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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Development Studies research area
Development Studies is at the heart of global development and inclusive innovation research and teaching at the OU. Our research challenges ‘top-down’ and aid-driven development policy and practice models and promotes research into more ‘bottom-up’, participatory and inclusive approaches. Our approach emphasises theoretical and empirical research as a co-productive and interdisciplinary endeavour that engages directly with research beneficiaries and users at community, national, international and global levels. Development Studies has extensive networks and works closely with academics and a consortium of non-governmental organisations.
In the 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework results:
Most of our full-time research students are based at our Milton Keynes campus; for details of residence requirements for different modes of study see Full-time study and Part-time study.
The value of collegiality is evident with our research students co-located in a comfortable and well-equipped space, with easy access to faculty administrative and academic staff. The OU Library building is a short walk from the faculty building and provides an alternative study space as well as print collections and the main OU postgraduate common room.
We also offer access to a world-class collection of online resources via the OU Library, a dedicated Library Research Support Team, as well as other university libraries across the UK via the Sconul scheme.
We recruit practitioners from within industries related to global development. Many of our PhD graduates go onto positions within research, teaching, governance, policy making, development management, and consulting.
Explore specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, fees and funding, available supervisors, how to apply and contact details for advice.
Conflict, security and development
Health systems and development
Inclusive innovation and development
Migration, diasporas and development
States, political systems and development
Sustainability and development
The politics of development policy and practice
Consider linked topics from other research areas.
International relations and global politics
Migrations, diasporas, transnational communities
Multicultural life, citizenship, difference, political conflict and social divisions
Political economy and environmental politics