发展研究所

Food is a cross-cutting development issue that concerns hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, environment sustainability, power politics, social justice and cultural identity. It is about the global and the local and the hard trade-offs that the globalisation era has brought about.

This MA draws on wide-ranging expertise of faculty at both IDS and School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex (where you will be based). You will gain an advanced understanding of the complex relationship between food and development. We build your analytical and practical skills, improving your ability to engage critically with issues such as:

• food and nutrition security
• sustainable food systems
• value chains and corporate power
• agri-food technology and its contestations

Our faculty have extensive knowledge and direct field experience. And our guest speakers – from government bodies, international organisations, NGOs, and local food networks and movements – introduce you to contemporary policy debates and practices.

World-leaders in development studies

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is a global research and learning organisation for equitable and sustainable change. In partnership with the University of Sussex, IDS is ranked first in the world for development studies by the QS University Rankings.

Who is the degree for?

We welcome applicants with a broad range of career trajectories. Successful applicants will typically have at least one year’s practical experience in development alongside an interest in critical academic enquiry. Previous experience and engagement with issues relating to food in development (e.g. food security, nutrition, food systems, food policy and regulation, food rights or food sovereignty) is an advantage.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through term papers, coursework assignments, presentations, exams, practical exercises, and a 10,000 word dissertation.

Careers

We expect our graduates to become specialists and advisers in food and development issues worldwide, working for either governments, international development agencies, civil society organisations or social movements engaged with food-related themes. Many of our graduates go on to teach in universities around the world.

Graduate destinations:

93% of students from the School of Global Studies and 100% of students from the Institute of Development Studies were in work or further study six months after graduating. Recent International Development and IDS students have gone on to roles including:

• coffee research consultant, Fairtrade Foundation
• food security adviser, Mennonite Central Committee
• consultant, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The academic year commences in September. Three terms run as follows: autumn term (September to December), spring term (January to March) and summer term (April to June).