Poverty Reduction: Policy and Practice (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate)
Is this programme for me?
Poverty reduction is a key focus of the Millennium Development Goals and is at the heart of international, national and NGO development objectives and activities. Recent achievements in poverty reduction have varied widely across and within countries, regions, and social groups.
This programme focuses on rural areas which, despite growing urbanisation, continue to be home to the majority of the world’s poorest people. It examines the complex nature of poverty, its causes, and processes of poverty reduction.
A key feature of the programme is a unique partnership with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). This has led to the involvement of key professionals from specialist CGIAR institutes in the design and development of the programme and of specific modules within it. These modules thus take advantage both of relevant professional expertise from specialist CGIAR institutes and of wider development and distance learning expertise of the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy (CeDEP), SOAS and the University of London.
Programme aims
The purpose of this programme is to enable students to acquire and build multi-disciplinary
knowledge which integrates scientific, technological and economic insights and skills to enable
them to analyse and address the poverty reduction challenges of this millennium. The programme
will give students the opportunity to develop:
- a critical, inter-disciplinary, integrative and global perspective on poverty reduction issues
- a theoretical approach to intellectual enquiry of poverty reduction issues, which nevertheless emphasises the integration of theory and practice
- broad understanding of ideas and approaches for managing organisations within their cultural, political, technological, social, and institutional contexts, to solve problems related to poverty reduction.
Programme summary
| You study | Study period | Cost (2011) | |
| MSc | 10 modules | 2-5 years | £9,200 |
| Diploma | 8 modules | 2-5 years | £7,215 |
| Certificate | 4 modules | 1-5 years | £3,770 |
| Short courses | Single modules are ideal if you're keen to update your professional knowledge, enhance your career or sample the programme. Short course students who subsequently register for either the MSc or Postgraduate Diploma will be credited with any modules completed successfully. In 2011, the fee per module is £960. | ||
Career progression
As with all CeDEP programmes, the Poverty Reduction programme is designed to assist both existing
development professionals and people moving into the field of international development. For the
former, the programme offers a chance to upgrade and update their
expertise, and to reflect systematically and in depth on their accumulated experience in the
light of up-to-date theory and literature. It is anticipated that most graduates of this programme
will find work in:
- government ministries and other public sector organisations concerned with policy analysis and implementation for poverty reduction
- international and non-governmental organisations concerned with issues of poverty reduction
- consultancies and development projects involved in activities promoting poverty reduction
Particular opportunities may be related to choice of the specialisms in natural resources
management, agricultural and rural development, or development management.
Specialisms
MSc and Postgraduate Diploma students may choose elective modules within a particular specialism. Choosing a specialism creates the opportunity for a clear focus in your studies, whereby you can develop understanding and skills relevant to specific professional interests. The name of the specialism will appear on the certificate awarded.
Comprehensive study materials and support
For each module we send you detailed study guides, textbooks and supplementary study materials which may include computer software. Most module study guides are now provided in electronic CD-ROM format. Tutorial support is via an online learning environment and tutor-marked assignments. Increasing numbers of students participate in electronic seminars and other networked activities. This allows for a range of contacts and peer-learning possibilities that will help to enrich the distance learning experience.
Your time commitment
The study time required for each module is, on average, 7-8 hours per week over a period of 30 weeks (plus 4 weeks for revision).
Summary of key dates
| Application deadline | 30 November | ||
| Registration deadline | 31 December | ||
| Programme starts | February | ||
| Examinations take place | October | ||