Social Development Practice MSc
London, Bloomsbury
This is the programme information for 2025 entry
The Social Development Practice MSc cultivates reflexive social development practitioners with the theoretical foundations and practical orientation needed to promote human wellbeing and equitable citizenship in the Global South. Our course is designed to address the challenges of social diversity and globalisation, particularly in urban contexts, and offers a critical approach to “people-centred” development.
Study mode
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Duration
Programme starts
Applications accepted
Applications open
Applications open
Entry requirements
The normal minimum qualifications are a good second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; and a demonstrable interest in the subject matter of the programme.
Candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be considered if they are able to demonstrate relevant work experience and an ability to engage academically with the subject matter of the degree. Applicants who do not hold a recognised undergraduate degree may, in exceptional cases, be admitted to the programme if they are able to demonstrate considerable senior-level professional experience in planning or a related field.
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The English language level for this programme is: Level 1
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
Equivalent qualifications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.
About this degree
Building from milestones such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development report in 1990, which shifted development metrics from economic growth to human well-being, the call to foster ‘people centred development’ is now a well-established focus across the development sector. However, in practice, delivering development that is socially just continues to be a complex exercise, which needs to navigate social diversity that is deeply embedded power relations and, increasingly, the prevalence of political and developmental projects which draw on social division to build their constituencies. At the same time, processes of globalisation and the ongoing dominance of market radicalism in public policy erode the social contracts that have ensured labour and social protection, and delivered basic needs such as housing, health and education as human rights rather than as commodities.
In response, the Social Development Practice MSc works to create a close-knit community of development practitioners who can confidently examine processes of social change, mobilisation and development to generate greater equity and wellbeing for people in developing contexts. We will provide you with a solid grounding in social theory through different academic perspectives on gender, race, disability, citizenship, collective mobilisation and informal planning practices, as well as by encouraging you to consider your own role as social development practitioners impacting development interventions internationally.
Gain experience in social development in practice
The Social Development Practice MSc is a practically focused social science course with an interdisciplinary approach to building the capacities of diverse and marginalised groups in urban contexts in the Global South to gain access to rights, resources, and recognition. This approach will give you an understanding of how social injustices manifest differently between and within contexts. You will gain the confidence to move into your future career as a social development practitioner through experience working with specific case studies and an ability to identify opportunities for knowledge exchange between different contexts.
At The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, we emphasise the importance of putting theory into practice and as a Social Development Practice MSc student you will have the opportunity to do so through an overseas practice engagement that will immerse you in social change processes within real cities by working with communities in action-research projects with global partners, and through our Development Workshops that simulate the complex processes of negotiating development strategies with students from other master’s courses.
Explore your personal interests through optional modules
In addition to core learning on the Social Development Practice MSc and practical projects, you can develop your personal interests and choose from a wide range of optional modules from across the six other master’s courses at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, as well as from across The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment and wider UCL.
Benefit from our global network of alumni and partners
Throughout your degree, you will engage with scholars and practitioners working in diverse capacities and fields to address urban challenges. We host skills development and careers networking sessions with UCL Careers services, connect you with partner organisations, alumni, development practitioners and academics through our overseas practice engagements and events at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit. We also offer the opportunity to participate in our dissertation fellowship scheme where you can partner with reputable NGOs and development consultancies to produce a dissertation which have previously led our students to research collaborations, internships, and employment.
By the end of the Social Development Practice MSc, you will:
- Have the confidence to evaluate social, and socially sensitive, development policy models;
- Experiment with the practice of social justice beyond the classroom environment through practice engagements with international partners;
- Gain real world experience of how actors from the public sector, private sector and civil society interact and contribute to the delivery of socially sensitive development policy;
- Own a focus on ‘people-centred’ approaches to international development, as increasingly reflected in the policy priorities of major development organisations;
- Develop as a reflexive and ethical professional in the field of sustainable development with key skills in critical thinking, teamwork, project management and impactful communication with stakeholders.
Who this course is for
The Social Development Practice MSc has a thriving international community of social development practitioners with backgrounds in sociology, anthropology, psychology, international studies, economics, geography, history, and communication studies who promote more equitable and inclusive development. This diversity fosters a cooperative working environment and the opportunity to negotiate creatively with others.
We aim to grow this community by welcoming applications from professionals and individuals interested in expanding your critical analysis, project management, and stakeholder management skills with a strong social theory foundation. We offer grounded training in the theory and practice of social justice, and therefore also welcome new entrants to the field of development planning with a strong interest in exploring action-oriented approaches and tools for socially inclusive, participatory, just, and sustainable development outcomes in urban contexts.
What this course will give you
UCL has been ranked ninth best university in the world for the second year in a row, marking UCL’s 13th year among the top 10 universities worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2025), and situated within London, the best student city in the world (QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2025). Across the university, UCL’s students and faculty are tackling grand challenges, ranging from climate change to healthcare for ageing populations.
