Master in Global Development Studies

Master in Global Development Studies is one of 7 English-taught Development Studies programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 6 institutions. 2 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from NOK 166,700 to NOK 204,000. 5 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

What you study

The Master's in Global Development Studies at NMBU is a two-year, full-time programme of 120 ECTS, taught in English. It looks at how social, economic, political, environmental and gendered aspects of change interact, from local to global scales. Central themes are inequality and poverty, the environment, climate change, global governance, armed conflict and violence, gender, food systems, rural development, decolonisation and struggles for justice.

The first year gives you compulsory courses: Introduction to Global Development Studies (5 ECTS), Global Development Theory and Politics (10 ECTS), Research Methods (15 ECTS) and Poverty and Inequality (10 ECTS). You also take electives. The page lists examples such as Global Food Systems and Food Security, Political Ecology, Human Rights and Development, Energy and Society, and a practicum (practice-based field course). In the second year you choose an individually designed mix of electives, field course and internship. You can spend a semester on exchange or do an internship with a Norwegian organisation. The master thesis is normally written in the final semester, and can be 30 or 60 ECTS.

How the programme is organised

Teaching is problem-based and process-oriented, following NMBU's learning philosophy. You often work in groups, and in many courses you help decide the assignment and how to present it. Courses mix lectures, seminars, tutorials, digital and visual methods, and individual work including academic writing. Guest lectures by practitioners and scholars are part of several courses. Field courses currently run in India and Tanzania. Assessment varies: some courses are graded on work during the semester, others on a final assignment or exam.

During your first semester you design an individual study plan. The degree builds on research-based knowledge from many geographical contexts. You are encouraged to base your thesis on field research and can locate your study in different parts of the world. Exchange agreements with universities in Norway and abroad can be part of the degree.

Who it suits

This programme suits students with a bachelor's degree in the social, political, environmental, management or agricultural sciences, or in the humanities. You should be comfortable with interdisciplinary work and with group-based, problem-oriented learning. The programme attracts students from many countries, so you will study in an international and interdisciplinary environment. If you want practical experience alongside theory, the field courses and internships are built into the degree.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a relevant bachelor's degree and a minimum grade point average of C or the equivalent. A one-page motivation letter outlining your background, your motivation for the programme and your contribution to the learning environment is recommended. In the international admission round, a strong motivation letter is prioritised above similarly qualified applicants without one. In the local round, a strong letter gives a 0.5 increase in the grade point average if other criteria are met. Admission is based on academic transcripts and the motivation letter. You must meet NMBU's English language requirements.

Application deadlines: applicants outside the EU/EEA: 1 December. Norwegian, Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: 15 April. Check the programme page for details on how to apply. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions; other degree students normally pay a fee set by the institution. NMBU's Student Welfare Association (SiÅs) offers housing close to campus, with priority for international students, though it is not guaranteed. Apply for accommodation as soon as you accept your offer.

Master’s applications go straight to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: Nordic applicants: April 15 EU applicants: April 15 Non EU-applicants: December 1. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.