MSc Water Security and International Development (Part time)

The MSc Water Security and International Development degree interprets 'water security' in its broad political ecology and political economy sense. We believe that the hydrological cycle is intimately connected to critical global policy concerns: climate change, food trade and food security, energy security - and in turn to the international cooperation that affects human, community, regional and state security.

Inextricably linked to people's welfare and livelihoods in non-industrialised contexts, water is a resource of fundamental importance to environment and development concerns. This Master's programme will critically reflect on the practical and theoretical facets of 'water security', with a view to develop a better foundation upon which to achieve developmental and environmental objectives. We will provide the latest interdisciplinary theory and tools necessary to rise to the challenges and students will graduate with the knowledge and tools to be able to understand and audit the water security of a system of interest; be it nation, region, company, sector, scheme or household.

The MSc Water Security and International Development degree will be offered over one year full-time, or two years part-time.

Applicants for this degree are encouraged to apply as soon as possible in order to secure their place for entry in September 2011. Please contact the Course Director, Dr Mark Zeitoun if you would like to discuss your application before it is submitted.

Who is the Course for?

This unique degree seeks to prepare graduates to engage with and contribute to societal responses to critical global water policy issues, encapsulated in part by Professor John Beddington's (UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser) 2009 analysis identifying the 'Perfect Storm' arising from the 'surge in demand for food, water and energy over the next two decades... all intimately connected'. The School is world-renowned for its interdisciplinary and rigorous approach to subject-area teaching within a wider pedagogic framework of development and environmental studies. The students will benefit from our specialist knowledge in the social and biophysical aspects of water resources, including excellent networking and fieldword opportunities.

The course is relevant for those who have recently completed undergraduate study as well as those who have already worked in the field of development. It does not require specialised prior study although students will benefit from an environmental Bachelors degree such as geology, geography or environmental sciences. People with other backgrounds oriented towards the environment, for instance in political sciences, sociology or law, or with practice experience in development work, are also strongly encouraged to apply. The course aims to prepare students for employment in a wide range of areas, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government aid agencies, and multilaterial organisations.

Course Profile

Our Masters courses require students to undertake 180 credits:

• Compulsory and Optional modules (120 credits)
• Examination (20 credits)
• Dissertation (40 credits)

The Compulsory modules include:

• Water Security - Theory and Concepts (Autumn semester - 20 credits)
• Water Security - Tools and Policy (Spring semester - 20 credits)

Students will be able to choose from a range of Optional modules. Recommended modules include:

• Understanding Global Environmental Change
• Catchment Water Resource Management
• Political Ecology of Environment and Development
• Climate Change Policy for Development
• Globalised Agriculture and Food Systems

Students will receive detailed module outlines, including information about lectures and seminars, full reading lists and assessments once they have registered at the beginning of their course.

Professional, Employability and Practical Skills

A range of optional seminars and workshops are offered during your 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. Please click to access further information about the Skills Training and Development Practice programme.

Course Tutors

The Course Director for the MSc Water Security and International Development degree is Mark Zeitoun. Water Security specialists who also teach on the course are: Professor Bruce Lankford, Professor Declan Conway and Professor Kevin Hiscock. All tutors are well known internationally for their work on water and climate change, irrigation, hydrogeology, catchment management, politics, conflict and allocation.

UEA Water Security Research Centre

The University of East Anglia's Water Security Research Centre integrates world-class natural and social sciences to address the challenges. We offer unique skills and internationally-renowned researchers centred in the School of International Development and the School of Environmental Sciences. Together they address key water security and related issues from the individual to the global level.

The Water Security Centre also draws upon expertise from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, the School of Economics, the School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, International Development UEA, the Low Carbon Innovation Centre and the Climatic Research Unit – all based at the University of East Anglia. We go beyond studying phenomena to bring about positive change by means of engagement through extensive outreach, action research and policy formation.

Course Organiser:Mark Zeitoun

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Entry Requirements Degree Subject: Social Science or Natural Resource 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.