Are you thinking about pursuing a master’s degree in international development? The Department of International Development at LSE is one of the top five in the world. The department offers a range of different courses, so you will easily be able to find something that suits your interests and aspirations. 

When I was looking for post-graduate programmes in development I came across the MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies (IDHE) at LSE. I knew I had found the right degree for me. This is a unique combination of subjects and it is a degree that will always be relevant, as new humanitarian crises constantly emerge. Through the course you learn to apply theory to understand the courses and consequences of these better. This degree allows you to pursue your academic interests whilst preparing you for a career in this very competitive field. 

For an MSc in development, this is a rather vocational degree. A significant portion of the degree is the consultancy project you will undertake in groups. The consultancy project runs from October to March. We are paired with some of the most prominent organisations in the world such as the UNHCR, the WFP, Oxfam and NATO. This project gives you the unique opportunity to work on real life problems and expand your network within the humanitarian sector. Once the report is finalised, you will present your findings to the client which is an important moment where you can show off your skills and present your findings to important people in the sector. 

Besides the consultancy project, IDHE students also write an MSc dissertation. The dissertation will allow you to dig deeper into a topic you are interested in, and passionate about. Because of the department’s prominence, it attracts scholars in the top of their field with a wide range of expertise. LSE has an open door policy, so as a graduate student you are welcome to book office hours with anyone you may please. This proves immensely helpful whilst developing your dissertation as you are able to get valuable insight on both topics and methods. 

At LSE you will continue to learn beyond your required contact hours. LSE regularly brings in external people for talks, panels and networking events. For example, The Voice of Experience lecture is a series of guest lectures running throughout the Michaelmas Term, specifically for students studying, and interested in, humanitarianism. You will hear from a range of different speakers at different levels in the humanitarian sector, lecturing on different topics each week. Examples from this year includes Simon Beresford from the DEC and Sir Mark Lowcock, the previous United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. If you are lucky, the speaker of the week might even join you at one of the pubs on campus after the lecture! 

Regardless of the prominence of the degree, the main reason I would recommend IDHE to any prospective postgraduate student is the people. The Department of International Development is well established, offering many different degrees. Through the courses you will be able to connect with like-minded people with numerous nationalities, backgrounds and stories. One of my professors noted that the return to the investment in my education is reflected in, and dependent on, the people I surround myself with. At LSE you will find that the return to your investment will absolutely be high, due to the people you will learn with, and from. 

As I reflect on my first term as a master’s student at LSE, I can confidently say I made the right choice in picking IDHE. If any of this seems appealing to you, then the only step between you and becoming an IDHE student, is an application!