MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development

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MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development

University of East Anglia
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Description

Impact evaluation has become an important tool in development policy making. Multilateral and bilateral donor agencies and developing country governments are now widely committed to funding and utilising high quality impact evaluation evidence.

The MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development degree offers familiarisation with and skills in the basics of modern evidence-based policy-making and impact evaluation, including the contexts and practices of evaluation, research design and data production for evaluation, and basic and more advanced methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Teaching materials are drawn from the development literature and iconic impact evaluation case …

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Impact evaluation has become an important tool in development policy making. Multilateral and bilateral donor agencies and developing country governments are now widely committed to funding and utilising high quality impact evaluation evidence.

The MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development degree offers familiarisation with and skills in the basics of modern evidence-based policy-making and impact evaluation, including the contexts and practices of evaluation, research design and data production for evaluation, and basic and more advanced methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Teaching materials are drawn from the development literature and iconic impact evaluation case studies.

The course has been designed for students who are interested in designing and implementing development projects and programmes and/or in researching development effectiveness, and who need to develop and enhance their skills for undertaking high-quality rigorous impact evaluations.

This Masters programme

Please click to access a promotional poster for the MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development.

  • combines theory and practice through its two specialist modules
  • helps students to acquire analytical skills that are important beyond impact evaluation
  • is situated in the School of International Development (DEV) which has world-class reputation for research in international development
  • allows for a unique range of choice and specialisation, with students able to choose module options both from within DEV and from other departments at UEA
  • Lecturers who teach on this course have wide practical experience in Impact Evaluation. Many of them are International Development Economists

Download a promotional poster for the MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development (PDF 1 MB).

Course Profile

At the heart of this Masters programme are two unique modules. Welfare and Evaluation in Development provides students with theoretical frameworks for evidence-based policy and a critical understanding of a broad range of issues relevant to impact evaluation and development. It reviews approaches to wellbeing and their practical application in terms of evaluating the effect of development interventions. It exposes students to cost-benefit analysis and considers policy and evaluation in practice looking at a range of sectors and contexts.

The module Applied Methods in Impact Evaluation provides students with a good basic knowledge of applied methods of impact evaluation that allows them to carry out high quality impact evaluations. For that purpose, it provides a comprehensive overview of the most important methods of impact evaluation. It provides instruction in and hands on experiences of the main quantitative and qualitative impact evaluation methods, through linked lectures and (computer) workshop/seminars.

Careers and Employability

Graduates from this Masters programme are likely to become policy makers, non-governmental officials, consultants or research institute staff who are involved in impact evaluations.

“This course provided me with analytical skills and a broad range of techniques and tools which I have been able to directly apply at my current job. I would highly recommend this course to students who want to gain applicable skills and tools which a rapidly growing number of employers in the development sector are looking for.”

Tiina Pasanen, Research Officer, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

Students on this course can choose for an internship or work placements at various organisations.

“The MSc in Impact Evaluation has been an excellent choice. Not only was I able to expand my knowledge and acquire new impact evaluation skills, I also had the unique opportunity to apply what I learnt conducting a one month research on the working conditions in the banana plantations in Southwest Cameroon as part of my internship project. Overall, the course definitely marked a before-and-after in my professional and personal life.”

Dafni Skalidou, Student 2011-12.

A range of optional seminars and workshops are offered during this Masters programme for the teaching and strengthening of student skills. Sessions to support learning - in particular essay and dissertation writing - occur throughout the year. Development practice training is also provided. Find out further information about the Skills Training and Development Practice programme.

Further Information

The MSc Impact Evaluation for International Development degree is offered over one year full-time, or two years part-time.

Please contact the course convener, Dr Ben D'Exelle, for further information about the course or to arrange a visit to the campus.

Further links:
  • DEV is running an annual short course on “Impact Evaluation for Evidence-Based Policy in Development” which provides participants with an introduction to quantitative as well as qualitative impact evaluation techniques
  • DEV is a 3ie Associate Member
  • DEV is working in partnership with ODI on the ‘methods lab’ which is an AusAid funded project developing and testing innovative approaches and methods to impact evaluation.

Course Organiser:Dr. Ben D'Exelle
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Entry Requirements Degree Subject: Social Science Degree Classification: 2.1 or equivalent Entry Requirement

Applicants should normally have a good first degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.

It is normal for undergraduate students to apply for entry to postgraduate programmes in their final year of study. Applicants who have not yet been awarded a degree may be offered a place conditional on their attaining a particular class of degree.

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

  • IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
  • TOEFL: Internet-based score of 92 (minimum 19 listening, 21 speaking, 19 writing and 20 reading)
  • PTE (Pearson): 62 (minimum 55 in all components)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests such as TOEIC and the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English are also accepted by the university. Please check with the Admissions Office for further details including the scores or grades required.

