# Development Studies (Master)

**Source**: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/development-studies-master/
**Parent**: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/

© Elke Christiansen

Graduates of the master’s programme in Development Studies have special knowledge of global transformations, structures of inequalities and their historical and current development. They are able to analyse and present complex correlations and deal with development in a systematic, independent and critical manner.  They have gained theoretical, methodological and communicative competences required for a career in academia and practice.

### Master of Arts

Degree Programme Code: 066 589

4 semesters / 120 ECTS credits

Language: [German](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/german-language-proficiency/)

NO entrance examination

[Curriculum](http://senat.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/s_senat/konsolidierte_Masterstudien/MA_Internationale_Entwicklung.pdf)

### Facts & Figures

- Students: **1014**
- Graduates in the last academic year: **107**
- Number of semesters needed for graduation (median): **8,1**

*Data updated on: 26**.11.2025*

[Information about presentation & calculation](https://backend.univie.ac.at/index.php?id=157848&L=2&id=157848)

*\*[Click here for further information on statistical data in the field of teaching and learning. (in German)](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/studienangebot/warum-hier-studieren/statistische-daten-zum-studienbetrieb/)*

### Attention

#### Instruction Language German

Please note that the instruction language of this programme is German. To start the degree programme, you need to hold a [certificate of German proficiency on C1 level](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/german-language-proficiency/).

### Admission Procedure

[Information about the admission procedure](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/master-programmes/development-studies/)

### Information on Previous Studies:

- [Master Access Guide](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/master-access-guide/mag-development-studies/)

### Getting started

[Orientation course](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/development-studies-master/)

[Orientation in the first semester](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/study-organisation/)

[Semester planning](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/semester-planning/)

### Getting Informed

[Department of Development Studies](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/pvz_sub.html?id=641)

[Students' Representatives Development Studies](http://ie.bagru.at/)

## Study Programme

The master’s programme has the following structure: compulsory modules on the fundamentals of development studies and the methods in development studies, as well as a group of elective modules, aimed at a specialisation in transdisciplinary development studies. Students have to select 3 out of 9 specialisation modules, covering the following subject areas: aspects of development studies from a political science perspective; aspects of development studies from a sociological perspective; aspects of development studies from a cultural studies perspective; historical aspects; geographical and regional aspects; fields of practice and applied development cooperation; and transdisciplinary specialisation (students have the opportunity to replace one of the modules mentioned above with a specialisation module that they define, comprising courses from other degree programmes at the University of Vienna, other Austrian universities or courses completed during a semester abroad. The directorate of studies has to approve in advance.). Furthermore, students have to complete a compulsory module on transdisciplinary research and a compulsory master’s module.

### Five Concepts

which you will deal with during your studies (examples):

- Development studies
- Transdisciplinary
- Global transformation
- North-South relations
- Development policy architecture

... and many more.

## Overview of the programme structure & topics

Here you find the current offer of courses for this programme to gain better insight into the topics and structure. For more information please click on the respective level.

[GM Principles of Development Research (20 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339078)

[MM Methods of Development Research (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339079)

[VM1-9 Block of Elective Modules: Emphasis Transdisciplinary Development Research (45 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339090)

[VM1 Political aspects of development research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339080)

[VM2 Economic aspects of development research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339081)

[VM3 Sociological Aspects of Development Research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339082)

[VM4 Cultural Studies Aspects of Development Research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339083)

[VM5 Historical Aspects of Development Research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339084)

[VM6 Geographic and Regional Aspects of Development Research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339085)

[VM7 Gender-specific Aspects of Development Research (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339086)

[VM8 Areas of Practice and Applied Development Cooperation (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339087)

[VM9 Transdisciplinary free elective Modul (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339101)

[FM Transdisciplinary Research Module (15 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339088)

[MA Master Module (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339089)

[Supplementary Examination (0 bis 30 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=339172)

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## After Graduation

Graduates can pursue a career in the following occupational fields:

- teaching and research in academia as well as at non-university research institutions and in adult education
- work for organisations in the governmental, private and civic sector that focus on development cooperation and development policy
- positions with a focus on development at international organisations
- public relations and media work with a focus on development or North-South relations
- professions that require intercultural competence and comprehensive specialist knowledge of different world religions, e.g. in foreign trade and at international corporations.

### Continuing after Graduation

- [Center for Doctoral Studies - everything about doctorcal/PhD programmes at the University of Vienna\](http://doktorat.univie.ac.at/en/)
- [Alumni of the University of Vienna](https://www.alumni.ac.at/)
- [Postgraduate Center - postgraduate programmes at the University of Vienna\](http://www.postgraduatecenter.at/en)
- [Uniport - career service of the University of Vienna](https://www.uniport.at/uniport-fuer-studierende)

### Graduates' Perspective on the Degree Programme

[#### Degree programme in retrospect](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/en/analyses/graduate-surveys/)

### Graduates ...

- say that this degree programme receives the grade: 2.1 (good)
- rate the level of difficulty as: 3.4 (appropriate)

→ These results are based on feedback from 87 graduates.

\**You can find further assessments of the degree programme from its graduates’ perspective in the graduate survey of the**[master's programme in Development Studies](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/d_qualitaetssicherung/Dateidownloads/AbsolventInnenbefragungen/2021/Master/243_Master_Internationale_Entwicklung_public.pdf) (in German).*

[#### Career entry & paths](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/en/analyses/graduate-tracking/)

### Graduates ...

- find employment within 1 month after graduation on average.

\*You can find further information on career entry and career paths in the tracking of graduates "[MA Development Studies](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/d_qualitaetssicherung/Dateidownloads/AbsolventInnentracking/2023/englisch/UA_F1_2023_MA_Development_Studies_en.pdf)".

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