MSc Digital Development

University of Manchester

Course description

MSc Digital Development will train you to become a digital development champion who possesses the necessary technical and contextual skills to lead digital development and information-and-communications-technology-for-development (ICT4D) programmes and projects to completion, such as ICT-enabled enterprise, e-government, m-health, MOOCs, etc.

In recent years there has been - and continues to be - a massive expansion in the number of digital development projects in developing and transitional economies.

With a skills shortage resulting in a high project failure rate, this course satisfies the pressing need for digital development champions. By taking this course, you will benefit from The University of Manchester's world-leading Centre for Digital Development and gain:

conceptual frameworks to understand the process of socio-economic development and the role of information and of digital technologies in the development process;
new knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development, implementation and management of digital development/ICT4D initiatives.

A range of optional course units provides an opportunity to satisfy specialist digital development champion knowledge and skill requirements, while the field visits that we offer will enable you to build up your real-world experience at no additional cost.

The course is designed for those applying, or seeking to apply, digital information and communication technologies in pursuit of socio-economic development goals.

It will include those who have, or plan to have direct design and implementation responsibilities, project managerial responsibilities, or broader strategic or policy-related responsibilities. Typical participants include:

early-career professionals who have found themselves involved with digital development/ICT4D projects and want a period to reflect, learn and broaden their impact and career horizons;
technical staff involved with digital development/ICT4D projects who wish to add systems, managerial and development skills to their portfolio;
computing graduates who wish to make ethical use of their skills but lack the necessary understanding of systems and development.

Teaching and learning

Please note that field visits may be scheduled at any point during the course, including during University vacations.

You are expected to be available to attend.

Coursework and assessment

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, are continuously assessed by a variety of methods (e.g., project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors.

You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.

Career opportunities

The course is relevant to those with career trajectories in the NGO and public sectors, and in the private sector given the private sector's increasing involvement with digital development/ICT4D projects.

It is particularly intended for those who will be working in or with transitional and developing economies.

MSc Digital Development can help you select and target jobs in any part of the tribrid triangle which marks the overall set of typical jobs into which our graduates move.