Master of Development Practice

Navigate the complex landscape of development, critically engage with key debates and be part of creating sustainable alternatives for the future.

UQ’s Master of Development Practice program addresses key challenges in the world today, including the rights of Indigenous peoples, inequality, gender, health, violence, alternative economics, climate justice and environmental sustainability.

With a diversity of delivery options – including intensive, online, practice-based learning environments and in-field research – this program is designed to fit in with your interests and availability, whether you're starting, advancing or rethinking your career.

Local communities in Australia and overseas are situated within rich and complex global dynamics. Our program equips you with theoretically informed skills to embrace the challenges of understanding, practising and rethinking development at different scales.

Drawing from anthropology, community development, planning, political science, sociology and related fields, Development Practice offers you a unique, multidisciplinary and practice-based learning experience.

Our graduates work across government, industry and community settings in development, social services, health, planning and elsewhere, to contribute to collaborative social change.

If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.

To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (see below), or
a graduate certificate* (or equivalent) in development practice, or
a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, plus 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in a paid or substantial volunteer capacity, evidenced through the submission of a portfolio that demonstrates the contribution made to the organisation or relevant community of interest (see below), or
the UQx Leadership in Global Development MicroMasters credential program certificate plus 3 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience (see below)
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines include anthropology, sociology, social science, development studies, community development, political science, human geography, philosophy, communication, social work, human services, planning, various streams of environmental studies and/or management, urban studies, and international studies.

You must have completed at least a major, field of study, or approximately 30% of program content including a mix of introductory and advanced courses.

Relevant work experience
Relevant work experience includes work:

in the planning, management and implementation of international or community development initiatives, including work for international aid agencies, non-governmental organisations, government agencies, social movements, and the international business community
may include research, outreach capacities and service delivery and the portfolio should demonstrate basic computer literacy, research and writing skills, and ability to work collaboratively.
Evidence of relevant work experience should include a letter from your employer (and/or previous employers) stating the following:

That you work (or worked) for or with the specified organisation
The length of time that you were there (i.e. 3 years)
Type of employment (full-time, part-time*, casual* or contract*)
IELTS overall 6.5, reading 6, writing 6, speaking 6, listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.