INTO UEA and INTO UEA London run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk (INTO UEA Norwich) or pseuealondon@into.uk.com (INTO UEA London).

The School of International Development at the University of East Anglia is a globally renowned department for teaching, research and consultancy on international development. We are committed to making a difference and are involved in advising on policy for major global challenges such as poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. With students from over 40 countries, we are a friendly, thriving and cosmopolitan department.

The School of International Development offers a range of postgraduate taught degree courses. Our objectives are clear, we will:

  • offer individual students unrivalled training in their chosen subject area delivered by dedicated and experienced academics and practitioners.
  • provide professional skills training desired by employers: we offer practice-based training workshops to develop professional skills such as project design and proposal writing for NGOs, project management, financial management, advocacy work and the use of social media for communication and business purposes. We also offer more specialised professional skills training in areas including humanitarian assistance, Geographical Information Systems and film-making.
  • provide students with the option of undertaking a professional internship during their degree between the months of June and August.
  • offer a memorable and enjoyable life-changing year, making new friends and contacts from across the world. You may decide to use your enhanced knowledge and continue with further research (PhD), or use your newly developed skills which will be attractive in the employment market.

Why choose to study at the School of International Development at UEA? What makes us distinctive and our degrees so highly valued by students and employers?

  • High quality research and impact: The majority of the School’s research was rated as ‘internationally outstanding or high quality’ by the government in the last national research assessment exercise (RAE 2008). The School was placed in the top three departments in the country for research on international development.
  • Strong League Table rankings: The School is consistently ranked highly. We are in the top 10 of the Guardian and Times League Tables for Geography and Environmental Sciences; in 2012/13 we were ranked 3rd in the Guardian’s University Guide and 9th in The Times League Table.
  • Excellent staff-student ratios: We recruit about 120 postgraduate students each year, with an overall student population of 400. With 40 members of academic staff this means a staff-student ratio of 1:10 with one member of academic staff for every three postgraduate students.
  • A supportive and friendly learning environment: Our excellent staff-student ratios and teaching methods mean we offer small class sizes and a close-knit, friendly and personal learning environment; staff can dedicate time to individual students. We come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds so can design and offer coherent courses and teaching across academic disciplines without having to rely on other departments. All our staff teach, whether they are professors or junior lecturers.
  • Excellent career opportunities: our graduates have been successful in entering a broad spectrum of employment including working for organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, DfID, JICA, Christian Aid, and Save the Children.Examples of positions from a recent careers analysis survey of our postgraduates reveals the diversity of employment possibilities:
    • NGO management in Japan
    • soil and water conservation in Pakistan
    • construction consultancy in Sri Lanka
    • export management in Norway
    • rural development coordination in Nigeria
    • senior inspector of schools in Kenya
    • development education work in the UK
    • doctoral research within the School, or elsewhere.
  • We offer a series of regular seminars on ‘Working in Development’, with guest speakers from development agencies.
  • We offer specific support to our international students in their transition to studying in the UK, with additional academic skills training if needed.

The School embraces theoretical innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to our research making a difference. We work with a wide range of partners and clients, including national and international development agencies, governments, NGOs and private clients. Since 2001, we have worked with an estimated 600 different partner organisations and in any year we have 100 or more live projects underway.

You will find that we give high priority to our teaching and we are proud of the learning experience we offer. See some of our students’ own feedback for more insights. If you choose to join us, you will discover exciting opportunities for engaging in development issues, you will meet people from different cultures, explore challenging problems, build your individual and team skills and discover fascinating new career directions.

Dr Steve Russell
Head of the School

Come and Visit Us

Our Open Days will give you the opportunity to experience the University of East Anglia's unique campus atmosphere.

If you are not able to visit us in person, check out our Virtual Open Day experience which we hope will help to provide you with an insight into life and study at the University of East Anglia.

Further Information

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances with the Admissions Office prior to applying please do contact us:

Admissions Office (Development)
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk

Please click here to download the School of International Development Postgraduate Prospectus or register your details via our Online Enquiry Form.

International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.

Fees and Funding

Fees for the academic year 2013/2014 will be:

  • UK/EU Students: £5,900 (full-time), £2,950 (part-time)*
  • International Students: £12,500

* for each year of the course.

International applicants from outside the EU may need to pay a deposit.

Living Expenses
Approximately £7,500 living expenses will be needed to adequately support yourself.

Scholarships and Funding

A variety of Scholarships may be offered to UK students. Please click here for more detailed information about UK/EU Scholarships and Funding.

The University offers around £1 million of Scholarships each year to support International students in their studies. Scholarships are normally awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and are usually for the duration of the period of study. Please click here for further information about funding for International students. International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.


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