The guiding aim of our programs in international development is to encourage thoughtful and reflexive practitioners, analysts and policymakers who understand the complexity of international development and who are able to effectively analyse and respond to challenges.

We believe that this understanding requires students to be well acquainted with the history of development thinking and practice as well as having up to date knowledge and skills relating to current best practice. Students have direct contact with senior and experienced practitioners from the development sector. A distinctive aspect of our degree programmes is the quality and experience of practitioners that teach into our subjects, including those who have worked with Oxfam, the Australian Red Cross, the World Health Organization, the United Nations and more.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 9 - Masters Degree.

Sample course structure

Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.