The Bartlett Development Planning Unit’s postgraduate courses are supported by international agencies, and national and provincial governments, and the Unit sits within The Bartlett, UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment, which is ranked #1 in the world for Architecture and the Built Environment, and remains #1 in the UK for the tenth year in a row (QS World University Subject Rankings 2024).
The Bartlett Development Planning Unit is an international centre concerned with promoting sustainable forms of development, understanding rapid urbanisation and encouraging innovation in the policy, planning and management responses to the economic, social and environmental development of cities and regions, especially in urban cities of the Global South.
Through the core modules of the course, you will be introduced to frameworks for analysing the social content of development policy, explore the diversity of people within various contexts and how their identities shift, intersect and create implications for inequalities and poverty, and discover how socially sensitive approaches to development interventions can be created in practice through an engagement with professional practice and overseas fieldwork.
Through the optional modules on the Social Development Practice MSc, you can learn about how the creative industries and communication practices (such as participatory photography and video, theatre and social media) can support groups in the recognition and mobilisation of their rights to cities. You can also tap into the expertise from across The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment and wider UCL through a wide range of optional modules on offer.
Not only will you be studying course content that matters both to your future career and to the social justice of urban contexts in the Global South, but you will also gain access to an active and growing alumni network, exchanging knowledge and skills with like-minded individuals from across the globe who are experienced in the realms of development planning.
The foundation of your career
94% of graduates from The Bartlett Development Planning Unit were in work or further study 15 months after graduation and are working in 52 countries around the world.
The Social Development Practice MSc draws strong connections to professional networks through our teaching and research activities, including our overseas practice engagements where we partner with communities and organisations in international contexts to address social development issues and opportunities, and through involvement in ongoing research projects led by academics of The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
The critical thinking, social analysis, action-research, project management and stakeholder management skills nurtured in our students on the course are in demand in a variety of sectors around the world including:
- International NGOs, in both specialised social NGOs (for example NGOs concerned with gender equality, youth, or disability) and social roles in mainstream development NGOs
- Bilateral development agencies as social development specialists
- National government in positions related to social policy
- Private sector companies engaged in social appraisal, social research and consultancy.
Our course also inspires graduates of the Social Development Practice MSc to pursue further research at PhD level.
Alumni testimonials
“The incredible diversity of my student cohort (20 nationalities during my time) — culturally, religiously, racially, socio-economically, and gender identities — meant that we often had to bridge our barriers and find a way to work collaboratively on many projects, most exciting of which was the Indonesia overseas practice. The learnings that took place outside the classroom allowed me to form deep bonds of friendship with many of my peers. Cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication — skills often sought highly in any global workplace — just happened to be a natural by-product. This made the transition to my current role with teammates from four different countries, and the countless partners I work with across the globe, second nature.” - Rigsar Wangchuk, Shifting Power Lead at SHIFT, Save the Children International and Social Development Practice MSc graduate
“After graduating from the Social Development Practice MSc, I found myself supporting UNDP in the planning, designing and implementation of health development programmes to strengthen national responses to HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It has been truly inspiring to witness the organisation transform the lives of millions of people through its relentless commitment to realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and cross-cutting approaches to development. The Social Development Practice MSc at UCL was a transformative chapter of this journey that shaped my approach and deepened my understanding of the complexities of the development landscape.” - Ritwika Deb, Global Fund Partnership Team at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Social Development Practice MSc graduate
“Studying the Social Development Practice MSc was a life changing experience, inclusive of the fieldwork in London and in Salvador, supporting urban groups to claim their right to the city. The course has enhanced my critical thinking around the pathways to end poverty and address structural inequalities from a social diversity perspective. Without a doubt, my work as a Brazilian practitioner and lecturer has been fortified for the next 10, 20, 30 years in the field. In addition, I now have many good friends located around the globe with whom I share a vision and commitment for a more socially fair and inclusive world.” - Alessandra Gerson Saltiel Schmidt, EU Projects Coordinator at the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and Social Development Practice MSc graduate
Discover more alumni stories on The Bartlett Development Planning Unit website and in our Alumni Careers Stories series on YouTube ▶
Additionally, you can learn about how three of our students, Anukie, María and Vero, created a social development consultancy together after meeting on the Social Development Practice MSc course in the blog ‘Three SDP students on a joint journey’ ▶
Employability
To work within international NGOs, international organisations, bilateral development agencies, in government, and in social roles across various industries, we will equip you with critical thinking, action-research, project management and stakeholder management skills through core learning on the Social Development Practice MSc and through department-level workshops that will integrate you with students from other master’s courses at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
Explore current debates and issues in international development and planning
The Development Workshops will introduce you to the current debates and issues surrounding international development and planning. Through lectures, short films, and group discussions you will discuss key topics in urban development, urban equality, drawing on post- and de-colonial insights. Through a roleplay methodology in the Development Workshops, we will encourage you to mix with your peers across our seven master’s courses across The Bartlett Development Planning Unit and “step into the shoes” of a multiplicity of stakeholders involved in planning and decision-making. This will help you and your peers explore the intersecting identities and interests of development stakeholders whilst fostering empathy with their narratives, helping you acknowledge the complexity of real-world planning processes.
