MPhil in Development Studies

(PhD student at the Department of Geography in Cambridge)

I was drawn to Development Studies because I was craving a space in which I could learn from the diverse experiences of my peers and professors, whilst also tackling some of the questions that I find most pressing. During my MPhil, I discovered a new regional interest and delved deeper into research that I had conducted previously. I found community in two research networks and am still actively involved in both. Now, as I begin my PhD at Cambridge, I am very thankful for the key role that the MPhil in Development Studies played in my academic progression. My research project was inspired by a set of essays that I wrote during my MPhil, and I will be working closely with friends and mentors that I met during the course. Though I have now finished my MPhil, I carry the friends I made, questions I uncovered, and skills that I gained into this next chapter.  

Ainsley Trahan (April 2023)

(Social Protection Consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations)
The MPhil in Development Studies allowed me to understand in depth the debates surrounding rural development, including the different pathways to economic growth and their impacts on inclusivity, poverty reduction and inequality. Similarly, it gave me the tools to conduct institutional analysis that enable me today to technically support key partners in the implementation of suitable sustainable development policies and programs. Overall, the MPhil gave me the tools to think critically and innovatively about how to solve some of the challenges that rural areas face.

Daniella Salazar Herrera (April 2020)