Educational Planning, Economics and International Development - MA

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.

Degree information

This programme provides students with an opportunity to identify the interconnections between society and the economy, and the implications for educational planning, whilst applying economic principles to educational planning issues. It will also provide the opportunity to critique the ways in which economic analysis and evidence are applied to education policy issues, giving students an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to educational planning.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of three core modules (90 credits), one optional module (30 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits), or two optional modules (60 credits) and a report (30 credits).

Core modules
-Economic Perspectives on Education Policy (EPEP)
-Education and International Development: Concepts, Theories and Issues (CTI)
-Planning for Education and Development (PED)

Optional modules - modules are chosen from a wide range across the UCL IOE Master's-level offering and include:
-Education and Development in Asia
-Education, Conflict and Fragility
-Educational Testing
-Impact Evaluation Methods
-Statistical Analysis

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in either a report of 10,000 words or a dissertation of 20,000 words.

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. Some modules are available through online learning and may be studied remotely. Assessment is through coursework assignments and the dissertation/report.

Careers

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.

Employability
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.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL Institute of Education 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 reputations in research in education and development within an institution which is a global leader 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; with internationally renowned researchers and with guest speakers including practitioners and policy-makers. A study tour to major institutions involved in the field of educational planning (UNESCO, IIEP, OECD) is offered annually (not included in the course fee).

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.