Master of International Development and Planning (MIDP)

Overview

The Master of International Development and Planning is a 12 month (full time) course work Masters degree, that includes a research dissertation. The degree combines an enhanced understanding of development issues and needs, with the professional skills and competencies that professional planning education provides.

Understanding environmental issues and how people are affected by these in a developmental context is another key objective of the programme. We place a strong emphasis on people-environment relationships in such areas as urban development, water availability and quality, health, food security, hazards and pollution.

The School of Geography has regional strengths and expertise in Africa, the Pacific, Australasia, China, South and Southeast Asia. The School also has specialist expertise on the physical environment, including coastal hazards, sea level rise, climate change, groundwater, water quality and provision, thus enabling students to benefit from integrating expertise related to both the social and physical environment, together with a professional approach to development and planning. Employment opportunities abound in the development and planning arena and this degree is a pathway to these opportunities around the globe.

Regulations for the Degree of Master of International Development and Planning (MIDP)

1. Admission to the Programme

   1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Humanities).
   2. Every applicant must normally have at least a bachelor’s degree requiring three years of full-time study. Normally an average minimum grade of B+ is required for entry to the programme.
   3. In exceptional circumstances an applicant who is not a graduate may be considered on the basis of alternative qualifications or satisfactory training and experience. Such preparation must be equivalent to a degree, and the applicant must provide evidence of ability to undertake advanced-level academic study. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may require such an applicant to pass one or more prescribed papers either before admission to or concurrently with the programme.
   4. In considering an applicant’s qualifications, regard will be given to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualifications, as well as the applicant’s performance in the programmes.

2. Structure of the Programme

   1. The programme of study shall consist of three core papers and three electives papers, worth 120 points, together with a 60-point research dissertation (as MIDP programme requirements above).
   2. The research dissertation for GEOG 590 must be submitted no later than 28 February of the year following enrolment (or the second year following enrolment for a part-time candidate). The dissertation must not exceed 20,000 words of text, exclusive of appendices, footnotes, tabular material, bibliography or equivalent.
   3. Before commencing the investigation to be described in the dissertation, a candidate shall obtain the approval of the Programme Co-ordinator and the supervisor of the proposed topic.
   4. A candidate shall not present a research dissertation that has previously been accepted for another degree.

3. Duration of the Programme

   A full-time candidate shall normally complete the requirements of the degree within twelve months. A part-time candidate shall normally complete the requirements of the degree within twenty-four months.

4. Examination of the Planning Project or Thesis

   1. The research dissertation shall be assessed by at least two examiners, one of whom shall be external to the University. The candidate’s supervisor(s) shall not normally be an examiner, but may make a report on the work of the candidate for the examiners to consider.
   2. If the research dissertation is assessed as unsatisfactory, the examiners may recommend to the programme coordinator that it be revised and resubmitted by a specified date.
   3. Where the examiners cannot reach agreement on a result, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) shall reach a decision after consulting a referee.

5. Level of Award of the Degree

   The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.