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Department of International Development
School of Global Affairs

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Who we are

We're a young, innovative and contemporary development studies department. Our research and teaching focus on the emerging economies, especially the large, middle-income, dynamic and fast-growing economies in the Global South. 

Our mission is to explore the structures, achievements, changes, and drivers of success in those economies, recognise the development challenges they face and how these challenges have changed over time, and draw the appropriate policy lessons from their development experiences. 

We believe that no academic discipline can explain the world in all its complexity. Our staff are recruited from a wide range of the social, political and economic sciences and humanities, and they bring expertise and insight from their work in different parts of the world. Our students also come from around the world – every year, we welcome students from over 40 countries. 

Core research areas

  • history and theories of development (especially development economics, politics, and sociology)
  • poverty, inequality, social justice and distribution
  • gender and development
  • the environment, resource extraction and climate change
  • the role of manufacturing, industrialisation and deindustrialisation, technological change and the structure of employment
  • global networks, value chains, entrepreneurship and transnational firms
  • government, governance and public policy
  • regional and country-level development: South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East; as well as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and more.  

Why study with us?

Studying International Development at King’s gives students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of our rapidly changing world, focusing on the achievements and challenges of the emerging economies. Our students will develop their skills and broaden their experience within a world-class, global university.

We welcome adaptable, well-rounded and independent thinkers to our community – those ready to take on the challenges of understanding the world and changing it - especially those willing to engage in ambitious, transformative, community and solidarity projects.

Our teaching is multi-disciplinary and our modules are taught by experts in their respective domains. We offer a three-year International Development BA and a four-year BA with study year abroad.

We also offer four interlinked master's courses, and we supervise PhD students studying aspects of development in middle income countries using lenses from social, political and economic sciences.

Discover the Department of International Development

News and events from the Department of International Development

In line with the university’s wider equality, diversity and inclusion statement, the Department is committed to the provision of equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity for all of our students, staff and visitors.

We aim to nurture a collegial, mutually supportive and committed culture among staff, students and visitors. We are committed to providing and promoting an environment in which all people can learn, work and interact freely without fear of discrimination, prejudice or harassment.

We are committed to creating and sustaining a diverse work and learning environment. All students and staff are treated equitably and are not accorded less favourable treatment because of age, marital/civil partnership status, sex, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, religious or political beliefs and transgender status.

The Department is also committed to enhancing the work-life balance of all staff in relation to caring responsibilities and other issues affecting well-being.