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MA in Population and Development Sciences

Competences developed

The Master's degree in population and development Sciences trains students for careers in cooperation and development.

Open to holders of a bachelor's degree in different disciplines such as social sciences, agronomy, law, natural sciences, etc., the programme aims to train high-level professionals capable of mastering international development issues and challenges, and understanding the problems faced by the developing countries and the efforts made to solve them.

The programme develops students' skills in critical and independent thinking that can be applied to development policies and the practice of international cooperation.

The training is both theoretical and practical: an internship, usually carried out abroad, confronts students directly with the practical realities on the ground, giving them the opportunity to begin learning the profession.

   Curriculum

The MA combines several teaching methods. Lectures alternate with seminars and a high level of field work. From the first year of the programme, guided by the professors in charge of practical training, students begin to give thought to their project, the choice of field location and the curriculum. The practical training itself, accompanied by individual and group educational supervision, obliges students to confront the realities of development and cooperation actions and to develop critical and comparative analysis capacities.

   Admission conditions

For the admission conditions for this MA, click here.

   Specific features

The MA is interdisciplinary in nature and integrates the teaching programme with research projects, practice and knowledge of the ground, and service provision. In addition to compulsory courses on cooperation and development issues, the programme offers a range of courses that enable students either to further develop their knowledge in the disciplines studied during their first cycle, or to become familiar with other disciplines.

The programme aims to equip students with critical thinking and a pragmatic approach to development policies and international cooperation practices. Two options are offered:

-  the international cooperation option, based on the specific tools for managing cooperation projects;

-  the development policy option, based on more analytical approaches to development.

   Professional strengths

The degree programme prepares students for development occupations: project managers for international cooperation operators, coordinators for international development and assistance projects, advisers, consultants, cooperation programme analysts, etc.

There are three main "families" within which employment is possible:

     . National and international institutions that finance development (European Commission, World Bank, Belgian bilateral cooperation, etc.).

     . Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which act independently, generally financed (or co-financed) by the above institutions. Posts can be either at NGO headquarters or in the "target" countries.

     . The private sector, which works as a sub-contractor for national and international institutions. Consulting firms identify, train, implement and evaluate projects and programmes on behalf of these institutions by providing experts and technical assistance.