Are you interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Development Studies? Jeniar Mooy shares her experience from her time at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, which has been ranked as the best university in the world on the subject!
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For most people, a university’s rank is one of the first things they check when considering a university to pursue their master’s or doctoral degree. While I agree that a rank can reflect the amount of dedication and achievements a university has managed to score in a particular subject, it is far more important to understand what has brought that university to such rank and whether the contributing factors align with one’s personal goals and values.
In this regard, I was lucky to have the chance to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, which is currently at the first rank of the best university in the world to study development studies according to the QS World University Ranking 2023.
Albeit short, my one-year experience of pursuing an MA in Development Studies at the University of Sussex from late 2022 to 2023 has allowed me to pin down three key things that have made my learning experience very rewarding. (Ps. These are perhaps also some of the contributing factors to the university’s excellent reputation in development subjects)
Diverse core and elective courses
Hosted by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), the MA in Development Studies programme offers various core and elective modules. In the first term, you can choose one core module and one elective module. In the second term, you can choose a combination of two core modules or one core module and two electives. The modules vary in topics, such as political economy, power and social perspectives, gender and identity, poverty, climate change, business, democracy and public policy, and health, among others.
Each module are taught by IDS renowned researcher(s) in the respective field and supported by IDS publications, which have covered various regions, including Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The wide range of courses allows students to choose courses that really suit their interests.
As for me, I chose the modules on Debating Poverty and Vulnerability and Aid and Poverty during my second term since my thesis topic was related to foreign aid for poverty alleviation in Pacific Island countries. I was lucky that in one of these modules, I was taught by Dr. Lidia Cabral – a research fellow at IDS and a social scientist with over 18 years of experience in aid and public policy, who later became my supervisor during my thesis writing process.
Strong academic support for all students
In general, each course in the MA Development Studies programme is delivered through a series of lectures led by the course convenor or main lecturers, followed by seminars facilitated by tutors. During lectures, students wouldlisten to brief explanations/elaborations by the lecturer on a particular topic, in a seminar, students would be divided into small discussion groups and tasked to deliberate on a particular case study. The discussion would be facilitated by a tutor, and each group needs to come up with their critical analysis of the given case study, drawing on theories/concepts in the reading list that normally has been circulated at the beginning of the term.
For me, the seminar is one of the most interesting parts of my master’s degree journey. It gave me the opportunity to openly express my opinion without worrying about others’ judgement or misperceptions. The seminar taught me to openly receive criticism and to reflect on it to strengthen my own argument.
Besides the seminar, each main lecturer also has office hours (normally 2-3 hours per week) where students can come to their office to discuss any academic-related matter. I found this opportunity very useful to discuss any learning concerns that I have, even if it is as small as me having difficulty in understanding a particular part of an assignment they gave or their explanation during the lecture. The lecturers were always very welcoming and ready to offer extra help to the students.
Supportive peers and non-academic activities
My journey to obtain a master’s degree would not have been as enjoyable had I not had supportive peers around me. I was lucky to be admitted to the 2021/2022 cohort, where I had the chance to learn development studies alongside classmates from 50+ countries across the world. The diversity gave me the rare opportunity to listen and learn about various development challenges from my peers, who are mostly development practitioners and researchers from various developing countries. Their ideas and aspirations for their home country and the world inspire me to delve deeper into the subjects and pinpoint various possible solutions to current development challenges in Indonesia.
Besides the supportive environment, IDS also regularly organises social events, such as IDS panto – a comedy parody where lecturers and students make fun of development, Sunday walking groups, summer balls, and food markets. The events allow lecturers and students to have a bit of a break in between the tense academic year and have a good time together. It also gives room for students to connect with the academic staff in an informal setting and to network with students from other departments as well.
Overall, despite its high (and sometimes intimidating) rank in development subject, I found that what the MA in Development Studies programme at the University of Sussex offers is beyond just a space to learn development theories and issues in the world. It offers a safe space for students to debate the world’s most pressing development issues with renowned experts and researchers in this subject, as well as fellow peers with rich practical experience in the development sector.
The university also provides continuous academic and non-academic support to help the students unleash their utmost potential and have an enjoyable time during their studies at the university. Last but not least, the university carefully considers not only the students’ academic life but also their mental well-being, which is something I truly appreciate.
For those who are interested in pursuing the MA Development Studies programme, you may find the information at https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/development-studies-ma.