Partner with international development organisations in a dissertation fellowship
The Development Planning Unit Dissertation Fellowship Scheme offers important opportunities for professional development and, in some cases, has led to research collaborations, internships, and employment.
The advantages of participating in this scheme for your employability include:
- Your dissertation will be relevant to the current work of an international development organisation.
- You will have access to a member of staff and relevant data, although no fieldwork and/or primary data collection is expected.
- A summary of your dissertation will be published in an appropriate form (eg policy brief, blog post), subject to agreement over edits to ensure that high standards are maintained with respect to the work itself and any pertinent copyright or other issues
- You will receive a letter stating that you have done this research with the partner organisation.
Networking
We offer you the opportunity to connect with alumni and academics of the course through our overseas practice engagements, through events open to all students at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (including our flagship Dialogues in Development lecture series, film screenings, and talks with academics about their research projects), and through seminars and guest lectures with development practitioners.
As a student of The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, you will be connected with professionals, researchers and academics who have had long-standing careers in the development field and can share valuable and candid insights through events and networking. You will also benefit from our digital Alumni Networking Platform where you can discover the international reach of our alumni community on a map and connect with individuals by year of graduation, course of study and by city.
In addition to the above and to the core UCL Careers provision, as a student at The Bartlett you will have access to a mix of faculty-wide and department-specific support and activities to bolster your career development and develop your networking skills to successfully navigate the job markets. Open across the Faculty, this includes a programme of lively industry panel discussions and interactive workshops, spotlighting the key sectors graduates typically venture into such as construction, consultancy, commercial property and urban planning and development.
Additionally, The Bartlett’s Building a Better Future Consultancy Project will give you a unique opportunity to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to tackle a real world challenge the built environment is grappling with, equipping you with the in-demand skills sought after by employers. Featured organisations in this programme include global consultancies (e.g. BuroHappold, Hoare Lea, AtkinsRealis), burgeoning start-ups, and SMEs as well as local councils and not-for-profit organisations such as C40 Cities, Greater London Authority and London authorities.
Teaching and learning
The Social Development Practice MSc is delivered both inside and outside of the classroom so you can discover methodologies and frameworks for a critical participatory, community-based approach to socially sensitive development practice. On campus, the course will be taught through a wide range of teaching techniques including lectures and seminars that are delivered by academics and development professionals held in high esteem by their peers internationally and renowned for their contribution to academic thinking and development practice, and through tutorials, debates, discussions, presentations, and individual and group project work. We also encourage you to take an active approach to your own learning through wider reading.
In partnership with communities and social development practitioners, we take learning one step further in our annual overseas practice engagements. Here, our students explore different tools, concepts and ideas in urban design in a Global South context.
To equip you with the necessary research design, analytical thinking and project management skills required to move into your future career in the development field addressing the urban social injustices of the 21st century, the Social Development Practice MSc is assessed through coursework, written examinations, a written report focusing on the overseas practice engagement, and the 10,000-word dissertation report.
In terms 1 and 2, as a full-time student you can typically expect between 9-12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Each teaching week, you will have two-hour face-to-face encounters on campus in all core and optional modules. Each teaching week, you will also have one three-hour practice module encounter on campus.
Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, as a full-time student you will typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using your remaining time for self-directed study and completing assignments. We expect full-time students to commit an average of 40 to 45 hours of study per week reviewing online resources, completing module activities, engaging in wider reading and working on their assignments.
In term 3, you will complete the overseas practice engagement. The duration of this engagement will depend upon travel arrangements with partner organisations but is typically around two weeks overseas. In term 3 and the summer period, you will complete your own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with your dissertation supervisor.
Modules
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The Social Development Practice MSc is delivered over four terms when taken in one academic year. In terms 1 and 2 you will study compulsory modules which make up 75% of the taught component of the course (equivalent to 90 credits) and provide you with the theoretical and methodological foundations to become a social development practitioner. The remaining 25% of the taught component of the course is dedicated to a range of optional modules on offer, allowing you to combine your learnings with your personal interests in terms 1 and 2. The practice module, where we complete the overseas practice engagement, runs across terms 1, 2 and 3.
