Applicants must be degree holders with a 65% Aggregate. Good English writing skills and an ability to communicate, orally, in English, which is the medium of instruction, is essential. Relevant work experience is an added advantage. While we invite applications from a variety of backgrounds, those with degrees in Development, Economics, Economic History, Human Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Planning, Community Development, Psychology, Social Work, or Agriculture are particularly suited.

Those with a 3-year undergraduate degree will undertake 14 coursework modules over a two-year period. Those with an appropriate four-year Honours degree in a development related field may undertake a one-year coursework degree consisting of six (6) modules. In both cases, students will also complete a short dissertation based on a research project of their own design. The dissertation generally takes six months after the coursework is completed.