Development Studies - Research MPhil

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) is a specialised multidisciplinary organisation within the University of Greenwich. The NRI provides research and consultancy in support of sustainable development, economic growth and poverty reduction, principally, but not solely, in the natural resources sector. It has a rapidly growing programme of research at MPhil and PhD level on social-scientific and interdisciplinary topics relating to development in the South and in Europe.

The institute provides a vibrant research environment for MPhil and PhD students in development studies with students from a number of countries and a variety of backgrounds in research, government and non-governmental organisations. Students are also actively encouraged to network with peers from other universities in the UK.

Research specialisms

The Livelihoods and Institutions Department works on a number of themes related to natural resources, environment and development. Particular interests include:

• Participatory and client-oriented methods of agricultural research and their institutionalisation
• Agricultural service delivery
• Performance and impact assessment methodologies
• Community based natural resource management
• Land tenure
• Urban agriculture and rural-urban linkages
• Pastoralism
• Vulnerability to disasters
• Climate change.

The Food and Markets Department works on many economics-based development issues. Important themes include the performance of agricultural markets, value chains, international standards and agricultural trade, micro-finance, enterprise development and poverty reduction, ethical trade and corporate social responsibility.

Attendance

We welcome applications from potential students from either a social or natural science background. We can offer full-time or part-time registration, with students based on our campus in Medway or in their home countries, or some combination of the two.

Recent research projects

Recent research project topics include:

• Forbidden (sacred) lakes and conservation: the role of indigenous beliefs in the management of wetland resources in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
• Farmer organisations and their impacts for pro-poor growth among smallholder farmers in Malawi
• Understanding the influence of livelihood features on cassava value chains
• Rural territorial dynamics in North East Brazil: the Jiquiriçá Valley in Bahia
• Pro-poor market-based approaches for economic recovery in post-conflict countries: the case of Liberia
• Cross-borrowing and its impact on microentrepreneurs' repayment performance and well-being in Peru.

Outcomes

The aims of the programme are to:

• Provide an environment for innovative, intellectually rigorous and developmentally significant research, primarily on developing countries
• Strengthen the research capacity of students from a variety of intellectual and professional backgrounds.

What you will study

The normal route accepted by the University is to register first as MPhil student, and transfer to PhD after demonstrating sufficient progress in your research. To do this you will need to apply for the MPhil/PhD programme. 

Programme duration; 

MPhil is 18-36 months full-time and 30-48 months part-time; 

MPhil/PhD is 36-48 months full-time and 48-84 months part-time.

For further information, guidance on how to apply and an application form, please visit http://www.greenwich.ac.uk/research/study.

Careers

Postgraduate research students from the NRI have a good record of finding employment within their specific technical discipline or in the field of international development.

Visit the Development Studies - Research MPhil page on the University of Greenwich – Medway Campus website for more details!