In term 4, you will focus on your dissertation which is a research project you will conduct independently, complemented by support from a dedicated dissertation tutor. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to focus on an area of the course that most interests you. The research that supports the production of your dissertation should rely on secondary sources of data and/or primary sources of data that can be accessed without field survey work (for example internet or archival data sources). Conducting this independent research builds your skills in planning a research project, reviewing literature, and using the knowledge acquired during the taught component of the course to review evidence, develop an argument and communicate and justify your findings. The dissertation is submitted at the end of term 4.
Past dissertations have been published as DPU Working papers, including:
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The Social Development Practice MSc is delivered over two years when taken part-time.
In year 1, the taught modules are delivered in terms 1 and 2 and you will study:
- Social Policy and Citizenship
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty.
In year 2, the taught modules are delivered in terms 1, 2 and 3 and you will study:
- Social Development in Practice
- Dissertation Report.
In year 2, you will also have a choice of optional modules which can either be:
- 1 x 30 credit optional module, or
- 2 x 15 credit optional modules.
In term 4 of year 2, you will focus on your dissertation which is a research project you will conduct independently, complemented by support from a dedicated dissertation tutor. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to focus on an area of the course that most interests you. The research that supports the production of your dissertation should rely on secondary sources of data and/or primary sources of data that can be accessed without field survey work (for example internet or archival data sources). Conducting this independent research builds your skills in planning a research project, reviewing literature, and using the knowledge acquired during the taught component of the course to review evidence, develop an argument and communicate and justify your findings. The dissertation is submitted at the end of term 4.
Past dissertations have been published as DPU Working papers, including:
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The Social Development Practice MSc is delivered over a period of two to five years when taken on a flexible basis. You may structure your core and optional modules in any format you wish, noting that the practice module and dissertation must be taken in your final years of study.
The dissertation is a research project which you will conduct independently, complemented by support from a dedicated dissertation tutor. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to focus on an area of the course that most interests you. The research that supports the production of your dissertation should rely on secondary sources of data and/or primary sources of data that can be accessed without field survey work (for example internet or archival data sources). Conducting this independent research builds your skills in planning a research project, reviewing literature, and using the knowledge acquired during the taught component of the course to review evidence, develop an argument and communicate and justify your findings. The dissertation is submitted at the end of Term 4.
Past dissertations have been published as DPU Working papers, including:
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Social Development Practice.
Fieldwork
Each year, our Social Development Practice MSc students engage with issues raised by communities and social development practitioners in a local context. In Term 3 you will carry out an overseas practice engagement as part of the practice module where you will be immersed in social change processes within real cities by working with communities in action-research projects with global partners. Thus, you will gain hands-on experience in a Global South context to become better development practitioners.
You will critically assess two major issues related to social development practice: 1) How women, men and children can become actively engaged in policy and planning processes, both at the programme and project level and beyond, to ensure more equitable and transformative development outcomes; and 2) The roles of the social development practitioner as both a social planner and as a catalyst of social change.
To date, we have engaged with partners and communities in Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania on themes spanning urban food systems and food security in cities, inclusive planning and design in low-income neighbourhoods and for people with disabilities, inclusive citizenship, urban poverty, collective action, sustainable technologies, housing, infrastructure, markets, participatory informal settlement upgrading and wellbeing, and the effectiveness of NGOs.
Discover more about our overseas practice engagements and previous outputs ▶
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £20,500 | £10,250 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £33,000 | £16,500 |
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Additional costs
For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.
For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.
Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.
Core costs related to compulsory practice engagement projects will be covered from within tuition fees. This includes partner and facilitation expenses, travel-related costs where travel is possible (eg transportation, visas, travel insurance) and accommodation costs where required. Personal expenses (eg food, mobile data, non-essential leisure activities) must, as normal, be covered by the student regardless of whether practice engagements take place in person or remotely.
UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.
Funding your studies
Any additional funding available will be advertised on The Bartlett Development Planning Unit scholarships and funding webpage and The Bartlett faculty webpage.
The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in The Bartlett to pursue master's studies. Please see the UK Master's scholarship and Sub-Saharan Africa Master's scholarship webpages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
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Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship
Deadline: 28 March 2025Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (Duration of programme)Criteria Based on financial needEligibility: EU, OverseasBartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarship
Deadline: 31 May 2025Value: Tuition fees plus £15,864 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)Criteria Based on financial needEligibility: UK
Next steps
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.
When we assess your application, we would like to learn:
- Your understanding of what social development constitutes
- Any experience you have of working in social development or related sectors
- Why you want to study Social Development Practice at graduate level
- Why you want to study Social Development Practice at UCL
- What particularly attracts you to the chosen course
- What you think you will bring to the course
- How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
- Where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the distinctive features of this MSc course and tell us about your expectations.
Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.
Choose your programme
Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.
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