In the Master of International Development, you’ll learn how global economic, social, political and environmental forces affect people and shape different parts of the world. These insights will allow you to recognise where inequalities lie. You’ll identify strategies to help overcome poverty and enhance human wellbeing.

When you graduate from the Master of International Development you will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and skills that can be applied in developing policy and strategies, and in managing and evaluating international development programmes
• critically and rigorously evaluate contemporary international development theories, policies and approaches
• conduct independent research and analysis of international development issues, collect relevant data, and be able to write persuasively about this
• demonstrate mastery of social science research approaches and techniques and be able to undertake independent research in a well-planned and ethical manner
• interpret research findings and draw out relevant implications for development theory, policy and practice.

Learn from experts in the field

Massey University, in 1989, was the first in New Zealand to offer courses leading to recognised qualifications in Development Studies. In 2019 we celebrated our 30th anniversary! We’ve built on that reputation by developing world-class courses in international development.

Our professors and lecturers are scholars and active researchers. They also have experience in development policy and practice in diverse contexts.

A career in international development means providing others with the tools they need to enhance their quality of life, bringing happiness to communities in poverty.

Graduates work all over the world for organisations like Red Cross, World Vision and Caritas to provide humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and peacekeeping. You could work as a development officer, foreign diplomat, development policy analyst, advisor in tourism, health, education, or agriculture, community affairs officer, monitoring and evaluation officer, human rights advisor or advocacy officer.

Enjoy a rewarding and fulfilling career

You’ll get the skills and experience to begin or progress your career in a wide range of government, NGO, multilateral and private sector spheres including organisations such as Red Cross, World Vision, the New Zealand Aid Programme, United Nations Development Program and Caritas.

Our graduates work all over the world providing humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and peace keeping. Careers include positions such as:

• advisor in tourism, health, education or agriculture
• advocacy officer
• community affairs officer
• monitoring and evaluation officer
• foreign diplomat
• human rights advisor
• policy analyst.

Overseas  students  (from countries  such as  Brazil, Timor Leste,  Viet Nam, Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Philippines, Kenya and Tanzania) are typically junior to mid-career government employees or from NGOs, who are funded by NZAID and other scholarships.

Postgraduate education will give you the skills you need for a satisfying and rewarding career.

A Ministry of Education report found that:

• earnings and employment rates increase with the level of qualification completed
• five years after leaving study, most young domestic graduates will be earning above the national median earnings
• young master’s graduates earn 86 per cent more than the national median
• good careers are associated with better health, better wellbeing and more satisfying lives.