirements

    • A Bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following social sciences disciplines: development studies, gender studies, human geography, political science, social work, social anthropology, sociology and sociology of law or equivalent. 
    • A major is equivalent to a minimum of 90 credits or 50% of all degree course-work within one of the above social sciences disciplines. English 6/English Course B.
    • Selection criteria based on academic qualifications and a statement of purpose. Since this a multidisciplinary programme it is essential to attain an even distribution among different majors within the group. 

    Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

    Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

    Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

    Get your student insurance now

    Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

    Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Lund University and/or in Sweden, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

    Tuition Fees

    Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
    • International

      Non-residents
      135000 SEK / year
      135000 SEK / year
    • EU/EEA

      EU/EEA Nationals
      Free

    Additional Details

    • There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

    Living costs

    Lund

    Sweden
    7428 - 11057 SEK / month

    The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

    Funding

    In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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    Scholarships Information

    Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Development Studies.

    Available Scholarships

    You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

    Provided by university
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    Not specified
    Lund University Global Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Lund University
    Lund, Sweden
    Provided by university
    Grant
    5000 SEK
    Deadline
    Not specified
    Travel Scholarships

    Read more about eligibility

    Lund University
    Lund, Sweden
    Independent provider
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    07 Oct 2026
    Fulbright U.S. Student Program

    Read more about eligibility

    U.S. government
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    33600 EUR
    Deadline
    01 Jul 2026
    Mundus MAPP EMJM Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Mundus MAPP
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    30 Nov 2026
    ServiceScape Scholarship

    Read more about eligibility

    ServiceScape
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    3500 USD
    Deadline
    15 Nov 2026
    ACES Scholarships

    Read more about eligibility

    ACES Education Fund
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    Not specified
    Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1500 USD
    Deadline
    15 Sep 2026
    Headway’s Book Lovers Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Headway
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    2000 USD
    Deadline
    01 Sep 2026
    The Rick Blight Leadership in Action Scholarship for Athletes
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    3000 USD
    Deadline
    30 Jun 2026
    Moving Mates Scholarship
    Need-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Moving Mates
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    Not specified
    Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships

    Read more about eligibility

    ACU (The Association of Commonweath Universities)
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1550 EUR
    Deadline
    31 Oct 2026
    ELES-Scholarship (Ernst-Ludwig-Ehrlich-Studienwerk)

    Read more about eligibility

    Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    5000 EUR
    Deadline
    15 May 2026
    Study a Master's in Europe Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    educations.com
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    Anytime
    Digital Payment Solution Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Kreditkortlistan
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    06 Jul 2026
    Jewish Heritage Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Diamant Gerstein
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    5000 USD
    Deadline
    28 Aug 2026
    Women Scholarship for International Students
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    educations.com
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    7000 USD
    Deadline
    24 Apr 2026
    Go Global MBA Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    educations.com
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    5000 SEK
    Deadline
    30 Apr 2026
    Kreditkortlistan Financial Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Enkla Media - Kreditkortlistan
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    31 Oct 2026
    $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    IvyPanda
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    500 USD
    Deadline
    31 Oct 2026
    CryptoRunner Scholarship

    Read more about eligibility

    CryptoRunner
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    3500 USD
    Deadline
    15 Nov 2026
    The Bill Walsh Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    ACES: The Society for Editing
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    25000 USD
    Deadline
    30 Apr 2026
    Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

    Read more about eligibility

    Ayn Rand Institute
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    13 Jul 2026
    Dream Chaser Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Salvado Law
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    5000 CAD
    Deadline
    31 Dec 2026
    Pinsky Law New Venture Development Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Pinsky Law
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    3000 USD
    Deadline
    31 Dec 2026
    Scholarship for students with disabilities
    Need-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Anonymous Hope Fund
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    31 Dec 2026
    Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria
    Need-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Leopold Figl Foundation
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    30 Jun 2026
    $1,500 Annual Students’ Presentation Crafting Scholarship

    Read more about eligibility

    IvyPanda
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    31 Aug 2026
    Florida Rentals Annual Dream Vacation Scholarship

    Read more about eligibility

    Florida Rentals
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    Various benefits
    Deadline
    Not specified
    Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships

    Read more about eligibility

    European Commission
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    965 USD
    Deadline
    Anytime
    Dr. Martin Blank – SYB Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    Shield Your Body
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    2000 USD
    Deadline
    31 Jul 2026
    The MyUS Community Scholarship

    Read more about eligibility

    MyUS
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    3000 USD
    Deadline
    Not specified
    AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid

    Read more about eligibility

    American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1500 USD
    Deadline
    Not specified
    The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship

    Read more about eligibility

    IELTS from 6 to 9
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    55 GBP
    Deadline
    18 Jun 2026
    IELTS Morgan Terry Memorial IATEFL Scholarship
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    IELTS from 6 to 9
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    12000 USD
    Deadline
    11 Jan 2027
    Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme

    Read more about eligibility

    The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
    Location not available
    Independent provider
    Grant
    1000 USD
    Deadline
    20 May 2026
    PlagiarismSearch Essay Contest
    Merit-based

    Read more about eligibility

    PlagiarismSearch
    Location not available

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