• University of Edinburgh
• School of Social and Political Science

Graduate School of Social and Political Science

• Quick Links
• Login
• Search

Applicants and Arriving Students

• Studying at the Graduate School
• Fees, Funding and Scholarships
• How to Apply
• Accepting Your Offer
• Pre-Arrival
• Induction 2011
• Course information

On Course Students

• Student Intranet
• Programme Handbooks
• Timetable
• Research Training Courses
• Research Student Profiles
• PhD Stories

Alumni

• Supporting the School
• Graduation 2010

Postgraduate Certificate in Africa and International Development

The Centre of African Studies is particularly pleased to announce the new Postgraduate Certificate in Africa and International Development. This is a e-learning programme based on our highly popular MSc Africa and International Development. The Certificate is designed for people with an interest in international development and development practitioners who wish to develop analytical and theoretical skills along with an in-depth knowledge of development issues in the African continent. It seeks to contextualise and analyse the processes that have shaped poverty and underdevelopment in Africa, and the many responses to them.

The Certificate comprises of three courses over nine months. These courses are taught using a range of innovative and interactive teaching methods. A distance programme gives you the freedom and flexibility to learn where and when you want!

Our courses are:

The certificate will run between September 2011 and June 2012. Courses will be taught between September and the end of November (Politics and Theories of International Development), between January and March (Roots of Poverty and Development in Africa) and between April and end of June (Analysing Development Aid). Each course will be assessed through a 4,000 word essay.

 Politics and Theories of International Development [20 credits]

This course offers an introduction, overview and critical analysis of the forces shaping international development. It explores the politics and theories of development by analysing the dominant and alternative social scientific theories that seek to explain development outcomes, and the actors and institutions involved.

Analysing Development Policy [20 credits]

This course provides both a practical overview of international development assistance, and equips students with the knowledge and tools to critically assess the social and political effects of aid, and the way aid policy is made and executed. We will explore the main rationales and theories for providing aid, the major themes in aid of the last two decades and contemporary debates.

Roots of African Poverty and Development [20 credits]

This course aims to analyse the historical and contemporary forces that shape poverty and underdevelopment through placing the global ‘south’ in historical and political context. A series of case studies will be used to interrogate our theoretical and conceptual understanding of the roots of poverty, and how to escape it.

Please click the "Apply Online" button at the top of this page to receive further information.

For general queries (e.g. fees, qualifications, etc) and application queries, please contact: pgadmissions.sps@ed.ac.uk

For academic questions relating to the Postgraduate Certificate, please contact Sam Spiegel. Email: sam.spiegel@ed.ac.uk